Published by Oregon Public Broadcasting, 

By Kristian Foden-Vencil (OPB) and Riley Martinez (OPB)

Longtime Lewis & Clark College history professor Stephen Dow Beckham died Saturday from medical complications following a collapse on Friday. He was 85 years old.

Beckham was a well-respected Oregon historian, preservationist and educator who specialized in Native American history, the American West and the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

“We have lost one of Lewis & Clark College’s most cherished academic luminaries, as well as a true icon of the Pacific Northwest,” said college president Robin Holmes-Sullivan.

She said many students will remember Beckham for a course he taught called “On the Trail of Lewis and Clark.” Rather than focusing on historic records, Beckham took students out to retrace the explorers’ route, often on horseback, from the Bitterroot Mountains of Montana to the Pacific Ocean.

“He did all sorts of things to really make people have an experience,” Holmes-Sullivan said. “So, they could really understand what happened.”

Beckham was a member of the Neskowin Historical Foundation. The foundation’s president, Jim Affolter, marveled at Beckham’s research skills.

“He could find anecdotes, he could find people and places,” Affolter said. “He would find in seconds what would take me an hour to dig and research.”

Beckham recently published a book called “Nestucca, Nechesne, and Siletz: Indians of the North-Central Oregon Coast.” On the day before he died, he gave a lecture in Neskowin celebrating the new book.

Despite not feeling well, Affolter said Beckham was “determined” to make Friday’s presentation. “He had slides, and he talked, and then he collapsed at the end,” Affolter said. “And the next morning he was gone.”

Beckham was born near Coos Bay, Oregon, in 1941, at the height of World War II. In some respects, he took after his father, Earnest Dow Beckham, who had a lifelong interest in history.

Stephen Dow Beckham earned his bachelor’s degree in history and biology at the University of Oregon in 1964. He then earned a master’s degree and PhD in history at the University of California in Los Angeles.

His early career started at Linfield University in McMinnville in 1969. Then he moved to Lewis & Clark College.

FILE - A Lewis & Clark faculty shot of Stephen Dow Beckham shortly after he arrived at the college, circa 1978.

Courtesy: Lewis & Clark Collge

“The Lewis & Clark administration decided it would be logical and appropriate to offer courses on Native Americans, the Pacific Northwest, and the American West,” he wrote for the college as the Pamplin Professor of History. “I was hired in 1977.”

Beckham spent 34 years as a faculty member and endowed chair in Lewis & Clark’s history department. He retired in 2011 but maintained a close connection to the college, authoring books about its buildings, chairing committees, hosting alumni events and making presentations.

“He leaves behind a lasting legacy as a scholar, a teacher, a mentor, and a friend whose generosity and spirit are woven into the fabric of the college,” Holmes-Sullivan said.

“Our hearts are with his family and all those who loved him.”

Over the years, Beckham became a leading authority on Indian law. By the time he retired, he had been called as an expert witness in dozens of land-use cases concerning reservations, federal recognition, casinos and fishing rights. His research was used to determine tribal rules, riparian rights and boundary lines.

Beckham also helped develop museums and exhibits in the Pacific Northwest, including “The Literature of the Lewis and Clark Expedition” at the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center in The Dalles, the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center in Baker City, The High Desert Museum in Bend, and “Oregon, My Oregon” at the Oregon Historical Society.

Beckham served as one of the trustees of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library and contributed regularly to public broadcasting productions, including OPB’s 13-part radio series “Unfinished Journey: The Lewis & Clark Expedition,” and Oregon Experience’s “Broken Treaties.”

Nominations Now Open for the 2027 Jordan Schnitzer Prize of the West $50,000 Cash Prize Awarded to Dedicated Solution-Makers in the American West

BEND, Ore. — The High Desert Museum is now accepting nominations for the 2027 Jordan Schnitzer Prize of the West (the Prize), an award that celebrates and honors uncommon collaboration and innovation in solving the legacy challenges of the American West.

Launched in partnership with Jordan D. Schnitzer and the Harold & Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation, nominations will be accepted on the High Desert Museum’s website through Dec. 31, 2026. For more information on the Jordan Schnitzer Prize of the West, nomination eligibility, and selection process, visit highdesertmuseum.org/schnitzer-prize.

