New Mexico's Pajarito Plateau encompasses the Bandelier National Monument and the atomic city of Los Alamos. This work discusses what happens when native cultures and Euro-American commercial interests interact in such a remote area with limited resources.

'A fine environmental history...Known more for its role in the development of the atomic bomb than for its natural resources, the Los Alamos area characterizes the struggle between institutions and environmental values common throughout the American West...Rothman interweaves human and natural history in a well-written narrative, personally and lovingly told' - "Environmental History Review". 'A thoroughly researched, well-written case study of a beautiful, yet fragile region' - "Western Historical Quarterly". 'A history book written so beautifully that it is a delight to read' - "New Mexico Historical Review". 'This is a useful study because it examines a wide variety of issues, from economic change to the role of the federal government and to environmental topics, that are important in the history of the American West' - "American Historical Review".'This historical account of changes in land use on the Pajarito Plateau of northern New Mexico offers a wealth of insights into the development of western communities...Highly recommended' - "Library Journal". New Mexico's Pajarito Plateau encompasses the Bandelier National Monument and the atomic city of Los Alamos. "On Rims and Ridges" throws into stark relief what happens when native cultures and Euro-American commercial interests interact in such a remote area with limited resources. The demands of citizens and institutions have created a form of environmental gridlock more often associated with Manhattan Island than with the semiurban West, writes Hal K. Rothman. A professor of history at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the author of "Preserving Different Pasts: The American National Monuments", he has provided a new epilogue for this paperback edition.