The 78 maps in this atlas add significant information to the study of the development of the American West, Defined for this resources as those 17 continental states west of the Missouri River. The maps range in chronology from explorations in the sixteenth century to the location of World War II prisoner of war and Japanese internment camps. The atlas includes maps of geographic, flora and fauna data. Maps are on the left pages and narratives about the maps re on the facing pages. Maps are black and white clear and easily read. An Appendix shows Spanish-Mexican land grants, and there is an index. Includes a section on Arkansas aboriginal setting and Native American tribes. Describes European contacts and settlements.

Relief -- Geomorphic provinces -- Mean annual rainfall -- Daily average temperature -- January -- Daily average temperature -- July -- Barriers to the West -- Major forest types -- Native tribal areas -- Dispersion of the horse -- The buffalo herds -- Native fauna I -- Native fauna II -- Fur-bearing mammals -- Extinct and rare birds -- Explorations, 1500-1599 -- Explorations, 1600-1699 -- Explorations, 1700-1771 -- Northern frontier of New Spain, 1766-1780 -- Explorations, 1772-1799 -- Spanish-Mexican land grants -- Empresario grants, 1833 -- Spanish-Mexican land grants, Lower Rio Grande Valley, west of the Nueces River, Texas -- Spanish-Mexican land grants, Eagle Pass-Del Rio, Texas -- Explorations, 1800-1810 -- Explorations, 1810-1820 -- Fur trapper rendezvous (mountain fairs) -- Explorations of Peter S. Ogden -- Expeditions of Jedediah S. Smith -- First commerce trails -- Texas cattle trails, 1840-1897 -- The great sheep trails, 1870-1900 -- Oregon-California Trail -- Overland tragedies -- Overland mail and connecting lines -- Pony Express routes -- Explorations of John C. Frémont -- U.S. military forts, 1819-1895 -- Federal wagon roads, 1849-1869 -- The Mormon empire -- Territorial expansion I -- Territorial expansion II -- Territorial expansion III -- European settlement -- The Mexican War, 1846-1848 -- Battles of the Civil War -- Battles between Indian forces and the U.S. Army -- Cheyenne and Nez Percé evasion treks -- Battle of the Little Big Horn -- Ghost Dance religion -- Tragedy at Wounded Knee, December 29, 1890 -- Indian lands -- Indian judicial land areas -- Principal meridians and base lines governing public land surveys -- Gold and silver bonanzas -- Stagecoach routes -- Railroads I -- Union Pacific -- Railroads II -- Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe -- Railroads III -- Southern Pacific -- Railroads IV -- Burlington Northern -- Railroads V -- Denver & Rio Grande Western and Western Pacific -- States and their capitals -- Counties -- Agricultural regions -- Field crops I -- Field crops II -- Fruits and nuts -- Livestock and poultry -- Major mineral lodes -- Petroleum fuels -- Catastrophic natural events -- The Great Salt Lake, Utah -- Mount St. Helens, Washington, May 18, 1980 -- Federal lands -- Major army installations: World War II and after -- Major Air Force installations: World War II and after -- Major naval and Marine installations: World War II and after -- Japanese-American internment camps during World War II -- World War II POW camps -- Appendix: Spanish-Mexican land grants -- Lower Rio Grande Valley, west of the Nueces River, Texas.