First Impressions: A Reader's Journey to Iconic Places of the American Southwest

by David J. Weber, William deBuys

A guide to the history and culture of the American Southwest, as told through early encounters with fifteen iconic sites

This unique guide for literate travelers in the American Southwest tells the story of fifteen iconic sites across Arizona, New Mexico, southern Utah, and southern Colorado through the eyes of the explorers, missionaries, and travelers who were the first non-natives to describe them. Noted borderlands historians David J. Weber and William deBuys lead readers through centuries of political, cultural, and ecological change.

The sites visited in this volume range from popular destinations within the National Park System—including Carlsbad Caverns, the Grand Canyon, and Mesa Verde—to the Spanish colonial towns of Santa Fe and Taos and the living Indian communities of Acoma, Zuni, and Taos. Lovers of the Southwest, residents and visitors alike, will delight in the authors’ skillful evocation of the region’s sweeping landscapes, its rich Hispanic and Indian heritage, and the sense of discovery that so enchanted its early explorers.

Published in Cooperation with the William P. Clements Center for Southwest Studies, Southern Methodist University

519 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 22, 2017

About the author

David J. Weber was founding director of the Clements Center for Southwest Studies at Southern Methodist University. His research focused on the history of the Southwestern U.S. and its transition from Spanish and Mexican control to becoming part of the United States.

Reviews

[Doug Gordon · Rating 3 out of 5]

We picked up this book at a local book store while visiting Santa Fe a few weeks ago. It has some descriptions in it that have inspired us to return to the area and see some of the places that we missed. However, if you are not from the Southwest or have no particular interest in the area, you will probably not get much out of it. It's not a very long book, but even what was there seemed to be a bit padded.

[Brace1737 · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Impressions takes a unique approach to Southwestern United States History by showing the reader fifteen iconic places through the writings of the people who saw them as explorers. This is very useful book for armchair tourists and residents of the Southwest.

[Brendan Cane · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enlightening look into some of the southwest's most iconic and mysterious destinations. Perfect for geography/history geek like me. This also answers the age old question for many of the locations described within it- "what did the first person who saw this thing think about it?"