In a moment when the American West is confronting unprecedented ecological challenges, the Prize seeks to highlight innovative responses to urgent issues such as water scarcity, wildfire, tribal sovereignty, land stewardship, ecosystem change, best ranching practices and more—offering models that can be replicated in other areas of the country facing similar pressures.

“The Prize celebrates and honors those leaders who are working collaboratively on these complex issues to demonstrate how to work toward the common good,” said Jordan D. Schnitzer, president of Schnitzer Properties and the Harold & Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation. “Inspired by these leaders’ determination, we will continue to award and recognize their tireless work to create solutions that benefit everyone while preserving and enhancing the remarkable Western United States.”

Now in its second year, the $50,000 prize is awarded annually to an individual or a small group of individuals whose work addresses the environmental and conservation challenges of the American West, with a particular focus on innovation, impact, and collaboration. In addition to the $50,000 cash prize, the winner will receive a piece of original artwork during an award ceremony in Portland, Oregon.

Brad Parry, vice chairman of the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation, was awarded the inaugural prize for his leadership and collaborative work in transforming the site of the 1863 Bear River Massacre in Preston, Idaho, into a place of ecological and cultural healing. As the leader of the Wuda Ogwa Cultural and Land Restoration Project, Parry is recognized for having built one of the most collaborative models of watershed restoration in the American West while successfully restoring the land to its natural state.

An esteemed panel of 13 advisors with deep backgrounds in tribal leadership, ranching and farming, water policy and river restoration, and prominent academic centers focused on the American West selected Parry's nomination. The Prize advisers also recognized four esteemed finalists in 2026:

 Amy Bowers Cordalis  Kelley Delpit  Julie Rentner  Laura Van Riper

Applications and nominations for the Prize will be evaluated by an esteemed panel of advisers composed of former tribal leaders, ranchers and farmers, water policy and river restoration practitioners, a poet laureate and renowned historian, directors of prominent academic centers that focus on the study of the American West, and more.

“The Jordan Schnitzer Prize of the West is an exceedingly timely and relevant effort to shine a light on the innovators, collaborators and visionaries among us,” said Dana Whitelaw, executive director of the High Desert Museum. “Their work demonstrates that we can look toward our future together even as we consider the economic and ecological challenges before us.”

Since 1982, the High Desert Museum has been dedicated to sharing the stories of the American West through wildlife, art, cultures, history, and interdisciplinary experiences, creating a shared connection and dialogue among its community.

ABOUT JORDAN D. SCHNITZER AND THE HAROLD & ARLENE SCHNITZER CARE FOUNDATION

Jordan Schnitzer has a vibrant legacy supporting the High Desert Museum. He is the visionary and sponsor of the Schnitzer Prize of the West. Through the Harold & Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation, Schnitzer carries on the legacy of his late parents and their belief that “to whom much is given, much is expected.” Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, the CARE Foundation and its leaders have given over $300 million to fund hundreds of nonprofit projects that touch lives and enrich communities.

Schnitzer is also a prominent West Coast businessman. He is President and CEO of Schnitzer Properties, one of the West Coast’s Top 10 private real estate owners with offices in six Western states. Schnitzer is also an ARTnews Top 200 Art Collector globally and shares his vast contemporary art collections at no charge to museums and institutions and supports accompanying programming, educational opportunities and publications.

ABOUT THE MUSEUM

The HIGH DESERT MUSEUM opened in Bend, Oregon in 1982. It brings together wildlife, cultures, art, history and the natural world to convey the wonder of North America’s High Desert. The Museum is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, is a Smithsonian Affiliate, was the 2025 recipient of the Autry Public History Prize from the Western History Association and was a 2021 recipient of the National Medal for Museum and Library Service. To learn more, visit highdesertmuseum.org and follow us on TikTok, Facebook and Instagram.

The Clements Department of History at Southern Methodist University invites outstanding applicants for the directorship of the William P. Clements Center for Southwest Studies and a tenured appointment in the History Department at the rank of Full or Associate Professor positioned for promotion in the near term. Fields of expertise may include the North American West, U.S. Southwest, U.S.-Mexico borderlands, and/or related fields. 

