Three (3) albumen stereoviews showing interiors of Libby Prison in Chicago. Nos. 1790 (“Along the South Front”) and 1793-1794 (“Interior View”). Wisconsin: H.H. Bennett, n.d. 7 x 4 1/4 in. On orange cardstock mounts with publisher’s imprint, view titles, and series title “Wanderings Among the Wonders and Beauties of WESTERN SCENERY” printed to recto.  

These three stereoview photographs show Libby Prison as it was reassembled in Chicago as a tourist attraction. The first photo shows the south front entrance of the prison, followed by two interior shots that include several artifacts from the museum. 

Libby Prison originally opened in Richmond, Virginia, in 1862 to hold prisoners of war from the Union Army. After the Civil War, it briefly held former Confederate officers. Ultimately the building was bought by a candy maker in 1889, who disassembled the prison and moved it to Chicago to serve as a war museum. Libby Prison was eventually dismantled and sold for scraps in 1899. 

[Prisoner of War, POW, Andersonville, Libby Prison] [Civil War, Union, Confederate] [Photography, Early Photography, Historic Photography, Daguerreotypes, Ambrotypes, Tintypes, Cased Images, Union Cases, Albumen Photographs, CDVs, Carte de Visites, Cartes de Visite, Carte-de-visite, Cartes-de-visite, CDV, Cabinet Cards, Stereoviews, Stereocards]