“The Ways Across the West:
From Trail to Rail to Highway”

Instructors: John B. Reid, Ph.D., TMCC Master
Teachers: Sue Davis & Angela Abawi
National Automobile Museum Facilitators: Jackie Frady & Barbara Clark
Location: National Automobile Museum (The Harrah Collection)

Covered wagon with jackrabbit mules encounters an automobile on the trail near Big Springs, Nebraska. By A. L. Westgard, 1912. (Library of Congress ARC Identifier: 513358)

In Partnership with:

Truckee Meadows Community College, Professor John Reid
National Automobile Museum (The Harrah Collection)
Nevada Humanities Chautauqua
Washoe County School District

June 21-26, 2009

Institute Description

The goal of the institute is to increase history content knowledge of the participants. This year’s subject is the history of the role of transportation in the West. Participants will read and discuss up-to-date research and commentary on the subject, and instructors will emphasize practical application of this knowledge. In particular, instructors and participants investigate and discuss innovative approaches and/or materials that relate directly to the Nevada history standards. The atmosphere will be relaxed with discussion and class interaction encouraged at all times. The class will investigate a number of historical materials – primary documents, the work of prominent historians, literature, and a number of audio and visual materials.
 

Texts and Curriculum Materials

• Carlos Schwantes, Going Places: Transportation Redefines the American West
• Joan Brodsky Schur, Eyewitness to the Past, Strategies for Teaching American History
• Gregory M. Franzwa, Alices’ Drive, Alice Ramsey
• National Automobile Museum, Against All Odds: The Great New York to Paris Auto Race of 1908

Assignments

    For stipend only:

• Lesson Portfolio

• All of the above plus one 10-15 page research paper
• Due at final meeting July 7, 2009
• June 17, 2009 last day to register on-line for History 737R