Utah Stories

Keeping the West Wild

Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit

|


“Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit, and as vital to our lives as water and good bread. A civilization which destroys what little remains of the wild, the spare, the original, is cutting itself off from its origins and betraying the principle of civilization itself.”

Edward Abbey

 

Utah Author Edward Abbey had a deep  appreciation for the wildness of the west. There is something very special in a place that allows vast tracks of wilderness to go largely untamed, where humans are foreign guests rather than permanent residents. Abbey lamented how our national parks have attempted to tame some of the most wild areas in the state, and he especially regretted the decision to flood the ancient canyons and archiology inside of the Colorado River rage with Glenn Canyon.

Examining the wildness of the West from the perspective of folklore and the Western migration, we see a parallel histories of how the Utah territory went from a trappers paradise, to an outlaws refuge to a gold mining boom weaving alongside the dominant story of the Mormon’s New Zion. All the threads that brought people here presented  a promise of starting something new and grand in an untamed territory where freedom has reigned supreme.  The speed that the West has grown, become civilized and tame is incredible, when compared to the growth and development of nearly any other region on Earth.  Remembering these Wild West roots from which Utah has grown is an important part in maintaining our cultural identity. For this reason Utah Stories presents Utah’s Wild West past and present. Twelve stories about our wild west past and present.

 

Subscribe to our newsletter to have each story delivered to your inbox. Or check back for the next seven days as we make the stories available.



Join our newsletter.
Stay informed.

Related Articles


  • Utah Farmers Markets You May Not Know About

    Support your local farmers & artisans The Wasatch Front and beyond is home to many and varied farmers markets. There is the old and venerable Downtown Farmers Market at Pioneer Park, Wheeler Sunday Market, and Liberty Park Farmers Market. Not to mention all the markets popping up in cities from Brigham City to Moab. Here…


  • The Story of Rosa’s Cafe from Ogden, Utah

    Faced with a devastating loss, one Ogden Restaurant owner persisted.


  • Kizik Makes Waves in Utah with a “Hands Free” Shoe

    Kizik is one of Utah’s fastest-growing companies. Kizik is one of Utah’s fastest-growing companies. Choosing to enter the extremely competitive shoe market didn’t intimidate Mike Pratt, an experienced investor. Pratt’s challenge to his team of engineers was to invent a “hands-free” shoe — no tying required.


  • The Legacy of Johnson Farms

    “Progress” threatens the 100 year legacy of Johnson Farms in Cache Valley. But the family is determined, switching from a dairy farm to more profitable produce farming.