Last Stand

Inthelastthreedecadesofthenineteenthcentury，anAmericanbuffaloherdoncenumbering30millionanimalswasreducedtotwelve.ItwastheeraofManifestDestiny，aGildedAgethattreatedtheWestasnothingmorethanatreasurechestofresourcestobeduguporshotdown.Thebuffalointhisworldwasacommodity，houndedbylegionsofswashbucklersandunemployedveteransseekingtomaketheirfortunes.Supportingthesehidehunters，evenbuyingtheirammunition，wastheU.S.Army，whichconsideredtheeradicationofthebuffaloessentialtovictoryinitsongoingwaronNativeAmericans.IntothatmaelstromrodeyoungGeorgeBirdGrinnell.Ascientistandajournalist，ahunterandaconservationist，Grinnellwouldleadthebattletosavethebuffalofromextinction.Fightinginthepagesofmagazines，inWashington'shallsofpower，andinthefrozenvalleysofYellowstone，GrinnellandhisalliessoughttopreserveaniconfromthegrindingappetiteofRobberBaronAmerica.GrinnellsharedhisadventureswithsomeofthegreatestandmostinfamouscharactersoftheAmericanWest聴fromJohnJamesAudubonandBuffaloBilltoGeorgeArmstrongCusterandTheodoreRoosevelt(Grinnell'sfriendandally).Astrikinglycontemporarystory，thesagaofGrinnellandthebuffalowasthefirstnationalbattleovertheenvironment.InGrinnell'slegacyisthebirthoftheconservationmovementasapotentpoliticalforce.