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Category Archives: Natural resources
Atoms on the Range: Exploring Wyoming’s Nuclear Frontier
In the wake of World War II, Wyoming found itself at the forefront of a new mineral rush – uranium. This development would add another chapter to the state’s boom-and-bust legacy in mineral extraction, joining the ranks of earlier oil … Continue reading
Posted in energy resources, mining history, Natural resources, Nuclear energy, Uncategorized, Wyoming history
Tagged American Heritage Center Undergraduate Research Award, Archival Research, Chet Meeks Memorial Scholarship, Cold War, Environmental Impact, Nuclear Energy, Public Opinions, Regulations, University of Wyoming, Uranium Industry, Uranium Mining
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James Watt: From Wyoming’s Landscapes to Political Stances, Faith as a Driving Force
James “Jim” Watt, the former Interior Secretary, passed away on May 27, 2023, at the age of 85. While his tenure as Interior Secretary during the Reagan administration defined him, his career spanned various roles and contributions. Born and raised … Continue reading
Posted in American history, conservation, Economic Geology, energy resources, environmental history, Natural resources, oral histories, Political controversy, Political history, Uncategorized, Wyoming history
Tagged Environmental Policy, James Watt, Land Management, Milward L. Simpson, natural resources, Public Policy, Reagan Administration, Sagebrush Rebellion, U. S. Secretary of the Interior, Watt Book, western politics and leadership
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Reclaiming the Colorado: The Differing Visions of the Bureau of Reclamation and the Chemehuevi
In 1931, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California praised plans to build the Parker Aqueduct, which would redirect water from the Colorado River to the rapidly growing Los Angeles metropole. To the engineers and planners of the Metropolitan Water … Continue reading
Posted in environmental history, Environmental policy, Hydroelectric power, Indigenous Peoples, Natural resources, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation history, Uncategorized, water resources, Western history
Tagged Chemehuevi, Colorado River, Colorado River Compact, Environmental Justice, Indigenous Land Rights, John B. Kendrick, Mary Ludwig, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Parker Dam, Sinclair O. Harper, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Water Disputes
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Mardy and Olaus Murie, Conservation Enthusiasts
Margaret (Mardy) and Olaus Murie were fiercely dedicated to protecting America’s most beautiful places and wildlife. The couple enriched the concept of conservation, all while experiencing the outdoors and enjoying the wildlife and beautiful scenery around them. The story of … Continue reading
Posted in conservation, environmental history, National Parks, Natural resources, Uncategorized, Wyoming history
Tagged Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Brooks Range, Grand Teton National Park, Margaret Murie, Murie Family papers, Olaus Murie, Wilderness Society, Wildlife Society, Yellowstone National Park
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Back to the Future in Wyoming: Addressing 1980s Energy Boom Impacts in Evanston
“I’ve got to see it to believe it” was Evanston mayor Dennis Ottley’s first reaction when he heard about the Overthrust Industrial Association (OIA). A 1983 issue of the Christian Science Monitor, reported that Ottley was incredulous that an industry-backed … Continue reading
Posted in Economic Geology, Economic History, energy resources, Local history, Natural resources, Western history, western politics and leadership, Wyoming, Wyoming history
Tagged Amoco, boom and bust, Champlin, Chevron, Denver Research Group, Economic History, Evanston, OIA, Overthrust, Overthrust Belt, Overthrust Industrial Association, Wyoming
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Do Feed the Bears – The Arthur E. Demaray Collection
Arthur E. Demaray was a National Park Service Administrator who worked as the liaison between the Park Service and Congress. He worked for the park service from 1917 to 1951. Demaray’s writings offer insights into Yellowstone National Park during the … Continue reading
Posted in conservation, environmental history, found in the archive, National Parks, Natural resources, Tourism, Uncategorized, Western history, Wyoming history, Yellowstone National Park
Tagged Animal Behavior, Arthur E. Demaray, Bear Behavior, Conservation, Human Impact, Wildlife Feeding, Yellowstone National Park
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Unearthing History: Mining in Southern Africa Through the Lens of Ayer and Denton
The American Heritage Center is proud of its mining collections that cover mining industry records from all over the world and give an interesting view into the evolution of mining over the years. These collections often also give an interesting … Continue reading
Posted in Geology, mining history, Natural resources
Tagged Frank Ayer, mining industry, Photography, Southern Africa, Thomas Denton
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It’s About Dam Time!
Have you ever passed a dam and paused to think of how it came to be? In the early and mid 20th century, the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation industriously set to altering much of the hydrological … Continue reading