From the mysteries of the ancient Anasazi to the technological marvels of Silicon Valley, the American West has been a place where legends are made. In this authoritative, single-volume reference, you'll discover the full scope of Western US history and learn the true stories of the people, places, cultures, and events that have been the stuff of legends from pre-Columbian times to the present.

Part I: From Prehistory to Early European Explorations (?-ca. 1700). Part II: From La Salle's Expeditions to the Louisiana Purchase (1682-1803). Part III: From Lewis and Clark to the Pony Express (1803-1861). Part IV: From the Civil War to the Closing of the Frontier (1861-1893). Part V: The Modern Era (1893-2000).