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$24.99
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Dreams of what the West could offer brought the earliest settlers into the Yampa Valley. After the Homestead Act of 1862 and the westward expansion of the railroad, the first trickle of land seekers arrived in this remote area in the mid-1870s. Interest in the vast coal lands was a main driver for investors seeking to develop the region. But the smaller yet more inherently valuable interests of family, farming, and agriculture were the real deciding factors in the settling of this vastly beautiful and challenging corner of Colorado. During those early years, the homesteaders in Craig managed to capture images of the area they had come to claim as their own. They photographed immense stretches of solitary land, quiet scenes of the family living room, and the optimism of the developing business districts. They left a photographic legacy that proves a picture is indeed worth a thousand words.
Around Frederick
9781467130356
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$24.99
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In the 1880s, Frederick was nothing but prairieland, and its only inhabitants were prairie dogs, rabbits, coyotes, and snakes. Coal brought settlers to the area, and Frederick was incorporated in 1907 as a coalmining town. The mines needed workers, and immigrants arrived from across the globe to help fill this need for labor. Men and their families came from Italy, Russia, Turkey, Greece, Mexico, and the Slavic countries to make Frederick their home. While not considered a gold or silver boomtown, Frederick had its share of growing pains. Liquor and illegal gambling were constant sources of problems, and the town saw natural disasters such as persistent flooding as well. As its location on the Union Pacific Railroad helped the miners, farmers, and merchants build a strong community, the history of Frederick provides a classic example of growth and development on the eastern Colorado plains.
Chimney Rock National Monument
9781467131612
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$24.99
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The appreciation of the Chimney Rock region goes back more than 1,000 years. Here in southwestern Colorado, the Ancestral Puebloans inhabited the northern San Juan River Basin as an outlier community of Chaco Canyon. Its function and use has created much conjecture. The site was abandoned by the early 1100s for reasons that some speculate were related to drought, resource depletion, warfare, migration, or a combination of these factors. Over the course of its recorded history, archaeologists, astronomers, regional historians, and visitors have celebrated the rocks, ruins, and landscape that make up this important feature in the Four Corners region. It has been called La Piedra Parada by Spanish explorers, Fire Mountain by Tewa-speaking pueblos, and Tupiwiniri by the Utes. Today, we know it as Chimney Rock National Monument due to a proclamation made in 2012 by Pres. Barack Obama.
Prisons of Cañon City
9780738548456
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$24.99
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Cañon City sits in a geological bowl surrounded by the Rocky Mountains and the Sangre de Cristo mountain range. Historically, it has been known as the prison capital of the world, with eight-- soon to be nine--state prisons in the area and four federal facilities located 11 miles away in Florence. The first prison in Cañon City was built in 1868, before Colorado became a state, and was opened in 1871. Originally known as the Colorado Territorial Penitentiary, it is currently called the Colorado Territorial Correctional Facility and holds approximately 800 male inmates. Cañon City has grown up around the prisons, and the area's colorful history is defined by daring prison breaks, infamous inmates, such as the Colorado cannibal Alferd Packard, and by the stories of the inmates and employees who have been part of the prison system.
Johnstown
9780738581194
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$24.99
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The story of Johnstown did not begin with the founding of the town in 1902, nor did it end there. The story begins and ends with enterprising people. These people were determined to make a life for themselves despite all the hardships of living on the prairie of Colorado. These were the same people who were among the first Americans to go west. Trappers came for beaver pelts, and traders set up forts to trade for buffalo hides from the Arapaho. Gold miners whose claims went bust later settled in the Johnstown area. Cattlemen's herds found the prairie grass a natural food source, and they flourished. And, finally, the homesteaders claimed farmland that became rich and fertile with the use of irrigation. Johnstown is the story of people who established a new life in a new world.
Roxborough
9781467116367
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$24.99
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Paleo-Indians hunted Ice Age mammoths and ancestral bison in what is now Roxborough, Colorado. In 1820, Stephen A. Long's expedition traveled west across the plains into America's western frontier and camped along the South Platte River where water rushed into the Platte Valley from Rocky Mountain peaks. They discovered an area described by their geologist as a range of naked and almost perpendicular rocks . . . resembling a vast wall, parallel to the base of the mountain . . . the whole scenery truly picturesque and romantic. During the next 200 years, Roxborough has been home to Native Americans, mountain men, homesteaders, farmers, miners, dam builders, ranchers, railroad men, cowboys, and rocket scientists. Families live in sight of hogback formations, soaring red rocks, foothills, and mountains. Thousands arrive each year to hike trails in Roxborough State Park, Waterton Canyon, Colorado Trail, and Highline Canal. Roxborough's history, geologic wonders, and wilderness is a story of those whose eyes reached toward the stars.
