Exploration, Adventure, and Science in America: A View from the Classroom

This essay is a reflection on a history course called “Exploration, Adventure, and Science in America” that the author teaches at the university level. It focuses on five main themes that structure the class: interrogating the meaning of exploration; balancing continuity and change; centering diverse actors and places; tying exploration to knowledge production; and using exploration to reimagine American history. It offers practical tips for teaching the history of American exploration, dwells on broader questions that can get students thinking creatively about the past and ponders ways to improve the course amid the many challenges facing educators today.