Remapping the High Desert: Toward a New Look into Time and Space

FAIN: MD-277043-21

High Desert Museum (Bend, OR 97708-5035)
Dana Whitelaw (Project Director: June 2020 to present)

Development of a digital map illuminating the dynamic relationships between the people, wildlife, and landscapes of the High Desert.

The High Desert Museum requests a $30,000 Discovery Grant to develop Remapping the High Desert—an online project that will connect broad audiences to the dynamic relationships between the people, wildlife and landscapes of the High Desert. Despite its significant size and importance to the nation, the High Desert is one of the least studied and understood aspects of the American West. Using innovative design, this project will uncover the many layers of stories and relationships embedded in the vast landscape of the High Desert. Drawing from remapping concepts, the content and approach will prioritize diverse perspectives, including recognizing the High Desert as the ancestral homeland of Indigenous people. Users will also be able to share their experiences. Through this Discovery Grant, we will implement the planning phase of Remapping the High Desert and bring together a wide range of humanities scholars and digital media experts to develop major concepts and design elements.