University of Northern Colorado
9780738580616
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$24.99
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The University of Northern Colorado began in 1889 as the Colorado State Normal School, an institution dedicated to training the state's teachers. Over the next century the institution grew from a relatively small normal school into an acclaimed state university with several nationally recognized graduate and undergraduate programs. During this period of transformation, the Greeley school experienced several name changes. It was renamed the State Teachers College of Colorado in 1911, followed by the Colorado State College of Education in 1935, then simply the Colorado State College in 1957, and finally, the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) in 1970, in recognition of the institution's broadened mission. UNC's first 100 years saw dramatic changes to the physical and academic environments on campus, including advancements in the fields of education, health, music, theater arts, and human sciences.
Around Gunnison and Crested Butte
9780738548289
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$24.99
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The Western Slope towns of Gunnison and Crested Butte are defined by their placement in the Colorado Rockies. Both are located in alpine valleys surrounded by 14,000-foot-high peaks with sparkling mountain-fed streams, and both dominate the Gunnison country, a unique wilderness covering over 4,000 square miles. Beginning over 400 years ago, Native Americans, fur traders, explorers, miners, railroaders, and cattlemen all made a place for themselves in the area. Today Gunnison, Crested Butte, and the Gunnison country remain isolated and tranquil. Recreation, tourism, and cattle ranching now reign supreme as Gunnison and Crested Butte attempt to preserve their distinctly Western heritage.
Early Denver
9780738588858
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$24.99
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The city of Denver was born out of a small mining camp established in the late 1850s. The lure of gold brought countless men and their families to the foot of the great Rocky Mountains, where the Platte River and Cherry Creek flow together. Along with the miners came the merchants—wagon makers, horse traders, blacksmiths, and clothiers. By 1900, Denver was a thriving community and had greatly expanded with the establishment of hardware stores, saloons, liveries, theaters, restaurants, and residential neighborhoods. Postcards did not come into general use until well after Denver was settled. The images herein range from about 1900 to 1925.
University of Denver
9781467128537
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$23.99
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The University of Denver (DU) was founded as the Colorado Seminary, in 1864, twelve years before Colorado became a state. For over 150 years, DU has been a part of the Denver community, providing educational opportunities for men, women, professionals, and the working community. The original campus in frontier Denver eventually moved to a treeless prairie donated by Rufus Potato Clark. The move was partially motivated by the fear that the saloons and other distractions of Denver were not conducive to study. In 1982, the institution incorporated Colorado Women's College, and the site became the Park Hill Campus with the law and music schools. DU's concerted efforts to provide its students, and the wider region, with a first-class education are made evident by the tales of resiliency told by faculty, staff, and students as the school overcame brushes with bankruptcy and countless other internal and external threats.
Highlands Ranch
9781467116145
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$34.99
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Highlands Ranch, part of Douglas County, is known as one of the fastest growing communities in the nation. Highlands Ranch grew from the Colorado plains through a series of settlements starting in 1859, with most homesteaders arriving in the 1880s. The homesteads were eventually unified into one grand ranch and mansion. The 1980s began the transformation from a ranch to a community when Mission Viejo started building a master planned community. Today, Shea Homes has almost completed the build out of the area. The people, businesses, and organizations of Highlands Ranch have come together to create an enjoyable community and lifestyle that around 100,000 people call home.
Mines of Clear Creek County
9781467130349
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$24.99
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In 1859, Pikes Peak or bust! spread across America and brought men and their families from all over to the Kansas goldfields seeking a new beginning. Thousands came to Clear Creek and Gilpin Counties and eventually settled all of Colorado. The mining communities of Idaho Springs, Georgetown, Empire, Silver Plume, Dumont, and Lawson all exist because of the pursuit of gold and silver. Gold was initially easy to get to, but in time, underground mineral development was necessary. New technologies and the Industrial Revolution made mining easier, but there was still work to be done to establish local fire departments, churches, schools, and governments.
North Fork Valley
9780738595849
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$24.99
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Settlers came to the North Fork Valley after the Ute Indians departed from the area in September 1881. The fertile valley was surrounded by rugged mountains to the east, the majestic Grand Mesa to the north, the bleak dobie desert, and the meandering North Fork River. Arriving with just enough provisions to get by, the new settlers brought fruit trees, developed their water sources, and discovered coal, and soon, the arrival of the train made the possibilities of the valley a reality. Working together, the settlers founded the main communities of Hotchkiss, Paonia, and Crawford. Today, coal is the number one industry, wineries are abundant, artists love to display their talents, and it is a great place to live.
