Scenic and Wilderness Travel Literature, c.1850-1920:
Additional Resources in the Library of Congress

The Library of Congress's General Collection and Rare Book Division include extensive holdings in the many-sided literature of scenic and wilderness travel, adventure, and aesthetic appreciation that contributed to the development of the American conservation movement. After consulting works included in the Conservation Collection, readers who have direct access to the Library, or to other major research libraries, might wish to look at titles such as those on the list below. They might also wish to consult some of the titles on three other Additional Resources lists, "Nature and Wilderness as Recreational Resources, c.1850-1920", "The Nature Essay, c.1850-1920", and "Sportsmen and Conservationism, c.1850-1920."


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Barnes, Demas. From the Atlantic to the Pacific, overland. A series of letters,... describing a trip from New York, via Chicago, Atchison, the Great Plains, Denver, the Rocky Mountains, Central City, Colorado, Dakota, Pike's Peak, Laramie Park, Bridger's Pass, Salt Lake City, Utah, Nevada, Austin, Washoe, Virginia City, the Sierras and California, to San Francisco, thence home, by Acapulco, and the Isthmus of Panama. New York, D. Van Nostrand, 1866.
LC CALL NUMBER: F594.B26
LCCN: rc01-1499

Beadle, J.H. The undeveloped West; or, five years in the territories: being a complete history of that vast region between the Mississippi and the Pacific, its resources, climate, inhabitants, natural curiosities, etc. etc. Philadelphia, Chicago, Cincinnati, St. Louis, National publishing company, [1873].
LC CALL NUMBER: F594.B36
LCCN: rc01-1500

Bolles, Frank. At the north of Bearcamp Water: chronicles of a stroller in New England from July to December. Boston and New York, Houghton, Mifflin and company, 1893.
LC CALL NUMBER: F41.6.S1B6
LCCN: 01-8836

Bolles, Frank. Land of the lingering snow: chronicles of a stroller in New England from January to June. Boston and New York, Houghton, Mifflin and company, 1891.
LC CALL NUMBER: F9.B69
LCCN: 01-7606/4

Bowles, Samuel. Across the continent: a summer's journey to the Rocky Mountains, the Mormons, and the Pacific states, with Speaker Colfax. Springfield, Mass., Samuel Bowles & company, 1866.
LC CALL NUMBER: F594.B76 1866
LCCN: 37-20788

Bromfield, Edward T., ed. Picturesque journeys in America of the Junior United Tourist Club. New York, R. Worthington, 1883.
LC CALL NUMBER: E168.B88
LCCN: 02-1399

Bryant, W.C., ed. Picturesque America; or, the land we live in. 2 vols. New York, D. Appleton and company, [1872-74].
LC CALL NUMBER: E168.P586 (Rare BK Coll)
LCCN: 02-1634

Buckley, J.M. Two weeks in the Yosemite and vicinity. New York, Nelson & Phillips, [1873].
LC CALL NUMBER: F868.Y6B86
LCCN: rc01-624

Buel, J.W. America's wonderlands. A pictorial and descriptive history of our country's scenic marvels as delineated by pen and camera... More than 500 magnificent photographic views of the majestic mountains, bewildering canons, beautiful waterfalls, curious and weird formations, charming valleys, picturesque lakes, famous caverns, spouting geysers, colossal glaciers, and hundreds of other natural wonders that render America the most famous and beautiful among the nations of the world. Interspersed with history, legend, adventure and entrancing descriptions of the marvelous regions and natural wonders embraced within our vast domain, from Alaska's frigid clime to Florida's summerlands. Philadelphia, Historical publishing co., 1893.
LC CALL NUMBER: E168.B93
LCCN: 02-1386

Carpenter, F.D. The wonders of Geyser Land. A trip to the Yellowstone National Park, of Wyoming. Together with a thrilling account of the capture by the Nez Perces Indians, and subsequent escape of the National Park tourists, of Radersburg and Helena, Montana, in August, 1877. Black Earth, Wis., Burnett & son, printers and publishers, 1878.
LC CALL NUMBER: F722.C29
LCCN: rc01-1126

