Natural History

Name: An Environmental History of the Willamette Valley
Brand: Elizabeth Orr
SKU: 9781467141468
Price: 18.74 USD
Availability: InStock

The Natural History American history book series honors America’s most beautiful natural sites, parks, and landmarks, marrying stunning images with historical narrative. Walk through the famous Biltmore Nursery, trek through Pisgah National Forest, and go birding in Louisiana. Meet the unique creatures who call wild Catalina Island home. Go fishing in coastal South Carolina or camp out at the Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument. These natural history books are sure to turn any reader into an adventurer.

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An Environmental History of the Willamette Valley

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Mountain Passages

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

The ACE Basin

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

Montana Peaks, Streams and Prairie

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Black Elk Peak

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

River of Spirits

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Swarm Tree

$19.99 $14.99 Save 25%

McKittrick Canyon

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

An Environmental History of the Willamette Valley

9781467141468

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Western Oregon's Willamette Basin, once a vast wilderness, became a thriving community almost overnight. When Oregon territory was opened for homesteading in the early 1800s, most of the intrepid pioneers settled in the valley, spurring rapid changes in the landscape. Heralded as fertile with a mild climate and an abundance of natural resources, the valley enticed farmers, miners and loggers, who were quickly followed by the construction of rail lines and roads. Dams were built to harness the once free-flowing Willamette River and provide power to the growing population. As cities rose, people like Portland architect Edward Bennett and conservationist governor Tom McCall worked to contain urban sprawl. Authors Elizabeth and William Orr bring to life the changes that sculpted Oregon's beloved Willamette Valley.

Mountain Passages

9781596290440

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

This intriguing collection of essays results from writer George Ellison's thirty-year fascination with Western North Carolina and its Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains.

These essays offer a window onto the rich heritage of this stunning and oft-misunderstood region. Hear stories in a distinctly Appalachian tone and glimpse into the mountain life and lore through a diverse cast of characters. Develop a new language fit for mountain life, and begin to understand the roots of the names Crooked Arm, Deeplow Gap and the Boogerman Trail. See the world through the eyes of the ancient Cherokees, for whom the Nantahala Gorge, was a chasm of horrors associated with the uktena, a mythic serpent from the dreaded Under World.

The ACE Basin

9781626197763

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

In 1988, public and private agencies began an unprecedented conservation effort for 350,000 acres of wildlife habitat. ACE Basin is an undeveloped region where the Ashepoo, Combahee and Edisto Rivers create a natural wonder inhabited by an incredible array of plants and animals. The area is a diverse and unique combination of habitat—pine and hardwood uplands, forested wetlands, brackish and saltwater tidal marshes, barrier islands and beaches. More than 250 species of resident and migratory birds soar over the wetlands at various times. The basin offers shelter as well to endangered and threatened species, such as the woodstork, osprey, loggerhead sea turtle and shortnose sturgeon. Author and experienced nature writer Pete Laurie dives into the flora and fauna of a unique Palmetto State treasure.

Montana Peaks, Streams and Prairie

9781467117555

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

From the peaks of the Continental Divide to the expanse of its eastern prairie, Montana contains some of America's richest wildlife habitat. Wilderness guide and author Don Thomas offers a series of personal ecological reflections on subjects as grand as the grizzly, as controversial as the wolf and as obscure as the upland plover. From native lore and the observations of Lewis and Clark to the present day, Thomas traces the history of human attitudes toward the region's wildlife. The result is both a guide and a testament to the value of western wildlife and ecosystems.

Black Elk Peak

9781625858702

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

The history of Black Elk Peak—previously known as Hinhan Kaga and, more recently, as Harney Peak—remained segmented and scattered throughout the shadows of antiquity, until now. The natural landmark's namesake, Black Elk, experienced his great vision here, solidifying his status as a Sioux holy man. Obstructed by the insurmountable granite, General Custer and his horse nearly summited during the 1874 expedition. On that granite, sculptor Gutzon Borglum made the decision to carve a grand monument into the face of nearby Mount Rushmore. Prior to serving as the first Pine Ridge Reservation Indian agent and then mayor of Rapid City, Valentine McGillycuddy documented his ascent to the peak in 1875, where his ashes would come to rest. Author Bradley Saum chronicles the unique and untold stories that are intrinsically linked to the highest point in the Black Hills.

River of Spirits

9781625858603

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Originating high in New Mexico's mysterious Black Range and flowing to the Rio Grande amid contorted, ghost-like sycamores, Las Animas Creek remains one of the least accessible landscapes in the nation. The watershed is best known as the site of Apache chief Victorio's last major battle with the U.S. Cavalry before his retreat and ultimate defeat by the Mexican army. Despite its geographic isolation, the watershed remains closely linked with the history of nearby Kingston, Hillsboro and Caballo. Once home to New Mexico's last grizzly, Las Animas sustains a diverse range of native plants and wild animals, including bison, prairie dogs and mountain lions, as well as a host of endangered species. Aldo Leopold Wilderness and Ted Turner's Ladder Ranch ensure it remains Rio de las Animas, the "River of Spirits." Wildlife research biologist Harley G. Shaw compiles a human and natural history of this remote ecosystem.

Swarm Tree

9781596296756

$19.99 $14.99 Save 25%

Following tracks, messing with bees, chasing butterflies, stalking deer, tickling trout and picking up pawpaws--and hitchhikers. This lively collection by celebrated storyteller Doug Elliott will delight readers with its blend of natural history and heartfelt, hilarious takes on life. Whether tracking skunks, philosophizing over dung beetles or reading divine script on the back of a trout, Elliott brings a sense of wonder and humor to every story. His broad scientific and cultural knowledge of the Appalachians and beyond is a treasure. Dive deeply into the richness of the natural world, climb high into the tree of life and return--with amazing tales, humorous insights and deep spiritual truths.

McKittrick Canyon

9781626198685

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

The Guadalupe Mountains hold what some call the most beautiful spot in Texas. Once home to the Mescalero Apaches, McKittrick Canyon is an alluring wonderland of lush and abundant flora and fauna. It is named for Captain Felix McKittrick, who acquired the land for ranching in 1869. Legends of lost Spanish gold mines drew many unsuccessful prospectors before the turn of the century. Later, through the monumental efforts of early landowners J.C. Hunter Sr. and Wallace Pratt, the canyon was preserved as a pristine portion of the Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Each fall, eager visitors witness a vibrant show headlined by bigtooth maple and a variety of oak trees. Join author Donna Blake Birchell in an exploration of McKittrick Canyon's colorful history.