Victor Wolfgang von Hagen facts for kids
Victor Wolfgang von Hagen (born February 29, 1908, in St. Louis, Missouri, USA – died March 8, 1985, in Italy) was an amazing American explorer, author, and historian. He loved to travel, especially in South America, often with his wife. Between 1940 and 1965, he wrote many popular books about the ancient people of the Inca, Maya, and Aztec civilizations.
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Who Was Victor von Hagen?
Victor Wolfgang von Hagen was born on February 29, 1908. His parents were Henry and Eleanor Josephine von Hagen. He went to a school called Morgan Park Military Academy in Chicago. Later, he studied at New York University, the San Francisco University of Quito, and the University of Göttingen. During World War II, he served in the US Army.
Exploring Ancient Worlds
Victor von Hagen was known for his exciting journeys and discoveries. He explored many parts of the world, learning about nature and ancient cultures.
Early Adventures
His first book, Off With Their Heads (1937), was about an eight-month stay with a tribe in Ecuador. He learned about their traditions, including how they used to shrink heads. Later, he traveled through Honduras and Guatemala. He was looking for a special bird called the quetzal. This beautiful bird was very important to the ancient Aztecs and Mayas. He wrote about this adventure in his book, Quetzal Quest: The Story of the Capture of the Quetzal, the Sacred Bird of the Aztecs and the Mayas (1939).
Discoveries in the Galapagos
As a naturalist, Victor von Hagen knew a lot about the Galápagos Islands. He wrote the first big study about the giant tortoisees that live there. He was also an expert on the plants of the islands. For his work to protect nature in the Galapagos, he received a special award called the Orden de Merito from the country of Ecuador.
Finding Ancient Inca Roads
In the early 1950s, Victor von Hagen spent two years exploring Peru. He was looking for the ancient roads built by the Inca people. During his travels, he found the only remaining suspension bridge from these old Inca trails. This was a very important discovery!
His Family
Victor von Hagen had a daughter named Adriana von Hagen. She is now a co-director of a museum in Leimebamba, Peru. This museum helps people learn about the history and culture of the region.
Books He Wrote
Victor von Hagen wrote many books about his travels and discoveries. His books often focused on the ancient civilizations of the Americas, like the Aztecs, Mayas, and Incas. He also wrote about famous explorers and the natural world. Some of his well-known books include:
- Off With Their Heads (1937)
- Quetzal Quest (1939)
- South America Called Them (1945)
- Maya Explorer (1947)
- Highway of the Sun (1955) - about his expedition to find Inca roads
- Realm of the Incas (1957)
- The Aztec: Man and Tribe (1958)
- The World of the Maya (1960)
- The Ancient Sun Kingdoms of the Americas: Aztec, Maya, Inca (1961)
- The Incas: People of the Sun (1961)
- The Desert Kingdoms of Peru (1965)
- The Gold of El Dorado (1968)
- The Royal Road of the Inca (1976)
See also
In Spanish: Victor Wolfgang von Hagen para niños
