Internet Resources

The American West

• American Currency Exhibit ~ An online exhibit of U.S. currency, beginning with the colonial period and continuing through westward expansion and beyond. From the Federal Reserve Bank.
• American Painting of the West ~ Information, links and images from the National Gallery of Art exploring the role of painting and artists in the development of the American West.
• The American West ~ This site covers the "history and development of the American West, from the Frontier and Pioneer days of the Wild West, to today's Modern West." Scroll down to see various topics.
• Brigham Young, History of ~ Article from the Utah History Encyclopedia.
• "California as I Saw It:" First-Person Narratives of California's Early Years, 1849-1900 consists of the full texts and illustrations of 190 works documenting the formative era of California's history through eyewitness accounts.
• California Gold Rush ~ Information from the California State Library.
• Chief Joseph ~ Article from New Perspectives on the West, a documentary from PBS.
• Crazy Horse ~ Article from New Perspectives on the West, a documentary from PBS.
• Crazy Horse Memorial ~ Official website of the Crazy Horse Memorial and foundation.
• Custer's Last Stand ~ Information and images from the Library of Congress.
• The First American West: The Ohio River Valley, 1750-1820 ~ This collection of "original historical material documenting the land, peoples, exploration, and transformation of the trans-Appalachian West" features materials on Native Americans, blacks, women, leaders, industry, agriculture, and more. From the Library of Congress American Memory Project.
• Frederic Remington: the Color of Night ~ An exhibition of the artist who "has long been celebrated as one of the most gifted interpreters of the American West." From the National Gallery of Art.

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• History of the American West, 1860-1920 ~ "Over 30,000 photographs, drawn from the holdings of the ... Denver Public Library ... illustrate Colorado towns and landscape, document the place of mining in the history of Colorado and the West, and show the lives of Native Americans." From the American Memory Project of the Library of Congress.
• Gold Rush! ~ Information on the people and events of the California Gold Rush, 1849. From PBS.
• Gold Rush! ~ Oakland Museum of California
• The Iron Road ~ The story of the building of the first railroad link connecting the East to the West. From PBS and American Experience.
• Joseph Smith ~ An article from New Perspectives on the West, a documentary from PBS.
• Journeys West ~
• Language of the Land: Journey into Literary America ~ Exhibit that examines the literary heritage though maps, photographs, and the works of American authors from a variety of periods.
• Lewis and Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery ~ Information from PBS.
• The Lewis & Clark Expedition: Documenting the Uncharted Northwest ~ Extensive information and links from the National Park Service
• Manifest Destiny ~ Information from PBS.
• The Mormons ~ Extensive information from PBS.

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• Museum of Westward Expansion ~ This site, based on the museum located in the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, focuses on the "history of the 19th century American West, from the Louisiana Purchase to the closing of the frontier in 1890." From the Department of the Interior.
• New Perspectives on the West ~ Click People for a biographical dictionary; click Events for timelines; click Resources > Archives > Episode One (2, 3, etc.) for primary sources, documents, and images.
• The Nineteenth Century in Print: Travel and Westward Expansion ~ A collection of 1500 searchable books published in the mid-19th century. Click on "SEARCH by KEYWORD" and enter a search term. Click "View this Item" and search the text by keywords or click on a page number to view each page. From the American Memory Project of the Library of Congress.
• The Oregon Trail ~ Information from Idaho State University.
• The Overland Trail ~ Information from The Oregon-California Trails Association.
• Painters and the American West ~ Brief information and selected images from a past exhibition at the Corcoran Gallery of Art.

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• Religion and Ethics: Mormonism ~ Extensive information from the BBC.
• Surveyors of the American West ~ "This New York Public Library virtual exhibit highlights America's westward expansion through the photographs and searchable notes of photographer William Henry Jackson and of civil/mining engineer Robert Brewster Stanton."
• Thomas Hill ~ Paintings and information from the National Park Service on Thomas Hill, 19th-century painter of the American West.
• Thomas Moran ~ This site contains images of works, photos, and information on the British landscape painter "known for his panoramic views of the American West," including representations of Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon. From the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
• Trails to Utah and the Pacific: Diaries and Letters, 1846-1849 ~ A primary source collection of diaries, 43 maps, 82 photographs and illustrations, and 7 published guides for immigrants. From the American Memory Project of the Library of Congress.
• Union Pacific Railroad ~ History and photos page of the Union Pacific Railroad Company website.
• Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco ~ Click "The Gold Rush" to find multiple links to primary sources and documents.
• Westward by Sea: A Maritime Perspective on American Expansion 1820-1890 ~ A selection of items from Mystic Seaport's archival collections includes logbooks, diaries, letters, business papers, and published narratives of voyages and travels to illustrate the story of Americans’ western seaborne travel. From the American Memory Project of the Library of Congress.

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