Carlos A. Schwantes Boeken

Carlos Schwantes reflects on his childhood memories of trains, expressing gratitude for their presence. His lifelong fascination, combined with a historian's perspective, has led to a groundbreaking photohistory that explores the railroads' profound impact on daily life in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana. The vast deserts and dense forests of the Pacific Northwest remained isolated until the railroads carved their paths, bringing significant social and economic transformations. Farmers in the Palouse gained access to eastern markets, while larger quantities of logs and ore reached distant mills. Willamette Valley fruit growers found new consumers, and scenic destinations like Mount Rainier and Glacier National Park attracted eager tourists. The railroads not only facilitated settlement and tourism but also helped shape the region's identity. Schwantes chronicles the intricate and often tumultuous histories of major railroads like the Northern Pacific and the Great Northern, as well as smaller lines such as the Sumpter Valley. He profiles influential figures like Henry Villard and James J. Hill, whose ambitions shaped the railroads and, in turn, the region. The engaging text is complemented by over 200 photographs, many unpublished, showcasing the trains, towns, and landscapes of the Northwest, along with vibrant posters and brochures used to attract settlers and tourists.

Idaho is now seen as one of the most intriguing and attractive states in the Union. Any view of the Gem State is likely to be broadened and deepened by this superbly written history of it, In Mountain Shadows . Carlos A. Schwantes illustrates the extent to which Idahoans have always been divided by geography, transportation patterns, religion, and history. Although the state motto should have been "Divided We Stand," as he says in affectionate jest, it is also true that Idahoans come together on some basics—on avoiding crowds and maintaining the good life close to scenic mountains and streams.Schwantes reaches back to 1805, when Lewis and Clark were among the first white men to enter present-day Idaho. He describes the Indians then living in the Great Basin and Plateau, and proceeds through layers of history to show how fur traders, missionaries, and overland emigrants defined the land that became a territory in 1863 and, finally, a state in 1890. The vigilantism, Indian wars, mining booms and busts, and an-imosity toward Mormons and Chinese immigrants that marked the territorial years gave way to more troubles in the early years of statehood: an economic downturn, industrial violence, political protest. The arrival of automobiles promised to end isolation, but the formidable terrain slowed the building of north-south highways, just as it had railroads. Nevertheless, future Idaho would be a product of engineering and witness the coming of irrigation systems and hydroelectric plants. Schwantes brings his history through the Great Depression, World War II, and the Cold War, noting everyday life, colorful personalities, political and economic cycles, raging controversies, and current trends.