This is both a site guide and primer on the cultures of Indigenous peoples in the U.S. Enthusiastic archaeologist?/anthropologist Feder (Encyclopedia of Dubious Archaeology) provides practical details about access (driving directions, trail length, elevation, accessibility), along with the author’s opinionated trail tips, which are particularly helpful and demonstrate firsthand knowledge of each site and his sense of humor. Plenty of primary-source images and quotes, alongside photographs by Feder, provide rich context for each site. Includes a brief history of the U.S. National Park Service, glossary, references, and index. Overall, this is an engaging, chatty guidebook with well-cited, nuanced explanations of North American Indigenous histories; Feder inspires respect and wonder for these sites without being didactic. This guide will appeal to both first-time and frequent visitors seeking a deeper understanding of these national parks and monuments. Particularly useful when visiting the Southwestern United States, as 23 of the 30 sites are located in Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, or Colorado.

Library Journal

Ken Feder’s guide to the U.S. National Parks most closely associated with our Indigenous heritage is wonderfully accessible and darn near essential. I’ve been to many of these sites, but after reading Feder’s insightful descriptions of these magical places and their histories, I feel like I missed a lot and need to go back again. When I do, I’ll have his book close at hand.

Brad Lepper, Senior Archaeologist, World Heritage Program, Ohio History Connection

I’ve been a fan of Ken Feder’s work since I was an undergraduate reading Frauds, Myths, and Mysteries. And as before, his focus on the human aspects of famous places, and explicit centering of the histories and lives of Native Peoples in those places today, holds true to the spirit of modern archaeology and collaborative cultural heritage work. As such, this is a wonderful guidebook for anyone wanting to share the importance of that history with their friends and family, and to plan their next great road trip across America!

Holly Walters, Lecturer in Anthropology, Wellesley College, Department of Anthropology

Dr. Feder is the author of the very first archaeological textbook I read in school. For years, I’ve wanted to visit archaeological sites with him to learn their fascinating histories from a world-class expert. This book makes it possible. Written with authority, respect, sensitivity, and wit, this book gives a comprehensive introduction to some of the most important cultural and historical sites across what is today the United States. This is THE book that anyone with a serious interest in the past needs to read!

Jennifer Anne Raff, Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Kansas and author of the New York Times bestseller Origin: A genetic history of the Americas