The Old Northwest: A Chronicle of the Ohio Valley and Beyond

A sweeping portrait of the Ohio Valley and its surrounding lands, this volume takes listeners back to the early days when the frontier was still a wild, contested space. It explores how the region’s rich river systems and fertile soils drew diverse groups—Native peoples, French traders, and later American pioneers—into a dynamic mix of cultures, economies, and ambitions.

Through vivid narratives and carefully drawn maps, the book reveals the challenges of early settlement: the struggle to navigate dense forests, the negotiation of treaties, and the fierce competition for control of trade routes. It also highlights the everyday lives of those who built towns, forged roads, and laid the groundwork for the bustling heartland that would later emerge. Listeners will come away with a deeper appreciation for the forces that shaped the Old Northwest and set the stage for the nation’s westward expansion.