About the Exhibit

“One cannot be pessimistic about the West. This is the native home of hope. When it fully learns that cooperation, not rugged individualism, is the quality that most characterizes and preserves it, then it will have achieved itself and outlived its origins. Then it has a chance to create a society to match its scenery.” -Wallace Stegner, The Sound of Mountain Water 

Like many who find themselves in the American West, Wallace Stegner was struck by the overwhelming beauty of this landscape and all that it represents. In this exhibit, visitors will see how Stegner’s love for California’s environment shines through in his writings, as well as how he helped to impact how we appreciate and conserve its beauty for future generations.