The position offers unparalleled opportunities for research, scholarly community, and teaching. The Clements Center for Southwest Studies, established in 1996, hosts a competitive fellowship program, nationally regarded symposia series, collaborative seminars, and public programming. It also sponsors the David J. Weber book prize with the Western Historical Association. The director will support fellows and emerging scholars, develop collaborative programming, cultivate community, and further enhance the Center's national and international reputation. The director will be an integral member of the Department of History. The successful candidate will foster close integration between the Center’s programs and the broader academic mission of the Department of History. Candidates should be prepared to advise and direct graduate students and to teach undergraduate and graduate classes in relevant fields.

The successful candidate will benefit from engagement with the Rees-Jones Library of the American West at SMU. The new library, expected to open in Fall 2027, will be home to one of the most significant collections of Western Americana in the country. While the Rees-Jones Collection is focused primarily on the pre-1901 period, the 20th-century holdings of SMU’s DeGolyer Library include Western business enterprises and literature, political collections, and the Archives of Women of the Southwest and Mexican history. The Bridwell Library, the Bridwell Press, the Meadows Museum (a leading center in the United States for exhibition, research and education in the arts and culture of Spain), and the Archaeological Research Center offer other opportunities for exploring diverse histories of the West on SMU’s campus.

About the Department:

The Clements Department of History has 15 full-time faculty members—award-winning scholars and several Altshuler Distinguished Teacher professors (the highest teaching recognition on campus). Our faculty teach undergraduate courses that serve history majors and minors, as well as a number of interdisciplinary majors on campus and the university Common Curriculum. The department’s graduate program emphasizes work on the southwestern United States, the West, ethnic Mexicans, U.S. political and diplomatic history, colonial era, and religious history. The department’s centers, the Clements Center for Southwest Studies and the Center for Presidential History, enrich department life with research colloquia, public lectures, and postdoctoral fellowships.

SMU and Dallas:

SMU offers an exceptional setting for a scholar of the American West. SMU is a private, nonsectarian university of about 12,000 students located in University Park, a highly regarded residential community approximately 15 minutes north of downtown Dallas. The University is home to numerous academic centers with which our faculty engage, including the Texas-Mexico Center, the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture, the John G. Tower Center for Political Studies, and the Dedman College Interdisciplinary Institute. Our faculty take advantage of opportunities to teach at SMU’s Taos campus and its study abroad programs. 

Beyond the University, the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area offers the cultural resources of one of the nation's largest and most diverse metropolitan regions, while providing close connections to the landscapes, archives, institutions, and communities central to the history of Texas and the American West. Opportunities abound to engage with organizations, institutions, and historical collections throughout the region, including the Dallas Historical Society, the Old Red Museum of Dallas County History & Culture, the African American Museum, the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, the Dallas Public Library’s Texas/Dallas History & Archives Division, and the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum. The broader North Texas region also offers access to the Kimbell Art Museum, the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, the Sid Richardson Museum, and the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, among other institutions with significant collections and programming related to western history and culture.

Learn more about working at SMU here and living in Dallas here.

Qualifications

The successful applicant will demonstrate the following minimum qualifications:

• A distinguished and sustained record of scholarly publication and intellectual leadership in the history of the North American West, U.S. Southwest, U.S.-Mexico borderlands, or a closely related field appropriate to appointment with tenure at the rank of Professor or Associate Professor, positioned for promotion in the near term. 

• A record of excellence in teaching. 

• A record of professional and/or institutional service and the capacity to provide intellectual and administrative leadership appropriate to the directorship of a major research center.

Preferred qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience in advising and mentoring graduate students, including doctoral students and interest in making significant contributions to the department’s graduate program.

Application Instructions

Applications must be submitted via Interfolio (https://apply.interfolio.com/193862) and should include a letter highlighting the candidate’s qualifications, complete curriculum vitae, and contact information for three letters of recommendation. Review of applications will begin October 31, 2026. To ensure full consideration for the position, the application must be received by October 31, 2026, but the committee will continue to accept applications until the position is filled. The committee will notify applicants of the employment decision after the position is filled.

Appointment to begin August 1, 2027. Hiring is contingent upon the satisfactory completion of a background check.

