Existing comment:
Engaging Nature:
Expeditions headed by topographical engineer and future politician John C. Fremont (1813-1890) in the 1840s helped open the American Far West to pioneer new residents. Laborers of many nationalities went seeking work. Investors sought wealth through railroads and natural resources, including mining, ranching, agriculture, tourism, and forestry. Naturalists worked to conserve wilderness and natural wonders. Fremont led five expeditions between 1842 and 1853. The explorers were challenged by extremes of nature and topography as they documented flora, fauna, weather, geology, and landscapes as well as possible routes to the Pacific. |