author
A. H. (Almon Harris) Thompson
1839–1906
Best known as the steady, skilled lieutenant of John Wesley Powell’s western expeditions, this explorer helped map some of the most dramatic landscapes in the American West. He moved easily between the classroom, the battlefield, and the survey field, earning a reputation for calm competence and precision.
1 Audiobook
Report on the lands of the arid region of the United States, with a more detailed account of the lands of Utah
by John Wesley Powell, Willis Drummond, Clarence E. (Clarence Edward) Dutton, Grove Karl Gilbert, A. H. (Almon Harris) Thompson
About the author
Born in New Hampshire in 1839, Almon Harris Thompson was an American topographer, geologist, explorer, educator, and Civil War veteran. He studied in Illinois, served briefly as a first lieutenant during the war, and then worked as a teacher and school superintendent before turning fully to exploration and surveying.
Thompson is most closely linked with John Wesley Powell’s expeditions in the 1870s, where he served as a chief assistant and became known as "The Professor." His work in the Colorado Plateau and surrounding regions helped bring scientific order to places that were still only partly mapped by the federal government, and he became especially respected for his topographic skill and field leadership.
Later, he worked with the U.S. Geological Survey and was associated with the early development of modern geographic and scientific institutions in the United States, including the National Geographic Society. Today he is remembered as one of the careful, behind-the-scenes builders of western exploration whose measurements and maps outlasted the adventures themselves.