Helping put Mexican War, conquest of CA, Santa Fe Trail in context. Kearney, Fremont, Benton - names I've often heard but lose track of.
Overlap with Lamy of Santa Fe.
AZ as pretty much just outback throughout this period - not very important to the story line.
Descriptions of first detailed surveys; names attached to places rather randomly, so many have stuck (unfortunate but not unusual).
First artist sketches of desert, canyons. Initial difficulties in seeing beauty - which then was equated with productive land, or Hudson River School lushness.
Indian wars - not solvable. Longstanding enmity with Mexicans and between tribes. Lots of awful behavior but current criticism of this period probably would benefit from more reading.
Bosque Redondo - I finally understand where it was, why such a disaster for the Navajos (and a few Apaches mixed in).
Chivington (Sand Creek massacre).
Kit Carson - incredible fiction around his life; the real story is even better. Deep appreciation for multiple tribes (two Indian wives); but "did his duty" in terms of rounding up Navajos and others.
Canyon de Chelly, Canyon de Muerto. Destruction of peach trees (which originated with the Spanish).
Subjugation of Native Americans in general - what a situation.
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