In Mountain Shadows: A History of Idaho

by Carlos A. Schwantes

Idaho is now seen as one of the most intriguing and attractive states in the Union. Any view of the Gem State is likely to be broadened and deepened by this superbly written history of it, In Mountain Shadows . Carlos A. Schwantes illustrates the extent to which Idahoans have always been divided by geography, transportation patterns, religion, and history. Although the state motto should have been "Divided We Stand," as he says in affectionate jest, it is also true that Idahoans come together on some basics—on avoiding crowds and maintaining the good life close to scenic mountains and streams. Schwantes reaches back to 1805, when Lewis and Clark were among the first white men to enter present-day Idaho. He describes the Indians then living in the Great Basin and Plateau, and proceeds through layers of history to show how fur traders, missionaries, and overland emigrants defined the land that became a territory in 1863 and, finally, a state in 1890. The vigilantism, Indian wars, mining booms and busts, and an-imosity toward Mormons and Chinese immigrants that marked the territorial years gave way to more troubles in the early years of an economic downturn, industrial violence, political protest. The arrival of automobiles promised to end isolation, but the formidable terrain slowed the building of north-south highways, just as it had railroads. Nevertheless, future Idaho would be a product of engineering and witness the coming of irrigation systems and hydroelectric plants. Schwantes brings his history through the Great Depression, World War II, and the Cold War, noting everyday life, colorful personalities, political and economic cycles, raging controversies, and current trends.

Genres: History, Historical

308 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1991

Reviews

[Chase · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book because it is about Idaho. Super interesting details that I never knew. Such as did you know mount Borah was named after one of the most spectacular congressmen that Idaho has had?

The book is a little dated as it was written in the early 1990’s. Also the chapters are not chronological. Instead they are organized topically, which causes the narrative to jump back and forth in time, which is confusing.

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt it only appropriate that since I am now an Idaho resident, that I should learn about the history of the state I claim as home. This book was well-written and utilised a plethora of bibliographic sources. It covered the time from just before Lewis and Clark's Discovery expedition up to basically 1990. The information provided was not overwhelming with facts and kept the reader interested throughout most of it. There were times when the author leaped forward or back without references the materials until later, which may confuse some if not already familiar with the subject. I truly enjoyed the photographs and other imagery used in the book.

[Diana Higgins]

This is really, really good! I had it from the library and decided that I wanted a good hardcover edition for our home library and found a beautiful used one for cheap.

I'm not a history reader, and I'm not from Idaho. My knowledge of my new home is sketchy and my mind tends to wander when I try to learn more about it but this book is well and clearly written and has lots of illustrations and photos.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now that I’m officially a resident of Idaho I needed to get my hands on some cool Idaho history. I learned lots of new things and now I’m super interested in learning more about Idaho in the 1800s. I more so skimmed the last 50 or so pages because it’s more current politics (blah) and what not but overall a successful read!

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good resource for research on Idaho history. It has been very useful for several of my projects.