Application Process

This institution is using Interfolio's Faculty Search to conduct this search. Applicants to this position receive a free Dossier account and can send all application materials, including confidential letters of recommendation, free of charge.

Job Description

Join Our Campus Community! 

Thank you for your interest in joining the University of Wyoming.  Our community thrives on the contributions of talented and driven individuals who share in our mission, vision, and values. If your expertise and experience align with the goals of our institution, we would be thrilled to hear from you. We encourage you to apply and become a valued member of our vibrant campus community today! 

Why Choose Us? 

At the University of Wyoming, we value our employees and invest in their success.  Our comprehensive benefits package is designed to support your health, financial security, and work-life balance.  Benefits include: 

• Generous Retirement Contributions: The State contributes over 15% of your gross salary.  With your mandatory employee contribution, the total contribution toward your retirement plan exceeds 19%.
• Exceptional Health & Prescription Coverage: Enjoy access to medical, dental, and vision insurance with competitive employer contributions, which include 4 deductible options to suit your needs.
• Paid Time Off: Benefit from ample vacation, sick leave, paid holidays, and paid winter closure.
• Tuition Waiver: Employees and eligible dependents can take advantage of tuition waivers, supporting continuous education and professional growth.
• Wellness and Employee Assistance Programs: Stay healthy with wellness initiatives, counseling services, and mental health resources. 

At the University of Wyoming, we are committed to creating a supportive and enriching workplace. To learn more about what we offer, please refer to UW’s Benefits Summary. 

JOB TITLE:  

Assistant Director

JOB PURPOSE:   

The Assistant Director serves as a senior leader of the American Heritage Center (AHC), partnering with the Director to advance the Center's strategic vision, organizational priorities, and operational effectiveness. The position provides leadership for administrative and operational functions, including facilities and security, departmental reporting, collections stewardship, policy implementation, compliance, and resource management to ensure the preservation, protection, and accessibility of state, regional, and nationally significant collections. Acting with delegated authority, the Assistant Director assumes full administrative responsibility for the Center in the Director's absence and represents the AHC in university and external partnerships.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Assist the Director in the management, coordination, evaluation, and day-to-day operations of the American Heritage Center. 
• Oversee assigned administrative and operational functions to support the preservation, security, and accessibility of archival collections. 
• Serve as the primary coordinator for the American Heritage Center's facilities, including building operations, security systems, environmental controls, and specialized collections storage areas. 
• Coordinate facilities maintenance, infrastructure improvements, renovations, and capital projects in collaboration with university partners. 
• Maintain the Center's Emergency Response Plan and coordinate emergency preparedness and response activities with campus and external agencies. 
• Ensure compliance with safety requirements related to facilities, environmental controls, and hazardous materials storage and use. 
• Assist the Director with personnel administration, including recruitment, hiring, performance evaluations, and staff development for assigned departments and units. 
• Oversee the collections acquisition process, including donor consultations, contract coordination, ownership transfer, and implementation of collections policies and procedures. 
• Chair the Acquisitions Committee and make recommendations regarding acquisitions and collection development. 
• Assist with collection donor relations and support the development and implementation of collections initiatives. 
• Advise the Director on the interpretation and application of university policies, donor agreements, records management requirements, and applicable state and federal laws. 
• Review and provide recommendations regarding budgets, policies, procedures, and short- and long-range operational planning. 
• Serve on university and professional committees and represent the American Heritage Center as assigned. 
• Assume administrative responsibility for Center operations in the Director's absence.

SUPPLEMENTAL FUNCTIONS: 

• Perform miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.
• Participate in performance-related goal setting and achievement to meet personal and organizational goals and objectives.
• Attend and participate in training and other personal professional development activities.

COMPETENCIES: 

• Individual Leadership
• Quality Orientation
• Technical/Professional Knowledge
• Collaboration
• Judgment
• Negotiation

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: 

Education: Master’s degree in library and information sciences, e.g., MLIS, or master’s degree in a relevant field or closely related discipline. Or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Experience: At least 5 years of progressively responsible work-related experience to include 2 years of supervisory or management experience.

Required licensure, certification, registration or other requirements: Valid driver's license with a motor vehicle record (MVR) compliant with the Driving for University Business SAP. 