Grand Junction's JUCO World Series
9780738532202
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$24.99
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Grand Junction accepted a formidable challenge in hosting the fledgling national junior college baseball tournament in 1959. Nearly half a century later, the JUCO World Series and the city of Grand Junction are inextricably linked in one of the country's longest running baseball tournaments. Dedicated leaders and a supportive community have allowed young stars Kirby Puckett, Curt Schilling, David Wells, Eric Gagne, and many others to enjoy this gem of an event on Colorado's Western Slope. Grand Junction's JUCO World Series chronicles the tourney's humble beginnings and lets the reader discover this American tradition that combines local pride with high quality baseball.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison, The
9780738570310
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$7.99
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The Black Canyon of the Gunnison boasts a rich history.
Legendary Locals of Arvada
9781467101295
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$24.99
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Unique characters have always made up the landscape of Arvada. Pioneers, ranchers and farmers, business leaders, community-minded individuals, doctors, sports figures, and even a Broadway star have all called home the city on a bluff overlooking Clear Creek. Benjamin Wadsworth was not only one of Arvada's founding fathers but also the town's first postmaster, and he donated many parcels of land for schools and churches to be built in the burgeoning town. Lloyd King, in 1947, opened the first King Soopers grocery store in Arvada. From this one small market grew an empire of more than 100 King Soopers stores in Colorado. Popular radio personality Irv Brown is known as Denver's go-to guy for sports talk. Brown coached at Arvada High School during the 1960s, leading the Redskins to 10 conference football titles and one state championship. And two-time Cy Young Award–winner Roy Halladay honed his baseball skills in Arvada as a youth. The starting pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies graduated from Arvada West High School in 1995. From Louis Ralston's discovery of gold in 1850 along the creek that bears his name, to the present day sprawling suburb, Arvada's people have helped make the town a jewel of the Centennial State.
Legendary Locals of Fort Collins
9781467100618
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$24.99
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Fort Collins began as a small Army outpost and grew into a community of more than 150,000, a city formed and developed by those who have chosen and today choose to live here. In this book, readers will encounter hardy pioneers who endured hardships almost unimaginable today and innovators who brought industry, commerce, and a college; generous people, businesses, and institutions who have freely given back to the community in a variety of ways; participants in Fort Collins's thriving cultural life embracing a spectrum of interests and enthusiasms; and ordinary people living everyday lives who have done extraordinary things or had remarkable experiences. This book honors individuals such as Dr. Temple Grandin, world-renowned expert on handling cattle and spokesperson for autistic people, and Tom Sutherland, freed from captivity in Iran after seven years, along with many other memorable people.
Early Eagle
9780738580869
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$24.99
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Nestled into a scenic mountain valley at the junction of the Eagle River and Brush Creek, Eagle is a small mountain town that is often overshadowed by its famous ski resort neighbor, Vail. However, this thriving little mountain community claims a rich history of more than 100 years of spunk and fortitude. Eagle's robust character started with the miners who came to the valley in the 1880s seeking gold and silver. Then came the farmers and ranchers, who recognized another type of wealth in the fertile soils and abundant water of the valley. As for that spunk, the townspeople of Eagle were tenacious enough to wage a 20-year war seeking county seat status and progressive enough to keep a small town growing and thriving for over a century.
Around the Spanish Peaks
9780738576244
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$24.99
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Rising up to 13,623 feet above the plains, the twin Spanish Peaks in southern Colorado have been a beacon to travelers for centuries. Native Americans from the Comanche and Ute tribes pitched their teepees in the lush river valleys around the mountains. Spanish explorers from Mexico followed legends of gold here. Migrants on the Santa Fe Trail sighted the peaks at the end of their long trek across the Great Plains. Coal mining and railroads brought a new wave of settlers to the region in the 1870s. Today, visitors head to Walsenburg, La Veta, and Cuchara to enjoy the incredible mountain scenery and year-round recreational activities.
Hayden
9780738580210
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$24.99
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The Hayden area's first settlers, who arrived around 1875, were certain that their hamlet would become the hub of Northwest Colorado. The first regional trading post, Routt County Courthouse, and U.S. post office were established here on the banks of the Yampa River. Nestled in the Yampa's wide, verdant, high-country valley at 6,300 vertical feet, the energetic little town's future was peopled by an assortment of penniless yet hopeful dreamers as well as enterprising ranchers and other businessmen. Ezekiel Shelton brought his family and a myriad of skills. Jim Norvell drifted in on foot and with a few dollars established a mercantile and saloon and later, after finding religion, a church. While the towns of Craig to the west and Steamboat Springs to the east grew, Hayden retained its familial descendants—stayers—enamored of their corner of the beautiful Rocky Mountains and sheltered from most severe weather in the Yampa Valley.
