| Timeline |
| 1837 |
Born 12 February in Bolton, England |
| 1844 |
Family emigrates to the United States, they settle near Philadelphia, PA |
| 1852 |
Apprenticeship with a local engraving firm |
| 1856 |
Rents a studio with brother, Edward (also an artist) |
| 1858 |
Exhibits an oil painting at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts |
| 1860 |
Travels Great Lakes region |
| 1861 |
Travels to England to study the work of Turner |
| 1862 |
Marries Mary Nimmo |
| 1866 |
Travels to France and Italy to study the old masters |
| 1867 |
Exhibits at the Exposition Universelle in Paris |
| 1871 |
Joins the government survey team (led by Dr. F.V. Hayden) to study Yellowstone |
| 1871 |
Travels the Green River Valley of Wyoming |
| 1872 |
Sketches in Yosemite and other parts of California |
| 1873 |
Joins Major John Wesley Powell's expedition to the Grand Canyon |
| 1874 |
Joins the Hayden survey team to explore Colorado, paints the Mountain of the Holy Cross |
| 1879 |
Travels the Tetons, the Sierra Nevada, and to Lake Tahoe |
| 1882 |
Returns to Bolton, England - holds exhibition |
| 1883 |
Travels to Mexico and Cuba |
| 1884 |
Builds East Hampton, Long Island studio |
| 1886 |
Spends time in Venice |
| 1890 |
In Venice again |
| 1892 |
AT&SF Railroad sends Moran to Arizona and New Mexico |
| 1899 |
Wife Mary dies |
| 1900 |
Journeys to Shoshone Falls on the Snake River in Idaho with daughter Ruth |
| 1922 |
Moves to Santa Barbara, California |
| 1926 |
Dies 25 August in Santa Barbara |
