The author of The Promise of the Grand Canyon comes to DC on Thurs., July 5th, at 7PM.
John Wesley Powell (1834-1902) is best known for leading the first successful expedition down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. But that momentous feat was not the end of Powell’s career. Ross, former editor of American Heritage and award-winning author of Enduring Courage and War on the Run, vividly recreates Powell’s historic trip, then charts the wider legacy he left to the nation as a scientist and land-management pioneer. The second director of the U.S. Geological Survey, Powell advocated irrigation, dams, and reservoirs and was a key figure in creating the infrastructure that tapped the Colorado as a water source for Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Las Vegas. At the same time, he was sensitive to the vulnerabilities of the West’s ecosystem; predicting both the 1930s dustbowl and today’s water scarcities, he initiated the first national discussions of sustainability.
This event is free to attend with no reservation required. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
At Politics and Prose, 5015 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, DC. Click here for info.
