This volume investigates the defining moments and figures of the American frontier through a curated collection of historical accounts. The editors, representing the American Heritage Magazine of History, compile twenty distinct articles authored by historians, poets, and political figures to provide a multi-faceted view of the Old West. The work utilizes a collaborative approach to synthesize various perspectives on the expansion and cultural development of the American frontier.

This collection is recognized as a standard anthology for those interested in mid-20th-century historical writing styles regarding the American frontier. Readers often note that the prose reflects the era of its publication, offering a traditional perspective on the expansion of the United States.