The story has been updated. The Department of the Interior was created in 1849 as the United States was rapidly expanding and acquiring territory. It became known as “the department of ...

Stay informed about the West. High Country News’ weekly email newsletters keep you up-to-date with our latest news and investigations from across the region. Reckoning with History is an ongoing ...

The Department of the Interior was created in 1849 as the United States was rapidly expanding and acquiring territory. It became known as “the department of everything else” for its enormous ...