About the cover
American landscape painter and graphic artist Thomas Moran (1837–1926) painted “Tower Creek, Yellowstone,” in 1873. It is believed to be one of the original paintings used to make advertising posters for the Northern Pacific Railroad to stimulate tourist travel to points of beauty along the railroad line. Northern Pacific’s financier, Jay Cooke, advanced Moran $500 toward the paintings he would produce during his journey West. Cooke kept “Tower Creek” in his mansion, which was rented to the Ogontz School for Girls from 1883 until the school was moved to Abington, Pennsylvania, in 1916. Abby Sutherland, owner of the school, gave the property and all facilities, including the Moran painting to Penn State in 1950. The painting resides at Penn State Abington near Philadelphia.
About the cover
