Bøger af Hal Rothman

The first comprehensive study of the park, past and present, Death Valley National Park probes the environmental and human history of this most astonishing desert. Established as a national monument in 1933, Death Valley was an anomaly within the national park system. Though many who knew this landscape were convinced that its stark beauty should be preserved, to do so required a reconceptualization of what a park consists of, grassroots and national support for its creation, and a long and difficult political struggle to secure congressional sanction.This history begins with a discussion of the physical setting, its geography and geology, and descriptions of the Timbisha, the first peoples to inhabit this tough and dangerous landscape. In the 19th-century and early 20th century, new arrivals came to exploit the mineral resources in the region and develop permanent agricultural and resort settlements. Although Death Valley was established as a National Monument in 1933, fear of the harsh desert precluded widespread acceptance by both the visiting public and its own administrative agency. As a result, Death Valley lacked both support and resources. This volume details the many debates over the park's size, conflicts between miners, farmers, the military, and wilderness advocates, the treatment of the Timbisha, and the impact of tourists on its cultural and natural resources.In time, Death Valley came to be seen as one of the great natural wonders of the United States, and was elevated to full national park status in 1994. The history of Death Valley National Park embodies the many tensions confronting American environmentalism.

This study looks at the American West, transformed by tourism from a land of opportunity to a land of opportunism. Illuminating the darker side of the industry, this work describes how the costs of tourism have challenged the benefits and proven it to be a devil's bargain.

Hal Rothman explains why Americans now see in the environment a salvation of themselves and their society, and a respite from the pressure of modern life.

Las Vegas glitters brightly in the vast Nevada desert, a haven for refugees from the ordinary America. This account of America's new dream capital shows how Las Vegas gambled on the post-industrial service economy, well before the rest of the country knew it was coming, and won.

From Yellowstone to the Great Smoky Mountains, America's national parks are sprawling tracts of serenity. This book looks at the new phenomenon of urban parks, focusing on San Francisco's Golden Gate National Recreation Area as a prototype for the 21st century.