Utah, the Right Place: The Official Centennial History
Weaving together the stories of the Anasazi; the Spaniards; the Mormons, Protestants, Catholics, Jews, and Greek Orthodox; the athletes, artists, and entertainers--all the famous and not-so-famous people from Utah's past--Thomas Alexander tells a story of determination, creativity, and originality.With humor and insight, Alexander traces the personalities and events that have shaped Utah, bringing to light little-known facts and raising for discussion often-buried issues. His narrative is rich in detail, providing context and perspective to familiar but sometimes misunderstood events, along with fascinating anecdotes to illuminate the times and people.Among other things, Alexander offers a candid look at the displacement of Native Americans by Mormon settlements and the state's early efforts to tame prostitution in the cities. He provides a new perspective on environmental activism in Utah, including movements as early as the 1890s to improve air quality and limit pollution from smoke. He describes the state's longstanding promotion of the arts and the decades-old leadership efforts by Utah's women in education and politics. And he delves into the turn-of-the-century struggles with growth in the state's urban areas--even describing one Salt Lake City plan to pay children a bounty on rats of ten cents per head (and ten cents per hundred for flies).--This text refers to an alternatePaperbackedition.