Beyond the Hundredth Meridian: John Wesley Powell and the Second Opening of the West
by Wallace Stegner
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On my top 10 of 10,000. No one can claim sufficient understanding of the expansion of the West in the late 19th & early 20th centuries without having read this. Stegner is a beautiful writer and you'll love this book. John Wesley Powell not only led the historic Explorations of the Colorado River anad its Canyons, but founded the US Geological Survey & Bureay of Ethnicity. He also was a cofounder and inaugural attendee of very first meeting to consider the creation of a Society for th...more
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After reading Undaunted Courage, I became more interested in the exploration of the western US. This interest led me to the adventures of John Wesley Powell in Dolnick's Down The Great Unknown. That book focuses exclusively on Powell's first trip of adventure and exploration. This book also covers some of that material. But it goes far beyond in pointing out Powell's great contribution to the settling of the west - he basically started the USGS - and his understanding of the limitations on weste...more
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Read in January, 2007
Stegner's history of Powell's trip (the first ever continuous trip by a white man) down the Colorado and (tho I didn't get that far before It was due back at the library) subsequent role in american politics. Powell is so cool. Sort of a dense read because of all the details of the trip. Can't wait to finish it.
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So, John Wesley Powell had a really interesting life. His exploration of the Green River and the Grand Canyon is an awesmoe story. His work on topography and irrigation law reform? Less interesting, and yet this part of his life is roughly 2/3 of the book.
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A bit slow, but very cool. Powell was on of the great American explorers of the West, with not only a profound understanding of western landscapes, but a profound vision of how they should be lived upon. A vision one wishes were given more credence.
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Wallace Stegner does the west better than anybody. Powell is an amazing historical figure. Read this book and gain a better understanding of the region in which we live. Conserve water!
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While I had to read this for a class, it is a fascinating story of Powell and his trip down the Colorado and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
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recommended to Seanachie by:
David McCullough
David McCullough describes this as a book he is "fond of" ? hmm, wonder how "fond of" stacks up against "masterpiece".
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I love this account of Powell's discovery of the West! If you enjoy American western history this is a must read.
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