Denver's Washington Park
9781467130745
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$24.99
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In the Rocky Mountain West, Denver is considered the big city. Yet its urban core consists of numerous neighborhoods developed in the late 19th century that act today as virtual small towns. South-central Denver's Washington Park is one of those small towns, and its name refers both to a 166-acre historic park and to the surrounding blend of residential and commercial neighborhoods. Cited as a model for new urbanism, this area serves as an enduring example of the City Beautiful movement. Touted in the late 19th century for its rapid transit, clean air, and pure water, the area once known as Broadway Terrace, Myrtle Hill, and the Miracle Mile of South Denver continues to serve as a recreational mecca for Denverites. Over a span of 100 years, it has transformed from prairie to potato fields to posh.
Manitou Springs
9780738595962
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$24.99
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Manitou Springs was founded in 1871 as a picturesque health resort nestled at the foot of Pikes Peak. The town grew as a tourist destination and adapted to the needs of thousands of visitors. Today, Manitou Springs is an eclectic mix of bedroom community and travelers' retreat, and examples from many architectural eras coexist in its scenic mountain valley.
Early Glenwood Springs
9781467132978
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$24.99
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Originally planned as the town of Defiance, Glenwood Springs was renamed for its natural hot springs along the banks of the Colorado River and for Glenwood, Iowa, the hometown of Isaac Cooper. In the early 1880s, Cooper had the vision of a spa resort here but not the finances to turn his dream into a reality. He sold out to Walter Devereux and his investors, who saw the construction of the Hot Springs Pool, Hotel Colorado, and Vapor Caves completed. Once railroads arrived in 1887, Glenwood Springs became a playground for wealthy travelers who sought out the hot springs as well as other recreational opportunities, such as hunting, fishing, hiking, and horseback riding. With beautiful scenery, caves to explore, and community festivals, visitors today sustain Glenwood's economy. Located at the confluence of the Colorado and Roaring Fork Rivers, our community has also served as a retail hub for the surrounding area from the 1880s to the present.
Manitou Springs
9780738528564
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$24.99
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Hidden between the Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak lies the magical town of Manitou Springs. Drawn to the healing waters of its numerous mineral springs, the Ute, Cheyenne, and other native tribes once considered the area sacred. As more and more Europeans traveled to the area, the city of Manitou Springs was established as a health resort and visited by thousands, from vacationing families and wealthy celebrities to tubercular patients and medical professionals. Through the years the city faced the challenges of changing tourism patterns, but the formation of a national historic district in the 1980s launched the restoration and renewal of many of the city's most cherished buildings and traditions, reminding both residents and visitors alike of the charm Manitou Springs has always offered.
Around Monarch Pass
9780738580708
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$24.99
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Monarch Country is an incredibly beautiful mountain region spanning both sides of the Continental Divide in the southern portions of Chaffee and Gunnison Counties in the Rocky Mountains of south-central Colorado. Monarch Pass, at 11,312 feet above sea level, divides the Gunnison Country in the west from the Arkansas River watershed in the east. This scenic, wild, and rugged region surrounding the crossroads of U.S. Routes 50 and 285 is rich in mining, railroad, and skiing history and once included booming mining camps such as Maysville, Garfield, Monarch, and White Pine. The crown jewel of this spectacular high-country landscape is the Monarch Ski Area, which enjoys 350 to 500 inches of snowfall every year.
Commerce City
9780738580203
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$24.99
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Among Colorado's fastest growing cities in the 21st century, Commerce City was settled in the 1850s, located today 8 miles northeast of Denver's capitol building. Known for hog farms, truck farms, and dairies, as well as refineries and grain elevators, Commerce City was, during World War II, the site of the enormous Rocky Mountain Arsenal, a U.S. Army weapons manufacturing facility. Incorporated in 1952 as Commerce Town, the name was changed to Commerce City in 1962, which adopted home rule in 1970. Commerce City is regionally famous and nationally recognized for parks and recreation, Buffalo Run Golf Course, Mile High Kennel Club (dog racing), and nearby Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. The new Commerce City Civic Center and Dick's Sporting Goods Park, which is home to pro soccer's Colorado Rapids, were completed in 2007. Commerce City remains a speedily changing municipality with a diverse cultural mix and generations of residents with strong community roots.
Fruita
9780738581729
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$24.99
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William Pabor arrived in Western Colorado before the advent of irrigation, and the land presented a barren and desolate sight. But he saw something entirely different. "In the spring of 1884, lying on the bare floor of a log cabin on the site of what is now the town of Fruita, I watched the moonbeams play on the Roan Cliffs and across Pinon Mesa," Pabor wrote. "The silence of centuries seemed resting upon the plain. . . . But visions of the possibilities of the future swept before me. I saw homes founded, I saw family circles gathered together. I saw vineyards and orchards, and rose-embowered cottages in which love and happiness and contentment abode. . . . I heard the merry voices of children yet to be born. I heard the singing of harvesters bringing in the sheaves of golden grain." Pabor soon turned vision into reality and founded the town of Fruita.
