The American West: An Illustrated History

This ambitious undertaking covers the United States west of the Mississippi from ancient cultures to the present day. The focus is on the grand parade of people and cultures that has created the West.Seven chapters, organized chronologically, are replete with black-and-white photos and drawings, and abundant sidebars. The text ranges from the earliest groups--the Mogollon, Anasazi, and Hohokam--through the cultural clash of Spanish and Native Americans, the Westward movement of Anglo-Americans and their displacement of Native peoples, the rush to California, the Civil War and debate over slavery, the closing of the open range for ranching, to the region's urbanization and suburbanization in an increasingly pluralistic society.This overview is sure to whet appetites to learn more about specific subjects.