Carvalho, S.N. Incidents of travel and adventure in the Far West; with Col. Fremont's last expedition across the Rocky Mountains: including three months' residence in Utah, and a perilous trip across the Great American Desert, to the Pacific. New York, Derby & Jackson, 1857.
LC CALL NUMBER: F593.C28
LCCN: Rc-1184 rev*

Cooke, P. St. G. Scenes and adventures in the Army: or, romance of military life. Philadelphia, Lindsay & Blakiston, 1857.
LC CALL NUMBER: F592.C77
LCCN: unk82-105812

Curtis, George William. Lotus-eating: a summer book. New York, Harper & brothers, publishers, 1852.
LC CALL NUMBER: F123.C94
LCCN: 02-2402

Dellenbaugh, Frederick S. A canyon voyage. The narrative of the second Powell Expedition down the Green-Colorado River from Wyoming, and the explorations on land, in the years 1871 and 1872. New York and London, G.P. Putnam's sons, 1908.
LC CALL NUMBER: F788.D36
LCCN: 08-30303

Farrar, Charles A.J. Camp life in the wilderness. A tale of the Richardson Lakes. Boston, A. Williams and company, 1879.
LC CALL NUMBER: SK33.F24
LCCN: 12-22890

[Ferris, George Titus, comp.] Our native land: or, glances at American scenery and places, with sketches of life and adventure. New York, D. Appleton and company, [1882].
LC CALL NUMBER: E168.F39
LCCN: 02-1321

Francis, Lewis. A Sabbath at the Yosemite Valley. [Castleton, Vermont, n. p., 1871].
LC CALL NUMBER: F868.Y6F8
LCCN: 24-571

Fremont, J.C. Oregon and California. The exploring expedition to the Rocky Mountains, Oregon and California... to which is added a description of the physical geography of California. With recent notices of the gold region, from the latest and most authentic sources. Buffalo, Geo. H. Derby & co. publishers, 1850.
LC CALL NUMBER: F592.F866
LCCN: 05-6435

Glazier, Willard. Down the great river; embracing an account of the discovery of the true source of the Mississippi, together with views, descriptive and pictorial, of the cities, towns, villages and scenery on the banks of the river, as seen during a canoe voyage of over three thousand miles from its head waters to the Gulf of Mexico. Philadelphia, Hubbard brothers, publishers, 1891.
LC CALL NUMBER: F354.G56
LCCN: 01-8720

Hayden, F.V. The great west: its attractions and resources. Containing a popular description of the marvellous scenery, physical geography, fossils, and glaciers of this wonderful region; and the recent explorations in the Yellowstone Park, "the wonderland of America." Bloomington, Ill., C.R. Brodix, 1880.
LC CALL NUMBER: F595.G78
LCCN: rc01-1564

Hayden, F.V. The hot springs and geysers of the Yellowstone and Firehole Rivers. [New Haven, n. p., 1872.]
LC CALL NUMBER: F722.H39
LCCN: 01-19736

Headley, J.T. The Adirondack; or life in the woods. New York, Baker and Scribner, 1849.
LC CALL NUMBER: F127.A2H6
LCCN: 01-14016

Headley, J.T. Letters from the backwoods and the Adirondac. New York, John S. Taylor, 1850.
LC CALL NUMBER: F127.A2H64
LCCN: 01-14019

Hutchings, J.M. In the heart of the Sierras. The Yo Semite Valley, both historical and descriptive: and scenes by the way. Big tree groves. The High Sierra, with its magnificent scenery, ancient and modern glaciers, and other objects of interest; with tables of distances and altitude maps, etc. Profusely illustrated. Yosemite Valley and Oakland, Pacific press publishing house, 1886.
LC CALL NUMBER: F868.S5H9
LCCN: rc01-612

Ingersoll, Ernest. The crest of the continent: a record of a summer's ramble in the Rocky Mountains and beyond. Chicago, R.R. Donnelley & sons, publishers, 1885.
LC CALL NUMBER: F721.I47
LCCN: rc01-1019

Ingersoll, Ernest. Knocking round the Rockies. New York, Harper & brothers, publishers, 1883.
LC CALL NUMBER: F721.I48
LCCN: rc01-1020