Experience Evaluation

Experience requirements are evaluated on a full-time equivalent (FTE) basis. Relevant part-time experience will be prorated based on hours worked. For example, two years working an average of 20 hours per week is equivalent to approximately one year of full-time experience.

Applicants must include the average hours worked per week for all current and previous positions. Failure to provide this information may affect the evaluation of qualifications.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:   

• Ten (10) years of progressively responsible administrative experience, with at least five (5) years of that in an archival or library setting.
• Experience with managing facilities. Knowledge of facilities management principles related to environmental controls, security, emergency preparedness, hazardous materials handling, and preservation-quality storage—and experience applying them.
• Experience in managing department personnel and operational activities.
• Expertise in donor relations and collection development, including consultation, negotiation, stewardship, and evaluation of acquisition proposals. 
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and compliance responsibilities simultaneously. 

REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS: 

Complete the online application.  The department additionally requests candidates upload the following document(s) for a complete application: 

1. Cover letter 
2. Resume or C.V. 
3. Contact information for four work-related references (references will only be contacted if you are selected as a finalist for the position). 

Incomplete application packets will not be considered.

This position will remain open until filled. Complete applications received by 10/21/2026 will receive full consideration.

WORK LOCATION: 

On-campus: This position provides vital support to campus customers, and the successful candidate must be available to work and perform essential job functions on campus, understanding our location is at 7,220 feet above sea level. 

WORK AUTHORIZATION REQUIREMENTS: 

The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the United States. Sponsorship for H-1B work authorization or work visa is not available for this position. 

HIRING STATEMENT/EEO:   

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation to apply for a position, please contact us at 307-766-2377 or email jobapps@uwyo.edu. 

ABOUT LARAMIE: 

The University of Wyoming is located in Laramie, a charming town of 30,000 residents nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountain West. The state of Wyoming continues to invest in its only 4-year university, helping to make it a leader in academics, research, and outreach with state-of-the-art facilities and strong community ties. We invite you to learn more about Laramie by visiting the About Laramie website. 

Located in a high mountain valley near the Colorado border, Laramie offers both outstanding recreational opportunities and close proximity to Colorado’s Front Range and the metropolitan Denver area. Laramie’s beautiful mountain landscape offers outdoor enjoyment in all seasons, with over 300 days of sunshine annually. For more information about the region, please visit http://visitlaramie.org/ 

Dear Western History Association,

I regretfully write to inform you that Dr. Iris Engstrand, Professor Emerita of History at the University of San Diego, died on September 12.

As a longtime WHA member and the 2004 WHA President, Dr. Engstrand made several contributions to the field of western history. She authored 21 books and numerous chapters and articles on Spain, California, and the North American West. In 2000, her article "Of Fish and Men" won the WHA Bolton-Cutter Award.

Dr. Engstrand became involed with the WHA in the 1960s and first presented her scholarship at the annul conference in 1967. In addition to presenting and chairing numerous panels over several decades, she served as the Local Arrangments Committe Co-Chair, Nominating Committee Chair, and on multiple award committees, the WHA Council, and the WHQ Board of Editors.

On a personal note, Dr. Engstrand was in her leadership role as the 2004 President when I started working in the WHA office as a graduate student at the University of New Mexico. In my experience, she exemplified the kind of collegiality that senior scholars commonly extend to others in the field of western history. Her intellectual generosity and curiosity toward emerging scholars reflected the spirit of community that defines the WHA.

The University of San Diego issued a tribute to Dr. Engstrand, which can be found here. The San Diego Union-Tribune will issue an article about Dr. Engstand soon.

Sincerely,

Elaine Nelson, WHA Executive Director

The Lost Region Recovery Project Conference represents a pivotal moment for Midwestern studies. This gathering of scholars will address the current challenges facing regional scholarship while charting a course for renewal and growth in the field.

Our mission is to create a friendly and neighborly Midwestern atmosphere that encourages open dialogue, fosters new collaborations, and plants seeds for a healthy harvest of new work in Midwestern studies.

