Overland explorations of the trans-Mississippi west : expeditions and writers of the American frontier / Hunt Janin and Ursula Carlson.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Janin, Hunt, 1940- author.

Carlson, Ursula, 1943- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

West (U.S.)--Surveys.

West (U.S.)--Discovery and exploration.

Overland journeys to the Pacific.

Discoveries in geography.

Surveys.

West United States.

Physical Description:

vii, 185 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Jefferson, North Carolina : McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, 2020.

Summary:

"In 1528, the Spanish explorer Álvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca and his three companions were shipwrecked and, looking for help, began an eight-year trek through the deserts of the American West. Over three centuries later, the four "Great Surveys" in the United States were consolidated into the U.S. Geological Survey. The frontiers were the lands near or beyond the recognized international, national, regional, or tribal borders. Over the centuries, they hosted a complicated series of international explorations of lands inhabited by American Indians, Spanish, French-Canadians, British, and Americans. These explorations were undertaken for wide-ranging reasons including geographical, scientific, artistic-literary, and for the growth of the railroad. This history covers over 350 years of exploration of the West. "-Provided by publisher"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

1 Overview of the North American Frontiers p. 3

2 Goals of the International Rivals p. 17

3 Maritime Explorations p. 22

4 Beginnings of Overland Exploration of the Frontiers p. 28

5 Pathfinding and Exploration-Settlement Expeditions p. 34

6 Life on the Trails p. 41

7 "Runners of the woods" and Other Travelers p. 48

8 To Wait Patiently by Hudson Bay p. 54

9 Taking Great Pains to Get Along with the Indians p. 61

10 Descended from Five Generations of "waryers" [warriors] p. 68

11 A Famous Explorer Follows a "grease trail" to the Pacific Ocean p. 74

12 The Great Lewis and Clark Expedition p. 80

13 "An atlas of the West" p. 86

14 Creating a "fur desert" p. 94

15 How to Hunt Buffalo p. 100

16 Wanting to Become President of the United States p. 107

17 Mountain Man Slang p. 114

18 "Chastise them well" p. 120

19 A Nevada Outlaw Named Slade p. 126

20 The Great Surveys p. 131

21 A Famous Book: The Big Bonanza p. 137

22 Conclusions: Why the Explorations of the North American Frontiers Are So Important p. 141.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781476678672

1476678677

OCLC:

1133655071