Karl Haglund

About the Author

Karl Haglund is a historian and urban studies scholar whose work illuminates the intricate interplay between human ingenuity and the natural environment. With a focus on American infrastructure and landscape transformation, he explores how visionary engineering projects have reshaped regions and societies. Haglund's research draws on archival sources, environmental analysis, and cultural history to reveal the hidden stories behind everyday landscapes. His acclaimed book, Inventing the Charles River (MIT Press), chronicles the evolution of Boston's iconic waterway from a tidal estuary to a managed urban asset, highlighting the tensions between progress and ecology. Through meticulous scholarship, Haglund challenges readers to reconsider the built environment's profound impact on our world.