Great Surveys of the American West (Volume 38)

American Exploration and Travel Series

by Richard A. Bartlett

After the Civil War, four geological and geographical surveys, later called the Great Surveys, Undertook the massive task of finding out what lay west of the hundredth meridian in the vast American wilderness. Parties led by Ferdinand Vandiveer Hayden, medical doctor turned geologist, Clarence King, aristocrat and intellectual, John Wesley Powell, conqueror of the Colorado River, and Lieutenant George M. Wheeler, determined military man and scientist, roamed over the wild country during the years 1867-79, observing, analyzing, mapping, and at the end of each season, returning to Washington to publish their results.

For the first time in book form, Richard A. Bartlett has recreated for the reader the hardships, both physical and financial, the discoveries, and the high adventures of the bold, headstrong, and often brilliant men of the Great Surveys as they climbed the Rockies, explored the Yellowstone, or battled the Colorado.

Genres: History, Geography

432 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1962

Reviews

[Mike Renz · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a geologist and a guy who is in love with the Rocky Mountains and Great Plains, the four geologic surveys performed after the Civil War hold a special allure for me. GPS, Google Earth, modern roads, comfortable vehicles and over population has robbed us of both much of the wilderness and destroyed the "Unknown". Clarence King, RV Hayden, John Wesley Powell and George Wheeler entered a largely unknown wilderness with the goal of understanding it - and documenting it. Unlike the mountain men and indigenous people, needed to travel far off the beaten path, including the summits of the 14,000' peaks of the San Juan. The hardships and dangers were remarkable - starvation, avalanches, grizzlies and armed engagements with indigenous people defending their homeland.

Bartletts account is detailed, but not boring, interesting without flourish. The "Old West" was more than stupid cowboys drinking and shooting each other -and more than the US Army committing genocide. It included science. The work done in these scientific expeditions was so good, that some of it was used until the 1960s. In my opinion, the natural science done in the late 1800 was the very best of the old west.

Highly recommended for geologists, nerds and history buffs.

[David Iverson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful accout of the four great surveys (hayden, king, powell, wheeler) of the american west in the second half of the 19th century.

[Tim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dated language made it difficult to read

[Mike · Rating 2 out of 5]

Who would have thought that such an interesting topic could have been rendered so boring.

[Matt]

This is a comprehensive chronicle of the Hayden, King, and Powell surveys, complete with lots of maps and pictures. Good lecture material for my History & Philosophy of Geography class.