Northglenn
9780738596754
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$24.99
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On June 30, 1959, over 15,000 people came to view Perl-Mack Enterprises' five show homes built at the corner of 104th Avenue and Grant Drive. Named the most perfectly planned community in America by Life magazine, the developers named this new community North Glenn and built it into a community designed with designated industrial, commercial, recreational, and school areas around a central, regional shopping center—the Northglenn Mall. Facing annexation from surrounding cities, concerned residents formed the North Glenn Civic Association and encouraged residents to go to the polls in April 1969 to vote for incorporation. The name was changed to the City of Northglenn, and it went on to be a vital city, winning awards for revitalizing the largest park in its extensive park system, E.B. Rains Jr. Memorial Park with Webster Lake, as well as being named Tree City, USA, and Playful City, USA, several years in a row.
Fort Collins
9780738581248
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$24.99
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From a frontier town of the 1870s to a thriving city, Fort Collins, Colorado, has grown and evolved, losing some of its rich architectural heritage but preserving the distinctive beauty of its Old Town area.
Aurora
9780738548241
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$24.99
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Aurora began as the town of Fletcher, named after the Denver businessman who had staked out the original four square miles for resale along with associates Samuel and Francis Perry. In 1907, burdened with debt from their founder and seeking a fresh start, the inhabitants of Fletcher petitioned to have the town renamed, and in April, it was officially dubbed the Town of Aurora. These first settlers overcame many obstacles on the bare, dry land that Maj. Stephen Long, an early explorer, called the Great American Desert. The outbreak of World War I brought revenue to the area's farmers as food prices soared, and Fitzsimons Army Hospital was established in 1918. Over the years, the scarcity of water has been a persistent problem, but Aurora has nonetheless grown from a quiet farming community to a sprawling city covering over 144 square miles.
Denver's City Park and Whittier Neighborhoods
9780738571911
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$24.99
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Denver was barely 10 years old in 1868 when visionary pioneers such as Alfred B. Case and Jacob W. Downing began amassing real estate holdings far from downtown, speculation that paid off when the newly arrived railroad led to a population explosion. With the opening of the Whittier School in 1883--the largest elementary school in the city--a domain for prairie dogs evolved into a middle-class haven of fine Victorian homes. Buffalo Bill Cody's sister even called the Whittier neighborhood home. The convenience and reliability of an expanding streetcar system brought the lifeblood of the city into the neighborhood. Whittier and its residents were also blessed with the establishment of a large, 320-acre park just to the east. This park, transformed from native prairie to irrigated forest, became one of the biggest attractions in Denver--City Park.
Along the Huerfano River
9781467117005
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$24.99
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Long before English speakers set eyes upon it, the volcanic plug on the south bank of the Huerfano River was tagged with a moniker that means the orphan. Spanish conquistadors saw it as a rock pile that God dumped in the middle of nowhere, an odd little cone far removed from the regular foothills edging the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range. In the 18th century, this outcropping and the river that bears the same name were famous landmarks for Native American tribes, Hispanic explorers, and French adventurers. Then in the 19th century, along came US mountain men, gold-seekers, cowboys, sheep ranchers, railroad workers, town developers, and coal miners from 31 different countries, speaking 27 different languages. Counterculture revolutionaries discovered the area in the 1960s and established five separate communes west of Walsenburg. Each wave of immigrants brought new perspectives and lifestyles.
Lakewood
9781467133982
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$24.99
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Although settled in the mid-1860s, Lakewood waited to incorporate until 1969, when its population was 90,000. It was instantly the third largest city in Colorado and had it all. Lakewood even had progressive ideas for government from a nonmilitarized police department to incorporation of the patchwork of existing sewer, water, fire protection, and park districts. And if it did not exist, Lakewood's community-minded citizens created organizations, committees, and associations, like the historical society and Lakewood on Parade, to fill the need. This can-do entrepreneurial spirit makes Lakewood a livable, small-town, All-America city.