Contact Information For questions about the conference or to register for the conference, please contact: Kayle Lauck McCormick, Assistant Editor of Middle West Review at kaylemcc@umich.edu

For more on the conference including the schedule visit: The Lost Region Conference

Peter E. Palmquist Memorial Fund for Historical Photographic Research Considered one of the most important photo historians of the 20th century, Peter E. Palmquist (1936 - 2003) had a keen interest in the photography of the American West, California, and Humboldt County before 1950, and the history of women in photography worldwide. He published over 60 books and 340 articles and was a strong proponent of the concept of the independent researcher-writer in the field of photohistory. With co-author Thomas Kailbourn, he won the Caroline Bancroft Western History Prize for their book, Pioneer Photographers of the Far West. 

Professor Martha Sandweiss, Princeton University, wrote that Peter "established new ways of pursuing the history of photography, and with his collections and research notes soon to be accessible at Yale, he will be speaking to and inspiring new generations of students and researchers forever.” 

Established by Peter’s lifetime companion, Pam Mendelsohn, this fund supports the study of under-researched women photographers internationally, past and present, and under-researched Western American photographers through the Great Depression. 

A small panel of outside consultants with professional expertise in the field of photohistory and/or grant reviewing will review the applications in order to determine the awards. Applications will be judged on the quality of the proposal, the ability of the applicant to carry out the project within the proposed budget and timeline, and the significance of the project to the field of photographic history. 

Past recipients and their projects are featured at the Humboldt Area Foundation. 

Range of Awards: $500 - $2,000

Funds must be used for research and, as necessary, expenses for travel, accommodations, and meals. 

November 15, 2026 is the deadline for submissions. 

Grant recipients will be announced in midJanuary 2027. 

Eligibility: Individuals and nonprofit institutions conducting research in either of the fields below are eligible to apply: 

• Under-researched women photographers internationally, past and present. 

• Under-researched Western American photographers through the Great Depression.  

To submit an application please go to the Humboldt Area Foundation link.

The Arizona Historical Society (AHS) awards short-term research fellowships to visiting scholars for one to three weeks of residency in Arizona. Preference will be given to applicants who spend most of their time at AHS archives, but we accept applications for researchers who would utilize other archives in the state.

AHS Reseach fellowships are open to academics, graduate students, and independent researchers. Applicants working on doctoral dissertations and those at the postdoctoral level are especially encouraged to apply. Applications from international scholars are welcomed, but international scholars must have a Social Security Number (SSN) or US Tax ID Number (TIN). Preference is given to projects that have a high probability of publication in the Journal of Arizona History or other scholarly journal. Scholars working on public history projects are welcome to apply, but research at AHS must eventually result in a publishable scholarly work.

At the end of the project, awardees are expected to submit a 2—3-page report on their research experience and are required to engage with AHS’s public audience, either through social media, presentations, or other means.

Awards

Awards range between $500 and $2,000 per project and are intended to defray travel and living expenses. Fellowship funds are not intended to pay for AHS services, like image reproduction or licensing.

Applications for the 2027 cycle will open April 1, 2026. Applications will be due November 1, 2026

We Want More History! 

Help Make History Visible This September
People care deeply about history. This September 25–27, communities across the country will have an opportunity to demonstrate just how much during We Want More History!, a nationwide weekend of history programming.

Museums, libraries, archives, colleges and universities, historic sites, historical societies, community organizations, and many others are planning talks, tours, exhibits, classroom activities, open houses, and other public programs that connect people with history.

You can participate by organizing an event, incorporating the weekend into your teaching, volunteering your expertise, or attending a program in your community. Already have a history-related event planned for September 25–27? Add it to the national event calendar.

Learn more, find participation resources, and explore the event map at wewantmorehistory.org.

The Other America 250 Story: The Domínguez-Escalante Expedition and the Making of the West

Tuesday, August 11, 2026
12:00 p.m. MT | 11:00 a.m. Arizona
Virtual via Zoom

As America 250 celebrations continue across the country, many stories of the American West remain overlooked. This webinar explores the 1776 Domínguez-Escalante Expedition and how its journey through today's public lands across Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico offers important perspectives on conservation, cultural heritage, water, and stewardship that continue to shape the Southwest today.

HECHO HCLC members Eric Carpio and Dr. Nick Saenz will share historical insights while connecting the expedition to today's conservation priorities and the enduring contributions of Hispanic and Indigenous communities to the landscapes we know today.

Register here