The American West is both a geographical location and a state of mind. This might seem abstract and goofy, but its true that the American West has evolved through myth. I am intrigued by the historical context that has created the landscape of this region. It is this landscape of protected public land and wild & scenic rivers that has such a draw. Specifically, I am thinking about dams and whitewater as well as national parks and monuments.
What are the myths that define the American West? How have they changed throughout time, particularly in the 20th Century? What policies and politicians have transformed the West?
And what is the West? I want to learn about the Columbia River and how it has changed from the time Lewis & Clark first descended the rapids to the Pacific Ocean to today where dams steeped in history and rhetoric power the Pacific Northwest. I want to learn about Idaho.