Basalt
9781467130462
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$24.99
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Once the site of a Ute Indian settlement, Basalt began life as several sleepy little hamlets. From the original Frying Pan Junction and later Aspen Junction, the town of Basalt is comprised of five areas. In the early 20th century, located midway between Aspen and Glenwood Springs, Basalt became the heart of the valley's mining, ranching, and farming operations as pioneering families homesteaded the land. Many hoped to build their fortunes along the tracks of the Denver & Rio Grande Western and Colorado Midland Railroads, whose rail lines merged in the center of today's downtown area. As the silver-mining era passed into history and the railroad operations ceased, so did the fortunes of early Basalt. Today's Basalt is a vibrant and vital residential and commercial community located on the confluence of two world-class Gold Medal fishing rivers.
Durango
9780738574370
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$24.99
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This collection presents a postcard tour of Durango and its environs and provides keen insight into the history and colorful character of this area, which has been a vibrant center of Southwestern Colorado for more than a century. A brief history of postcards as a convenient medium for sharing messages--and as a revolutionary departure from Victorian-era long letters--is included here as well. The Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College is pleased to present these evocative images gathered by the indefatigable Nina Heald Webber.
The Fraser Valley
9781467132886
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$24.99
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The 1859 gold rush brought swift change to the Colorado region, but it had little impact on the Fraser Valley. Hemmed in by mountains, hammered by cold winters, and lacking in mineral wealth, the valley resisted all but the hardiest settlers. The railroad arrived in 1904 via a torturous crossing of the Continental Divide, ending the isolation and ushering in a ranching and logging boom. Towns sprang up overnight, and the forest filled with logging camps and sawmills. Hard times in the 1920s and 1930s were tempered by the construction of US Highway 40, a major coast-to-coast route that bisected the valley, as well as the completion of the Moffat Tunnel, a six-mile bore that eased the passage of trains and the diversion of precious valley water. During the 1950s and 1960s, tourism grew in popularity. Logging gave way to lodging, and log cabins morphed into condominiums. By 1970, outdoor recreation dominated the local economy.
Rocky Mountain National Park
9780738525365
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$7.99
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Established in 1915 but with a rich history stretching back even further, Rocky Mountain National Park is often called the crown jewel of the national park system.
Legendary Locals of Fruita
9781467102292
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$24.99
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New York City poet and newspaper editor William Pabor headed to Colorado in 1870, heeding Horace Greeley's advice to "go West." After helping to establish Greeley, Colorado Springs, and Fort Collins, Pabor continued west over the Rocky Mountains and founded Fruita as a family-oriented, agrarian-based community in 1884. Since its inception, Fruita has attracted farmers, ranchers, shopkeepers, entrepreneurs, writers, and visionaries, who all came in search of community spirit and the wide-open spaces. The area has also been fertile ground for fossil hunters, and Fruita has both its own fossil, Fruitafossor windssheffeli, and its own dinosaur, Fruitadens haagarorum. Fruita is also known for its unusual characters, including a headless chicken named Mike and a feline journalist named Charlie the Cat. From the 1910 apple queen Mabel Skinner to the pizza queens, Anne Keller and Jen Zeuner, of today, presented here are just a few of the stories of Fruita's always fascinating legendary locals.
Legendary Locals of Broomfield
9781467101509
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$24.99
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The city of Broomfield had its beginnings in the howling wilderness of the late 1850s. At first, the settlement was little more than two stage stops along a treacherous route to California. The Church family operated Church's Crossing Stage Stop, a day's ride from Denver on the Overland Trail. Over many years, other pioneer families settled in: the Graves and Crooks families, the Browns, Nissens, Wrights, Koziseks, Archers, Hansens, Shaws, Brunners, and more. Some of these families claim five or six generations in the area. A century passed before Broomfield began to grow into the city it is today. In the late 1950s, a group of investors began building Broomfield Heights. As young families began moving in, the farm community was transformed into a suburban city, guided by local notables such as Don DesCombes, George Di Ciero, and others. Perhaps the most admirable aspect of the city's history is the enormous amount of work done by community-minded volunteers. Their story is one of selfless enthusiasm, of hard work with no reward except a better place to live.
Legendary Locals of Estes Park
9781467102308
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$24.99
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In the 1870s, ranchers Abner Sprague, William James, and Alexander MacGregor raised cattle while the Earl of Dunraven bought land for a private hunting reserve. It was neither cows nor hunting that defined Estes Park, though. Visitors were attracted to its beauty and crystalline mountain air. Inspired by conservationist John Muir, Enos Mills preserved the area's splendor by spearheading the establishment of Rocky Mountain National Park while F.O. Stanley welcomed guests to his regal Stanley Hotel, the inspiration for Stephen King's novel The Shining. As cars replaced horses downtown, Charlie Eagle Plume entertained visitors with Indian dancing, and Casey Martin offered children rides on his Silver Streak train. In the off-season when tourists were scarce, grocer Ron Brodie extended credit to the locals, and George Hurt ran lifts for skiers at Hidden Valley. But it was adversity that tested the town and defined its character. After the 1982 Lawn Lake Flood inundated Elkhorn businesses, town officials revitalized the downtown landscape with urban renewal. When the devastating 2013 flood washed out mountain roads and isolated Estes Park, local businesses banded together and were Mountain Strong.
