The American West has been the proving ground for a number of earth sciences, including the study of glaciers. From their discovery by Western science in the late 1800s and continuing to the present day, studies of these glaciers have made important contributions to our understanding of glacial processes and to the recent assessments of global sea level rise. The growth of this science was founded on the interplay between trained scientists and dedicated nonprofessionals. This report summarizes the early history of glacier discovery and explorations in the West.