American Expansion & Exploration
Ocean in View! Oh, the Joy! When William Clark penned these now-famous words in 1805, he spoke for thousands of men and women who would follow his footsteps. It wouldn't be just the sight of an ocean that would thrill them, either. Oregon's Willamette Valley, Nebraska's Chimney Rock, Utah's Great Salt Lake, the Ohio Valley, Tennessee's Cumberland Gap, the Great Lakes, The Alamo in Texas, Missouri's "jumping off" places, California's gold-mining camps, the Overland Trail in Colorado & Wyoming . . . American history is rich with landmarks, the sight of which has brought joy to the hearts of many weary travellers.
These travellers also encountered landmarks that brought tears to their eyes. High mountains (as in Rocky, Grand Teton, Smoky, Appalachian, Allegheny), wide rivers (like the Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Rio Grande, Cumberland, Columbia), Florida's Everglades, Georgia's swamps, the western deserts (such as Mojave, Painted, Death Valley), the never-ending Great Plains, and on and on.
This part of the study isn't just about people travelling west by the Oregon Trail. American Expansion & Exploration began in earnest when the lands west of the Appalachians were awarded in lieu of payment to Revolutionary War veterans or recompense to its victims (such as Ohio's Western Reserve or Connecticut Firelands). The casual student has a lot of choices here but is well-advised to experience a little of everything. Make sure that you watch a good Roy Rogers movie (Bells of San Angelo is our favorite), read about The Harvey Girls, and remember that the Pony Express only existed for a little more than 19 months. First-hand accounts abound, and that's always a good "jumping off" place. Enjoy your travel!
Quotes to Remember
"Go west, young man." Horace Greeley
"Ocian in View! O! the Joy" William Clark
For More In-Depth Study
BOOKS
The
World in His Arms (Rex Beach)
Pioneer Women (Joanna L. Stratton)
The Harvey Girls (Juddi Morris)
MOVIES
The Alamo (2004, Dennis Quaid)
The World in His Arms (1952, Gregory Peck)
The World in His Arms (Rex Beach)
Pioneer Women (Joanna L. Stratton)
The Harvey Girls (Juddi Morris)
The Alamo (2004, Dennis Quaid)
The World in His Arms (1952, Gregory Peck)