Irish Denver
9780738589077
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$24.99
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The very first Irish in Denver came as miners, railroad workers, soldiers, and domestic servants. These workers, cogs of an expanding American industrial empire, later gave way to 20th-century politicians, priests, and business leaders who defined Irish respectability. Denver has always been a prominent stopping point for Irish patriots and cultural icons on their way to California. Former visitors include Oscar Wilde, Michael Davitt, Eamon de Valera, and Mary McAleese. Irish cultural institutions and businesses continue to flourish across Denver, which today boasts of having the second-largest St. Patrick's Day parade in the nation.
Evans
9781467131216
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$24.99
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In the winter of 1869, the little town of Evans, Colorado, was abuzz with excitement. The Denver Pacific Railroad completed the track that connected Denver to the Union Pacific line in Cheyenne, making Evans a major hub for travelers and home to the railroad superintendent's office. In its early years, Evans welcomed new settlers almost every day. Veterans, innkeepers, businessmen, educators, farmers, and many others chose to make their home in the Queen City of the Platte. While Evans experienced a few setbacks over the years, it continued to grow and thrive. Now home to nearly 19,000 people, Evans has the distinction of being the oldest town in Weld County, with a rich history full of exciting characters who had a vision for this little town on the plains.
Littleton
9781467132558
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$24.99
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In 1858, gold was discovered where Little Dry Creek joins the South Platte River, four miles north of what is today Littleton. After the initial rush of gold-seekers, agriculture sustained growth when the gold deposits played out. In 1861, Richard S. Little filed claims for agricultural land along the South Platte River in what would become Littleton. Little was not only a farmer but a land developer, and he filed his plat at the Arapahoe County Courthouse in 1872 for streets and homes on his property. When the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad built south from Denver through Littleton in 1871, development soon followed, and Little had no shortage of buyers for his plots of land. Thus began Littleton, and over the years of boom and bust, this early settlement has transitioned from village to county seat to one of Denver's finest suburbs.
Baseball in Colorado Springs
9780738599540
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$24.99
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From Boulevard Park and Memorial Field to Security Service Field (formerly Sky Sox Stadium), Colorado Springs is a baseball town. Professional baseball arrived in 1901; the Brown Bombers, a semiprofessional black team, came in the 1940s; and the original Sky Sox won the Western League Championship in 1953, 1955, and 1958. Local players such as Ed Kent, Bill Everitt, Jim Landis, Sam Hairston, Connie Johnson, Vinny Castilla, and Todd Helton have made it to the major leagues. Rich Goose Gossage, a Colorado Springs native, went directly from Class A ball to the Chicago White Sox, starting his hall-of-fame career in 1972.
Dillon and Silverthorne
9780738570167
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$24.99
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Lake Dillon sits at almost 2 miles high in the Rocky Mountains. The dam and reservoir that produced this Summit County resort, along with Dillon Village on its shore and the town of Silverthorne just below it, are collectively one of Colorado's winter-summer fun destinations. Dillon Dam is 5,288 feet long by 231 feet high, creating a large freshwater source for the city of Denver, as well as 25 miles of scenic shoreline. The dam stores 85.5 billion gallons of water from the Snake and Blue Rivers and Ten Mile Creek. On cue, these waters rush eastward to the South Platte River Basin through the Transmontane Project, or Roberts Tunnel—augered hundreds of feet under the Continental Divide in one of the West's most controversial water relocation epics. Today Dillon, Silverthorne, and the Blue River Basin on Colorado's western slope see their share of sailboating, snow and Nordic skiing, windsurfing, and snowboarding.
Communities of the Palmer Divide
9780738581903
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$24.99
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Native American tribes once traversed the east-west anomaly of the Rocky Mountains known as the Palmer Divide as a passage between the high ranges and the Great Plains. Lying between Denver and Colorado Springs, and named for William Jackson Palmer, founder of Colorado Springs, the offshoot range divides the great Platte and Arkansas River systems. Settlers homesteaded, farmed, and ranched the area. Railroad construction in the 1870s led to towns supporting commerce and tourism, particularly in the western section of the Palmer Divide, in what eventually became known as the Tri-Lakes Area. The area drew tourists who enjoyed hiking, wildflowers, and the outdoors, and facilitated such local industries as ice harvesting, lumber milling, ranching, and potato farming. A vast area north of Colorado Springs, the Palmer Divide retains a picturesque rural nature and cohesive small-town feeling--creating such social events as the Rocky Mountain Chautauqua and the Yule Log Festival, as well as the enduring Palmer Lake Star on Sundance Mountain.