King, Thomas Starr. The white hills; their legends, landscape, and poetry. Boston, Crosby, Nichols, and company, 1860.
LC CALL NUMBER: F41.44.K55
LCCN: 01-8823

Knowles, Joseph. Alone in the wilderness. Boston, Small, Maynard & company, [1913].
LC CALL NUMBER: SK601.K6
LCCN: 14-1961

Langford, Nathaniel Pitt. Diary of the Washburn Expedition to the Yellowstone and Firehole Rivers in the year 1870. [St. Paul?, n.p., 1905].
Note: The title above appears on the title page; however, the original cover of this book gives its title as The discovery of Yellowstone Park, 1870.
LC CALL NUMBER: F722.L28
LCCN: 05-40305

Lanier, Sidney. Florida: its scenery, climate and history. Philadelphia, J.B. Lippincott & co., 1875.
LC CALL NUMBER: F316.L28
LCCN: unk83-86076

Lanman, Charles. Adventures in the wilds of the United States and British American Provinces... In two volumes. Philadelphia, John W. Moore, 1856.
LC CALL NUMBER: E166.L28
LCCN: 02-2206

Lanman, Charles. Haw-ho-noo; or, records of a tourist. Philadelphia, Lippincott, Grambo and co., 1850.
LC CALL NUMBER: E166.L29
LCCN: 02-2848

Ludlow, Fitz Hugh. The heart of the continent: a record of travel across the plains and in Oregon, with an examination of the Mormon principle. New York, published by Hurd and Houghton, 1870.
LC CALL NUMBER: F594.L94
LCCN: rc01-1524

Mills, Enos A. Wild life on the Rockies. Boston and New York, Houghton Mifflin company, 1909.
LC CALL NUMBER: F782.R6M65
LCCN: 09-8919

Muir, John, ed. Picturesque California and the region west of the Rocky Mountains, from Alaska to Mexico. 5 vols. San Francisco and New York, The J. Dewing company, 1888.
LC CALL NUMBER: F851.M954 (Rare BK Coll)
LCCN: unk82-83880

Muir, John, ed. Picturesque California: the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Slope. Illustrated with etchings, photogravures, wood engravings, etc., by eminent American artists. 2 vols. Philadelphia, G. Barrie & son, [189-?].
LC CALL NUMBER: F851.M98 (Rare BK Coll)
LCCN: 22-10766

Muir, John. Travels in Alaska. Boston and New York, Houghton Mifflin company, 1915.
LC CALL NUMBER: F908.M95
LCCN: 15-26894

Muir, John. The Yosemite. New York, The Century co., 1912.
LC CALL NUMBER: F868.Y6M9
LCCN: 12-11005

Murray, William H.H. Adventures in the wilderness; or, camp-life in the Adirondacks. Boston, Fields, Osgood & co., 1869.
LC CALL NUMBER: F127.A2M9
LCCN: 01-14021

Norton, Harry J. Wonder-land illustrated; or, horseback rides through the Yellowstone National Park. Virginia City, Montana, Harry J. Norton, 1874.
LC CALL NUMBER: F722.N88
LCCN: rc01-1032

[Parrott, Caryll S.] A descriptive reading on California Yosemite Valley and big trees illustrated by fifty lantern slides. Philadelphia, William H. Rau, 1889.
LC CALL NUMBER: F868.Y6P2
LCCN: rc01-634

Richards, T. Addison. American scenery, illustrated. New York, published by George A. Leavitt, [1854].
LC CALL NUMBER: PS2698.R87
LCCN: 29-24539

Richardson, Albert D. Our new states and territories, being notes of a recent tour of observation through Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Montana, Washington Territory and California, illustrated from sketches and photographs, taken on the spot, of towns, mining operations, persons, incidents, scenery, etc. New York, Beadle and company, publishers, [1866].
LC CALL NUMBER: F594.R52
LCCN: rc01-1533

Richardson, James, ed. Wonders of the Yellowstone. New York, Scribner, Armstrong and company, 1873.
LC CALL NUMBER: F722.R52
LCCN: 03-19767

