Show notes
The Western frontier is a foundational myth of the United States. Historian Megan Kate Nelson is here to complicate it with the stories of women who do not at all fit the image of the American pioneer you probably imagine. In part 1 of this two-parter conversation, she (re)introduces us to Sacajawea, the Native American woman who led the Lewis and Clark expedition to the Pacific, and Gertrudis Barceló, an infamous gambling entrepreneur who became one of the richest people in the New Mexico territory.Members can listen to both parts of this conversation right away. Sign up at www.broadhistory.com/membership. ★ Support this podcast ★On this episode: Isabelle Roughol - Host Megan Kate Nelson - GuestWhat do you think?Read & comment at broadhistory.comReply on BlueskyEmail me: [email protected] to: (00:00) - Part 1(02:33) - Start of interview(03:00) - The imaginary of the American Frontier(06:57) - What is Manifest Destiny?(09:11) - The West before it was the American West(11:55) - Sacajawea's superhero origin story(15:03) - Sacajawea, an explorer in her own right(19:14) - Exploring as a postpartum mother and how Clark ended up raising Sacajawea's children(23:01) - How Sacajawea became a suffrage icon(26:47) - How Gertrudis Barcelo made a fortune at Spanish monte(34:11) - The epitomy of the Western pioneer man -- in a Hispanic woman(38:27) - Part 2 teaserGet the book 🇺🇸 Buy "The Westerners" in the US bookstore🇬🇧 Shop in the UK bookshop(Affiliate bookshop.org links support Broad History and indie bookstores. "The Westerners" is not yet available in the UK unless as an import.)Click here to view the episode transcript.
