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"Grand Tetons at Daybreak" depicts the majestic mountain range just after dawn, looking southwest. French fur trappers first affectionately referred to the pointed shape of the mountains as a grouping of 'grande tétons'. The panoramic vantage point of this scene is from the environs of the small village of Moran, Wyoming, overlooking the winding valley of the Snake River's Buffalo Fork Branch. In 1930, a movie crew shooting John Wayne's first epic western, "The Big Trail", filmed many of the scenes in Moran and the Jackson Hole area with the grandeur of the Tetons as the backdrop to the tale of westward expansion. At the time they arrived, there were just a couple wooden sheds in place, so the crew, including a 23-year-old John Wayne, set about constructing several cabins and other buildings to serve as both a movie set and lodging for the film workers and actors. Those buildings, some of which are still standing, were the start of the town of Moran. Today, Moran, Wyoming is one of the entry points for the Grand Teton National Park. The Teton Range is one of the most scenic mountain chains in the country, if not the world. "Grand Tetons at Daybreak" is faithfully reproduced as an archival-quality print from McGehee's original artwork, each hand-signed by the artist. Image size 11" x 18 3/4".
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