Earlier this spring, my family and I spent a day in Rochester, New York, visiting the George Eastman Museum. As someone who spends my days helping others preserve their photos, being able to see the home where photography became a household word felt exciting!
The museum sits on East Avenue, tucked among the elegant 19th-century homes once occupied by industrialists and inventors.
George Eastman, founder of Kodak, built this house in 1905. He revolutionized photography by making it accessible. Before Kodak, photography was a clunky, expensive process reserved for professionals. But Eastman’s simple camera and roll film let families and amateurs capture moments on a whim. His slogan “You press the button, we do the rest” wasn’t just clever marketing. It was a cultural shift.
We began our visit touring the photography side. As we moved through the galleries, the rooms were filled with vintage cameras, daguerreotypes, and moving image exhibits. These weren’t just technological relics. They were tools of memory. I caught myself imagining the families who had snapped their first photos on a Brownie camera, the mothers carefully pasting prints into albums and the children flipping through them years later. Preserving family photos isn’t just about storage. It’s about keeping the spark of those moments alive.
Next we toured the mansion itself, which is just a short walk across the hallway from the galleries. As you walk inside you'll find wood-paneled walls and marble fireplaces. We walked slowly through the house, taking in not just the photographs and artifacts, but also the feeling of the space.
One of the most moving parts was Eastman’s personal story. A philanthropist and innovator, he also struggled with loneliness and chronic pain. His diary entries and letters revealed a man who understood the weight of time both its beauty and its burden. It reminded me why I do this work. Memory is fragile. If we don’t tend to it, it fades.
We ended our tour by getting a snack and visiting the gift shop. I looked over at my kids and smiled. Even if they didn’t fully grasp it now, I hoped this visit planted a seed of appreciation for the stories photos carry.
On the drive home, I thought about how Eastman once imagined a future where anyone could take a photo, anytime. That future is now our present. We’re surrounded by images. But it’s up to us to decide which ones matter and how we care for them.
A close up of the 1,788 dye bottles on display orginally used in Technicolor Motion Pictures.
"LIFE WITH PHOTOGRAPHS" displayed in the gallery section.
A view of the conservatory, which included tropical plants and soft spring light.
