A Line in the Sand: Musings & Essays on Stagecoaching: Dusty Trails to Shiny Rails

As a part of three series of essays, A Line in the Sand: Volume II, Dusty Trails to Shiny Rails examines the rise and decline of stagecoaching as an industry in the Frontier West. The first volume, Ancient Footsteps, considers very early (6,600 years ago) development of a series of footpaths describing transportation networks in place long before the arrival of Euro American settlers, leading to the precursors of stagecoach trails appropriated and adapted by Spanish, Mexican, and later American (US) governments. The third volume, Where the Dust Settles, focuses on the use of adobe as an architectural medium along early stagecoach routes. In aggregate, the three volumes consider the rise and efflorescence of transportation systems crossing the desert culminating with the advent of the modern interstate highway system in place today.

Residing in Southern California, Dr. Nixon works and writes from there. He has researched and visited many of the venues pertaining to the history of local stagecoaching and follows prehistoric and historic regional development. Prior to retirement, he participated in decision making processes involving local, county, state, federal, commercial, and Tribal representatives. As an Anthropologist, he has absorbed much local - desert - lore and is at home in this sometimes taxing environment. With prior experience in the Midsouth, Midwest, and Southwest, his perspectives encompass Western desert adaptations in the context of the early US frontier.