Johnson-Shaw Stereoscopic Museum, Meadville

About Johnson-Shaw Stereoscopic Museum

The Johnson-Shaw Stereoscopic Museum in Meadville presents the history of three-dimensional photography through the work of the Keystone View Company, a globe-spanning producer of stereographic materials founded in 1892. Visitors view stereoscopic photographs using stereoscopes, optical devices that create the illusion of depth by presenting two nearly identical images to each eye. The museum's collection includes photographs of foreign landscapes, famous individuals, historic events, and local families and businesses that once illustrated classroom social studies sets. Exhibits feature an antique stereoscopic camera with two lenses spaced to match human eye distance, along with wooden cameras and glass negatives from the Keystone View Company's early years. The museum offers group tours, special exhibits, and a research library for those studying stereographic history. Regular stereoview shows and yearly major exhibitions serve schools, colleges, tour groups, and local visitors interested in how this Victorian-era parlor amusement evolved into an educational tool used in classrooms, optometry, and military applications.