Carol M. Highsmith Archive photos from the 2000s

Republican National Convention, September 1-4, 2008. Sarah and Todd Pailin with John and Cindy McCain on stage, St. Paul, Minnesota

Congresswomen at 2008 DNC (B)

Clock detail, Spruce Street and Wyoming Avenue, Scranton, Pennsylvania

CNN Grill (2008 DNC)

Courtroom eagle detail, United States Courthouse, Davenport, Iowa

Courtroom grill, United States Courthouse, Davenport, Iowa

Courtroom, United States Courthouse, Davenport, Iowa

Denali National Park, Alaska

Demonstrators at the Republican National Convention, September 1-4, 2008, St. Paul, Minnesota

Dept of Labor Building 2008

Elevator door, United States Courthouse, Davenport, Iowa

Evan Bayh 2008 DNC (cropped)

Exterior detail, James A. Walsh U.S. Courthouse, Tucson, Arizona

Exterior detail, United States Courthouse, Davenport, Iowa

Exterior lamp, James A. Walsh U.S. Courthouse, Tucson, Arizona

Harbor, Baltimore, Maryland

Former President Bill Clinton waves to the audience at the Democratic National Convention, Denver, Colorado, August 25-28, 2008

Front Entrance, United States Courthouse, Davenport, Iowa

Gates, Graceland, Memphis, Tennessee

Great Hall, second floor, east corridor. Large window with quotation above: "Science is organized knowledge." Thomas Jefferson Building, Washington, D.C.

Historic Electric City sign, restored in 2008, shines again. Scranton, Pennsylvania

ICC Building 2008

In 2008, nearly 90 years after it was built, this 1919 gas station in El Paso, Texas, was restored by antiques business owner Rod Davenport

In one sense, this is a photograph of a lovely row of houses in Galveston, Texas. But look closely in the figure in the foreground. In 2008, ferocious Hurricane Ike and its surge of high salt water killed an estimated 40,000 trees. But Galveston Island Tree Conservancy member Donna Leibbert found ch

Interior lobby detail, United States Commerce building, Washington, D.C

Irish mannequin in a store window during Mardi Gras, New Orleans, Louisiana

James A. Walsh U.S. Courthouse, Tucson, Arizona

Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts speaks to the audience at the Democratic National Convention, Denver, Colorado, August 25-28, 2008

Republican National Convention, September 1-4, 2008. Presidential candidate John McCain addresses the audience at the convention, St. Paul, Minnesota

John Kerry at the Democratic National Convention, Denver, Colorado, August 25-28, 2008

Joe Biden 2008 DNC (02) (cropped1)

Joe Biden 2008 DNC (03) (cropped1)

John Kerry at 2008 DNC

John Kerry at 2008 DNC (01) (cropped1)

Joe Biden 2008 DNC (1) (cropped1)

July 4th fireworks, Washington, D.C. ( )

Kahiltna Peaks

Lincoln Memorial taken from the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C.

Lobby, United States Courthouse, Davenport, Iowa

Madeline Albright addresses the convention floor at the Democratic National Convention, Denver, Colorado, August 25-28, 2008

Mammy's Cupboard Restaurant, Natchez, Mississippi, by Carol M. Highsmith

Mammy's Cupboard Restaurant, Natchez, Mississippi

Memorial to the men who perished on the Titanic, Washington, D.C

Republican National Convention, September 1-4, 2008. One of the Republican Presidential candidates, Mike Huckabee, addresses the convention in St. Paul, Minnesota

Mount Foraker, Denali National Park, Alaska

Mt. Foraker, Mt. Hunter, Mt. McKinley mountains (in order fom left to right), Denali National Park, Alaska

Natchez Trace Parkway, Mississippi

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaks at the Democratic National Convention, Denver, Colorado, August 25-28, 2008

Nancy Pelosi 2008 DNC

Nancy Pelosi 2008 DNC (01) (cropped1)

Presidential candidate Barack Obama speaks to the audience at the Democratic National Convention, Denver, Colorado, August 25-28, 2008

Presidential candidate Barack Obama, his wife Michelle, and his children Malia and Sasha wave to the audience at the Democratic National Convention, Denver, Colorado, August 25-28, 2008

Presidential candidate Barack Obama waves to the audience at the Democratic National Convention, Denver, Colorado, August 25-28, 2008

Republican National Convention, September 1-4, 2008. Presidential candidate John McCain and his wife Cindy greet the crowd at the convention, St. Paul, Minnesota

Republican National Convention, September 1-4, 2008. Balloons drop at the convention in the Xcel Center, St. Paul, Minnesota

Republican National Convention, September 1-4, 2008. Balloon drop at the convention in the Xcel Center, St. Paul, Minnesota

Republican National Convention, September 1-4, 2008. Republicans gather to listen to speeches at Xcel Center, St. Paul, Minnesota

Republican National Convention, September 1-4, 2008. Protest signs against Republican policies outside the Capitol Building, St. Paul, Minnesota

Republican National Convention, September 1-4, 2008. Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin on the big screen at the convention, St. Paul, Minnesota

Republican National Convention, September 1-4, 2008. Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin and her husband Todd Palin greet the crowd at the convention at the Xcel Center, St. Paul, Minnesota