Chronology of the American West

Book excerpt: We think of the American West as a ruggedly beautiful landscape populated by Indians, buffalo, and stalwart heroes of the silver screen. But such modern myths span just a few hundred years. The legacy of the real West is much richer and much, much longer. Chronology of the American West: From 23,000 B.C.E. through the Twentieth Century examines the entire history of this legendary region from the earliest human communities to the close of the last millennium. This unique volume chronicles the critical events in the social, cultural, and political history of the region. The coverage begins with early Paleo-Indian civilizations and ends with recent events such as scandals surrounding the Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, and the Columbine High School shootings.