Since its founding in 1850, Ogden has been home to fur trappers, Mormon
pioneers, immigrants, railroad workers, and businessmen. The joining of
the rails in 1869 with the completion of the transcontinental railroad
forever changed the city. Ogden became known as the Crossroads of the
West, and the city continued to thrive with the influx of people and
industry. Ogden was known for its surrounding natural beauty and the
ability to effectively accomplish anything it undertook. Ogden became
home to generations of families including Charles Maccarthy and his
family. Maccarthy was a railroader, by trade and a photographer by
hobby. He was hardly seen without his camera. During the early 20th
century, he captured the lives of Ogdenites, which included family
gatherings, parades, and special events, and even stopped people on the
street and asked to take their photographs.