In this newsletter:

• New Book Cover Reveal
• Securing the Pacific Northwest
• FREE eBook Giveaway - The Hudson River

New Book Cover Reveal

I've recently more clearly realized that the throughline of my interest and study of United States history if primarily how the nation expanded. Watch for aspects of that clarification as we reveal the title, cover, upcoming release date, and theme of our newest book. We'll explore more about these fascinating stories in the coming weeks. To enjoy the book cover revelation video and a few highlights in less than a minute, just CLICK HERE.

The Astorians: America’s First Great Venture into the Pacific Northwest

The first Americans to establish a lasting presence in the Pacific Northwest were often chasing something much smaller than farmland. They were chasing beaver.

The fur trade became one of the great engines of exploration during the early 1800s. Beaver pelts were in demand around the world, especially for fashionable felt hats. Companies competed fiercely for new trapping grounds, and their employees ventured into places few outsiders had ever seen.

One of the boldest efforts came from John Jacob Astor. Astor dreamed of building an American trading empire stretching from New York to the Pacific Ocean. His Pacific Fur Company established Fort Astoria near the mouth of the Columbia River in 1811, creating the first American settlement on the Pacific Coast.

Astor's ambitious venture planned to connect trading posts across the continent, gather furs throughout the Northwest, and ship them across the Pacific to markets in Asia. If successful, the system would have linked the interior of North America with an international network of trade. It was a remarkable vision at a time when much of the country west of the Mississippi remained unfamiliar to most Americans.

The venture faced enormous challenges. One expedition struggled across the continent while another sailed around South America. Supply problems, difficult terrain, Native conflicts, and the War of 1812 complicated everything. Eventually Astor’s dream collapsed, but the idea behind it did not.

The Astorians demonstrated that Americans could reach the Pacific Northwest and conduct business across an immense continent. They strengthened American interest in the Columbia River region. In many ways, they were the advance scouts for the explorers, traders, missionaries, and settlers who followed.

To explore more about the story of the Astorians in my History Highlights book, CLICK HERE.​

*BTW (By the way...) the Astorian's saga plays a role in the stories of my upcoming book which chronicle the nation's expansion.

FREE eBook GIVEAWAY

Tomorrow (Sunday only) this free eBook goes back to the beginning to consider how and why the Hudson River was such an artery for national defense and western expansiosn. CLICK HERE.​

Free book giveaways attract new readers and increase book reviews. PLEASE REVIEW any of my books quickly and easily here: CLICK HERE.

The upcoming weeks are going to be an exciting series of stories. Get ready to have som fun on this history adventure.

Have a great week!
Bill and Laura