A critical examination of traditional American West history asserting that families rather than gunslingers were the key players; discusses explorers, fur trappers, clergy, the Gold Rush, and the building of communities.

Native peoples : the first forgotten founders -- European settlers : human faces, far-flung places -- Explorers and fur trappers -- The religion factor in western settlement -- The manifest destiny morass -- California gold fever -- Bootstrap capitalism in the Old West -- The Wild West and the wrenching of the American chronicle -- The Wild West and the settlers : contrasting visions.