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Western Oregon's Willamette Basin, once a vast wilderness, became a thriving community almost overnight. When Oregon territory was opened for homesteading in the early 1800s, most of the intrepid pioneers settled in the valley, spurring rapid changes in the landscape. Heralded as fertile with a mild climate and an abundance of natural resources, the valley enticed farmers, miners and loggers, who were quickly followed by the construction of rail lines and roads. Dams were built to harness the once free-flowing Willamette River and provide power to the growing population. As cities rose, people like Portland architect Edward Bennett and conservationist governor Tom McCall worked to contain urban sprawl. Authors Elizabeth and William Orr bring to life the changes that sculpted Oregon's beloved Willamette Valley.

The magnificent Three Sisters Wilderness, straddling the Cascade mountain range, beckons adventurers from around the world. One of the original fifty-four of the more than eight hundred such areas designated by Congress, it is Oregon's second-largest most visited and accessible wilderness. Championed by citizens of Bend, Eugene and beyond, its preservation under the Wilderness Act of 1964 was a community-wide effort to keep the dramatic vistas and diverse ecosystems available for all to enjoy. Join author Les Joslin as he explores the origins of the wilderness concept, the natural and cultural history of the Three Sisters country and the stewardship that preserves what is termed "an enduring resource of wilderness."