Helen Henderson Chain: Groundbreaking Artist and Humanitarian

In the late 1800s, it was uncommon to spot a woman hiking through the rugged Colorado highlands with an easel strapped to her back. Yet this was often how people spotted Helen Henderson Chain—affectionately nicknamed “Trot”—an artist, mountaineer and teacher whose adventurous spirit illuminated her art.

Chain painted with striking clarity and depth. One of her standout pieces, “Grey’s Peak” (1879), featured on this week’s cover, showcases her skill at capturing the majesty of the American West. She is often credited as the first woman to paint the Grand Canyon.

Beginning in the 1870s, Chain’s artwork gained national attention and was displayed in several high-profile exhibitions across the country. In 1882, her pieces appeared in the National Academy of Design’s annual exhibition in New York City. In Denver, her work was featured at the National Mining and Industrial Exposition alongside those of some of the era’s most prominent artists.

Born in 1849 in Indianapolis to a farming family, Chain pursued a formal education in the arts at Illinois Female College. After graduating, she met and married James Albert Chain, her lifelong partner.

The couple relocated to Denver in 1871 and opened a bookstore that also sold art supplies. Over time, the store evolved into a creative hub where Helen taught painting and also offered English lessons to members of the city’s Chinese and Japanese communities.