Visions of the American West

319 Pages·53.39 MB·English

by  Gerald F. Kreyche

This page intentionally left blank
o
C~
../, Z
BASIN
I -\
I »
\
UTE
\~''\''-~ \\
\~ \
\\.
\." I
~~\ """"--
\. ,t10HAVE
_---".
'''-'40........, ~D-E-S.E....R..T /
rI.,"
NAVAJO
MOHAVE
APACHE
ASSINIBOINE
SIOUX
+BLACK
MT.HARNEY HILLS
---
,.
----
~o'<'t- ARAPAHOE
South ~
.
.........
..
... ...
C\/)... •:+!PfIK-~EKS CHEYENNE e.e.-......... \, .vt~········
~ e••••••••
~
e. •••• \,
~~
.....SPANISH
~o .-~s KIOWA \ ------I
"":~"°"tRllton Cin]arron '\------
.: :X) Pass
:": CaA \ / I
\
,
: River
~
.. ,
~ :-
.~ \,
l~
·
··e \
·
·· ----
---
~Q'
~.
COMANCHE ~~
•...
ROUTES OF THE EARLY EXPLORERS
)( fffNOflVOUSSITES
This page intentionally left blank
Visions of the
American West
This page intentionally left blank
Visions of the
American West
GERALD F. KREYCHE
THE UNIVERSITY PRESS OF KENTUCKY
Copyright © 1989 by The University Press of Kentucky
Paperback edition 2009
The University Press of Kentucky
Scholarly publisher for the Commonwealth,
serving Bellarmine University, Berea College, Centre
College of Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky University,
The Filson Historical Society, Georgetown College,
Kentucky Historical Society, Kentucky State University,
Morehead State University, Murray State University,
Northern Kentucky University, Transylvania University,
University of Kentucky, University of Louisville,
and Western Kentucky University.
All rights reserved.
Editorial and Sales Offices: The University Press of Kentucky
663 South Limestone Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40508-4008
www.kentuckypress.com
Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available from
the Library of Congress.
ISBN 978-0-8131-0197-2 (pbk: acid-free paper)
This book is printed on acid-free recycled paper meeting
the requirements of the American National Standard
for Permanence in Paper for Printed Library Materials.
Manufactured in the United States of America.
Member of the Association of
American University Presses
Contents
List of Maps vii
Acknowledgments ix
Prologue. The West as History and Myth 1
Chapter1. Lewis and Clark: The Corps of Discovery 7
Chapter2. The Mountain Men: To Risk a Skin for a Skin 35
Chapter3. The Plains Indians: As Long as the Grass
Grows and the Water Flows 66
Chapter4. Gold and Silver: The Quest for EI Dorado 105
Chapter5. The Missionaries: For God and Country 136
Chapter6. Trails West: Santa Fe, Oregon, and Mormon 173
Chapter7. The Military in the West: Glory, Shame, and
Pathos 206
Chapter8. Settlement in the Interior: Land, Sodbusters, and
Cowboys 245
Epilogue. The Enduring West 271
Notes 274
A Short Representative Bibliography 289
Index 293