Ross, James, and George Gary. From Wisconsin to California and return, as reported for the "Wisconsin State Journal"... Madison, Wis., Atwood and Rublee, book and job printers, 1869.
LC CALL NUMBER: F594.R82
LCCN: 03-21698

Rusling, James F. Across America: or, the great West and the Pacific coast. New York, Sheldon & company, 1874.
LC CALL NUMBER: F594.R94
LCCN: rc01-535

Sage, Rufus B. Rocky Mountain life; or, startling scenes and perilous adventures in the Far West. Dayton, Ohio, Edward Canby, [18-?].
LC CALL NUMBER: F592.S14
LCCN: 20-2629

[Seymour, Silas.] Incidents of a trip through the Great Platte Valley, to the Rocky Mountains and Laramie plains, in the Fall of 1866, with a synoptical statement of the various Pacific railroads, and an account of the great Union Pacific Railroad excursion to the one hundredth meridian of longitude. New York, D. Van Nostrand, 1867.
LC CALL NUMBER: F594.S52
LCCN: rc01-1538

Strahan, Edward, Sidney Lanier, Edward A. Pollard, and others. Some highways and byways of American travel. Philadelphia, J.B. Lippincott & Co., 1878.
LC CALL NUMBER: E168.S69
LCCN: 02-4090

Thayer, William M. Marvels of the New West. A vivid portrayal of the stupendous marvels in the vast wonderland west of the Missouri River. Six books in one volume, comprising marvels of nature, marvels of race, marvels of enterprise, marvels of mining, marvels of stock-raising, and marvels of agriculture, graphically and truthfully described... Norwich, Conn., The Henry Bill publishing company, 1887.
LC CALL NUMBER: F595.T38
LCCN: rc01-1586

Thoreau, Henry D. Cape Cod. Boston, Ticknor and Fields, 1865.
LC CALL NUMBER: F72.C3T37 (Rare BK Coll)
LCCN: 03-21052

Thoreau, Henry D. The Maine woods. Boston, Ticknor and Fields, 1864.
LC CALL NUMBER: F27.P5T43 (Rare BK Coll)
LCCN: 01-8882

Tice, John H. Over the plains, on the mountains; or, Kansas, Colorado, and the Rocky Mountains; agriculturally, mineralogically and aesthetically described. St. Louis, Mo., printed by the "Industrial Age" printing co., 1872.
LC CALL NUMBER: F594.T55
LCCN: rc01-1541

Van Dyke, John C. The Grand Canyon of the Colorado: recurrent studies in impressions and appearances. New York, Charles Scribner's sons, 1920.
LC CALL NUMBER: F788.V24
LCCN: 20-4459

Van Tramp, John C. Prairie and Rocky Mountain adventures, or, life in the West. To which is added a view of the states and territorial regions of our western empire: embracing history, statistics and geography, and descriptions of the chief cities of the West. Columbus, Ohio, Segner & Condit, 1867.
LC CALL NUMBER: F594.V28
LCCN: rc01-2401

Webb, W.E. Buffalo land: an authentic narrative of the adventures and misadventures of a late scientific and sporting party upon the Great Plains of the West. With full descriptions of the country traversed, the Indian as he is, the habits of the buffalo, wolf, and wild horse, etc., etc. Also an appendix, constituting the work A manual for sportsmen and hand-book for emigrants seeking homes. Cincinnati and Chicago, E. Hannaford & company, 1872.
LC CALL NUMBER: F594.W37
LCCN: rc01-1544

Williams, J. David, ed. America illustrated. New York, "The Echo" press, 1875.
LC CALL NUMBER: E168.W72
LCCN: 02-3797

Winthrop, Theodore. The canoe and the saddle, adventures among the northwestern rivers and forests; and isthmiana. Boston, Ticknor & Fields, 1863.
LC CALL NUMBER: F891.W79 (Rare BK Coll)
LCCN: 01-16810

Winthrop, Theodore. Life in the open air, and other papers. Boston, Ticknor & Fields, 1863.
LC CALL NUMBER: F24.W79
LCCN: 04-27260


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