Tall Tales | Dispossessing the Wilderness

A book program designed to help us learn about the many varied cultures, landscapes, and stories of the American West past and present. Before the program, read the selected book, then join us as we gather together to engage in meaningful conversations and shared experiences. First 10 households to register receive a free copy of the book!* Our exhibition, Russell’s Retreat: Summers at Glacier National Park , explores Charles Russell’s connection to Glacier, where he built his Bull Head Lodge near Lake Macdonald and spent his summers capturing the region’s landscapes and wildlife in his art. While Russell’s sketches and paintings celebrate the beauty of the area, the land has a much longer human history, including the Indigenous peoples who lived, hunted, and cared for these landscapes long before the park was established. Join us for our next Tall Tales discussion as we read and explore Dispossessing the Wilderness: Indian Removal and the Making of the National Parks by Mark David Spence. This book examines how the creation of national parks often involved the displacement of Native communities, reshaping both the land and the stories told about it. As we consider Russell’s art alongside Spence’s historical insights, we’ll reflect on the complex relationships between people, place, and the idea of “wilderness” in the American West. National parks like Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Glacier preserve some of this country's most cherished wilderness landscapes. While visions of pristine, uninhabited nature led to the creation of these parks, they also inspired policies of Indian removal. By contrasting the native histories of these places with the links between Indian policy developments and preservationist efforts, this work examines the complex origins of the national parks and the troubling consequences of the American wilderness ideal. The first study to place national park history within the context of the early reservation era, it details the ways that national parks developed into one of the most important arenas of contention between native peoples and non-Indians in the twentieth century. Join us for our next Tall Tales book discussion as we read and discuss Dispossessing the Wilderness by Mark David Spence. Please read the selected book prior to the program. Registration: Required - opens September 8 Ages: 18+ Contact: Director of Adult Programs at adulteducation@SidRichardsonMuseum.org or 817.332.6554 if you have any questions or would like to be added to the wait list when registration is full. * Registrants who receive a free copy of the book can elect to pick it up at the front desk during museum hours or have it mailed for a $7 fee. Staff will confirm your option after you register.