To begin with, the breadth of environmental topics historical geographers are now exploring--temporally, spatially, and thematically--has grown tremendously. With a focus on the more recent past and a renewed emphasis on scale and social and environmental justice, environmental historical geographers are currently conducting research in subject areas where, previously, their contributions were limited, such as urban, energy, and gendered environments. Invigorated by social theory, especially political ecology, as well as various "theories of change," including path dependency and relational theory, environmental historical geographies today are richer and more diverse than ever. Perhaps most important, an increasing number of historical geographers of the environment are forging links with environmental historians. Whereas in the past scholars in geography and history worked mostly in isolation, today a level of intellectual cross-fertilization exists that benefits both disciplines. To commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary of The American Environment, this new edited volume, The American Environment Revisited. To take on this project the editors have assembled a team of truly outstanding scholars whose research interests reflect the noteworthy and exciting developments mentioned above. Like Dilsaver and Colten, we intend to showcase the environmental research of historical geographers. The editors also seek to strengthen the ties between geography and history. Thus four of the book's chapters will be written by environmental historians. In contrast to the Dilsaver and Colten text, all of the chapters in The American Environment Revisited will be written specifically for this volume. Another difference worth noting is that fully one-third of the chapters in The American Environment Revisited will be written by women, two of whom will bring an explicitly gendered approach to their chapters--another sign of the changing landscape of historical geography.