The Smithsonian Guide to Historic America: The Pacific States

Smithsonian Guides to Historic America

by William Bryant

THE SMITHSONIAN GUIDE TO HISTORIC AMERICA - THE PACIFIC STATES

Genres: Travel, History, Reference, Nonfiction

496 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1989

About the author

William Bryant has lived and worked in the Middle East since before the Gulf War, in assignments with Saudi Medical Services, the Saudi navy and in the oil industry. He has written biographies of Roger Casement and Alfred Russel Wallace and Ross, a novel, parts of which appeared in Evergreen Review.

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although the pictures are great and writing fine, there are two major cons to this guide:

-This is a guide for 5 states. Yet California gets over 270 pages, the other 4 states get less than 60 pages each (Alaska only gets 33). I realize California is a large heavily populated state, but the intensive focus on just the one state glaringly shows how cursory the look at the other states is.

-Apparently historical America didn't exist before the Europeans arrived. There is little to no mention at all for historical sites and events prior to the contact period. For instance: there's no mention of Fort Rock Cave in Oregon, where the oldest sandals in the world, somewhere between 9000-13000 years old, were found; or there are entries for Lassen volcanic park and Mt St Helens, but not for the Newberry Crater area which had some of the youngest lava and obsidian flows in North America. The neglect of American Indian and Native Hawaiian history is not for lack of space, as things like canyons, beaches and other natural sites are given mention.

Overall, it's pretty disappointing for a Smithsonian guide.

[Jobiska (Cindy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adore the depth of the Smithsonian guides, the artistry of their photos, and the quality of the editions. Sleek!