The little-known story of how the U.S. government came to hold nearly one-third of the nation's land primarily for recreation and conservation.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

How it is that the United States—the country that cherishes the ideal of private property more than any other in the world—has chosen to set aside nearly on

Who Controls Public Lands?: Mining, Forestry, and Grazing Policies, 1870-1990