AnexplorationofthehiddenhistoryofcampinginAmericanlifethatconnectsafamiliarrecreationalpastimetocampsforfunctionalneedsandpoliticalpurposes.Campingappearstobeasimpleproposition,atime-honoredwayofgettingawayfromitall.Packupthecarandhittheroadinsearchofashadyspotinthegreatoutdoors.Foramodestfee,reservethebasicinfrastructure--apicnictable,aparkingspot,andaplacetobuildafire.Pitchthetentandunrollthesleepingbags.Situnderthestarswithfriendsorfamilyandroastsomemarshmallows.Thisbookrevealsthat,forallitsappeal,thesimplicityofcampingisdeceptive,itshistoryandmeaningsfarfromobvious.WhydosomeAmericansfindpleasureinsleepingoutside,particularlywhensomanyothers,pastandpresent,havehadtodosoforreasonsotherthanrecreation?Neveronlyavacationchoice,campinghasbeensomethingpeopledooutofdirenecessityandasatacticofpoliticalprotest.Yetthedominantinterpretationofcampingasamodernrecreationalidealhasobscuredtheconnectionstotheseotherroles.AcloserlookatthehistoryofcampingsincetheCivilWarrevealsadeepersignificanceofthisAmericantraditionanditslinkstocorebeliefsaboutnatureandnationalbelonging.CampingGroundsrediscoversunexpectedandinterwovenhistoriesofsleepingoutside.Itusesextensiveresearchtotracesurprisinglinksbetweenveterans,tramps,JohnMuir,AfricanAmericanfreedpeople,Indiancommunities,andearlyleisurecampersinthenineteenthcentury;tin-cantourists,federalcampgrounddesigners,Depression-eratransients,familycampers,backpackingenthusiasts,andpoliticalactivistsinthetwentiethcentury;andthecrisisoftheunshelteredandthetent-basedOccupyMovementinthetwenty-first.TheseentwinedstoriesshowhowAmericanscamptoclaimaplaceintheAmericanrepublicandwhytheoutdoorsiscriticaltohowwerelatetonature,thenation,andeachother.
