Whitman College alumni, parents and friends are invited to explore the geology and history of this remote area of Central Washington, known for the Dry Falls of the Columbia, the Missoula floods, Grand Coulee Dam and the New Deal. On this excursion, you will learn of the region’s geologic wonders and the government programs that shaped the modern history of the West. Led by two of Whitman’s outstanding teachers, enjoy moderate hiking, spectacular views, evening discussions and presentations, and the companionship of fellow Whitties.

Great Floods and the Great Depressionwith Pat Spencer,

professor of geologyand David Schmitz,

Robert Allen Skotheim chair of historyOctober 11-14, 2013

Fire and ice shaped the inland northwest. The Columbia River basalts flowed across the land for millennia, laying the foundation of eastern Washington. Eons of water flowing across the rocks and soils, the force of the continental ice sheet scouring the land, the massive Missoula floods; all helped to carve the landscape we see today. Professor Spencer’s lectures will describe what happened and how geologists have studied these events; his daily field trips will provide an opportunity to envision the geologic processes that formed what you see, and to enjoy the type of experiential learning current Whitman students are engaged in.

Many of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal programs were multifaceted efforts to create jobs, develop and protect resources, transform American agriculture, and redress the imbalances in American society. The dams built on the Columbia River, and the Grand Coulee Dam in particular, embodied all features of the New Deal

effort to combat the Great Depression and transform American society to prevent a recurrence of the crisis. President Roosevelt’s policies during World War II transformed the American West. Due to the necessities of fighting a two front war, the natural resources of the region, and space for innovation, the Roosevelt administration actively sought to industrialize the West. In the process, it set off the great post-World War II economic boom in the Pacific Northwest that was fueled by the Columbia River Dams. Professor Schmitz’s lectures will explore the role of the Grand Coulee Dam in the larger context of the New Deal and general post-war expansion of industry and agriculture in the West.

“Roll On Columbia, Roll On”

Sign me/us up for the Grand Coulee trip!

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$560 per person double occupancy, $700 single; includes lodging, meals and snacks, faculty lectures, hard-hat tour of Grand Coulee Dam and transportation within the area. Plan to arrive Friday by 5:00 p.m. for social, dinner and introductory presentations. A deposit of $200 per person is required to confirm, all but $50 refundable until August 11, 2013. Space is limited!

To register, call the Alumni Office at 509.527.5167 or 800.835.9448, ext. 1, or complete the form and send to: Whitman Alumni Office, 345 Boyer Ave, Walla Walla WA 99362.

Lodging is at the Columbia River Inn in the town of Coulee Dam (see columbiariverinn.com for details), across the street from the Grand Coulee Dam Visitor Center. There are a few stairs to all rooms--more for upstairs but some for the lower level as well. Please indicate if you need a lower level room.

Participants in this trip must be able to walk unassisted up to two miles on uneven ground.

Pat Spencer received his Bachelor’s degree in Geology from the University of Washington in 1973, his M.S. from Western Washington University in 1980, and his Ph.D. from the University of Washington in 1984. Since coming to Whitman in 1984, Pat has been studying late Pleistocene sedimentology, stratigraphy, and paleontology in the southeastern Washington region. The results of those studies, conducted in conjunction with undergraduate geology majors, have been published as abstracts by the Geological Society of America, and as short papers in regional journals. He has led numerous alumni trips around the northwest as well as to the Galapagos Islands, and is the 2004 recipient of the Faculty Award for Service to Alumni.

David F. Schmitz received his Bachelor’s degree from SUNY at Plattsburgh, his M.A. from SUNY at Stony Brook and his Ph.D. from Rutgers University. He came to Whitman in 1985, and has held the position of the Robert Allen Skotheim Chair of History since 1995. He is the author of many books on U.S. history, and the recipient of faculty awards for teaching and scholarship. He teaches courses on United States Foreign Policy, America in Vietnam, Twentieth Century U.S. History, the History and Sociology of Rock ’n’ Roll, the 1960s, and General Studies. He is the 2005 recipient of the Faculty Award for Service to Alumni. Professor Schmitz has led alumni trips to Vietnam and on the Erie Canal, and has spoken at Summer Colleges and alumni events around the country. He is currently researching the origins of American nationalism in the 18th and 19th centuries.