Death Valley and the Amargosa: A Land of Illusion (Paperback)

by Richard E. Lingenfelter (Author) "The valley we call Death isn't really that different from much of the rest of the desert west..." (more)
Key Phrases: borax men, gunsight silver, colemanite deposits, Death Valley, Los Angeles, Furnace Creek (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Traces the history of Death Valley, tells the stories of its explorers, prospectors, and con men, and discusses the geography and development of the valley.

Product Details

• Paperback: 622 pages
• Publisher: University of California Press (January 11, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0520063562
• ISBN-13: 978-0520063563
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #155,246 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A nearly complete history and GREAT bibliography!, December 29, 1996

By A Customer

This book contains an excelent, highly detailed account of the history of Death Valley, CA from the first appearances of man up to it's designation as a National Monument in 1933 by President Herbert Hoover. It is very well researched as evidenced by the bibliography at the end of the book. Mr. Lingenfelter allows the reader to experience the trials and tribulations of the many soles who entered into "The Valley of Death" to discover, the hard way, the many illusions promoted by the published accounts of those who ventured before them. A must read for anyone wishing to visit the National Park for a drive or hike through a very mysterious and beautiful land.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perhaps my favorite book of all time. No kidding., November 6, 2001

By A Customer

What more could one want in a history book? Clean clear writing (and Lingenfelter is a professor of physics--go figure), plenty of interesting characters, loads of legends, and a starkly beautiful setting to back it all up. Lingenfelter has done a marvelous job. I've poured over his book twice and could easily read it a third time again without feeling bored. This book gives a wonderfully complete history of the Death Valley area. Read it first or take it along if you plan to visit. It will increase your appreciation of Death Valley immensely, and you'll be enthralled by the history as its told here.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE book on the Death Valley region, May 31, 2006

By	Bomojaz (South Central PA, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

In the Preface to this definitive history of Death Valley, Richard Lingenfelter writes, "This is the history of Death Valley, where that bitter stream the Amargosa dies. It embraces the whole basin of the Amargosa from the Panamints to the Spring Mountains, from the Palmettos to the Avawatz.... This is the story of an illusory land, of the people it attracted and of the dreams and delusions they pursued.... But mostly it's the story of the illusions - of the shortcuts to the gold diggings, of the deadliness of the land, of the bonanzas and immense riches ...." The history spans a period of time from its earliest recollections to 1933, when Herbert Hoover designated it a National Monument.

Apparently Death Valley got its name from a group of Argonauts passing through on their way to the California gold fields in 1850. The name first appeared on a map in 1861. Paiute and Shoshone Indians frequented the area, of course, long before whites showed up, and lived off crops they grew. The earliest whites were prospectors, looking for gold and silver. Ironically, the most valuable resource would turn out to be the white substance anyone could find just by looking: borax. Millions of dollars worth of borax was shipped out of the valley, first by the legendary 20-mule team wagons, and then by train. In the early 20th century gold was discovered in the valley and soon gold camps and boomtowns, places like Bullfrog, Beatty, and Rhyolite, were attracting miners and get-rich-quick schemers from all over the country. Copper and gas frenzies followed, but the next big change to the area was brought about by the automobile: tourists in their Model Ts were invited to "see Hell firsthand" and to experience the mysteries and uniqueness of this unforgiving area with Death in its name. And soon there was Scotty's Castle to ogle. Then in 1933, after years of wrangling, President Hoover declared Death Valley a National Monument.

Lingenfelter's book is dense with fact and incident, but it's a fascinating read from beginning to end. Although a previous book published in 1940 had attempted to be a history of Death Valley, it was incomplete and selective, and mixed fact and fable without distinguishing the two. Lingenfelter's book is thus the first to cover the ground completely and factually. (100 pages of endnotes attest to his serious intentions.) The book is authoritative and, as I mentioned earlier, definitive. Highly recommended.