La Plata:
9780738520506
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$24.99
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Despite some of the darker aspects of the upper San Juan Basin, such as the Meeker Massacre, "Mexican Flats," and the presence of the Ku Klux Klan, the fact remains that Utes, Anglos, and Hispanics have co-existed peacefully together in this region for well over a century. Collected in this new book and accented with over 100 vintage images is an oral history of La Plata County and the surrounding areas, featuring the voices of cowboys and Native Americans, ranchers and miners, outlaws and in-laws alike.
In compiling these stories of local San Juan Basin residents, Fred Wildfang has recreated life during turn-of-the-century Southwestern Colorado. These individual recollections detail the hardships and triumphs of early pioneer families from the San Juan Basin, including tales of the Old West movie sets, arranged marriages, rash elopements, runaway horses, and ancient native rituals. The voices captured here epitomize the spirit of "nan¡-ma"-as the Utes say-"together," a word meant to stand for a spirit of cooperation among all the peoples in this land.
Around Niwot
9781467133241
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$24.99
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By the time the Colorado Central Railroad extended its tracks into Boulder County in 1873, much of the land along the foothills was already under cultivation. As rails were laid between Boulder City and Longmont to the northeast, they crossed land belonging to settlers who had first come to the region as prospectors with the Pikes Peak Gold Rush of 1858. At that time, the area was still the hunting and fishing grounds of Southern Arapaho Indians and their tribal leader, Chief Niwot, translated as left hand in the Arapaho language. Two ranchers, Porter Hinman and Ambrose Murray, whose land was traversed by the new railroad, platted the town of Niwot in 1875 as a shipping point for transporting local farm goods and livestock to distant markets. Thus the only authentic railroad town in Boulder County was founded.
Security-Widefield
9781467130929
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$24.99
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On the southern outskirts of Colorado Springs lies the peaceful community known as Security-Widefield. With the installation and expansion of nearby Camp Carson, a vision unfurled of a suburb convenient for military families, including affordable homes, parks, recreation programs, schools, and easy access to the Mountain Post. Fred Sproul first purchased dairy and truck farms in the Fountain Valley and developed the area into Security Village, and later, Jules Watson developed more farmland into Widefield. With no mayor and no town council, the two neighborhoods have uniquely come together through Widefield School District No. 3, which has been instrumental in maintaining the parks and library, as well as delivering top-notch education. Together, the school district and volunteer fire department have provided community activities for nearly 60 years. Many of the first families to reside in the area are now seeing their great-grandchildren reap the blessings of growing up in Security-Widefield.
Western State College
9781467130950
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$24.99
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Western State College is located on Colorado's Western Slope, deep in the Rocky Mountains. It began as Colorado State Normal School, which was a two-year institution in 1911. Twelve years later, Colorado Normal became a four-year school—Western State College. Sitting at an altitude of 7,723 feet, it is the highest college or university in the nation. The elevation, the Rocky Mountains, two nearby ski areas, world-class mountain bike trails, stunning scenery, and the nearby Blue Mesa Reservoir (which is Colorado's second-largest tourist attraction) all combine to make Western State College an outdoor mecca, attracting students from all over the nation.
Fountain
9780738595030
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$24.99
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Historic Fountain lays nestled near the confluence of Fountain Creek and Jimmy Camp Creek. Ute Indians, French fur trappers, covered wagons, and stagecoaches all passed through this fertile valley along the Cherokee Trail until Amos Terrell settled here in the early 1860s, followed by farmers and ranchers. Businessmen soon began to buy town lots as Terrell sold off portions of his land. The railroad eventually pushed its way through town from Denver to Pueblo, while new arrivals of Mexican ancestry came up from the south with their strong work ethic and zesty Southwestern culture. Camp Carson became Fountain's neighbor to the west in 1942, and since then, the small town has seen steady growth as it remains an important hub in the Fountain Valley. Fountain was honored to be named Millennium City in 2000, as it represents the diverse character of the entire country.
Bayfield and the Pine River Valley 1860-1960
9780738520520
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$24.99
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With the climate, elevation, and abundance of water, early settlers to the Pine River Valley found that the area was ideal for prosperous settlements and the growing of crops. Captured here in over 200 vintage images are the trials and triumphs of these early pioneers determined to develop the land and carve a niche for themselves in the San Juan Mountains. Named Rio de Los Pinos by 18th-century Spanish explorers, the Pine River Valley boasts some of the richest land in Southwestern Colorado. As pioneers and settlers became aware of these natural resources, towns sprouted up throughout the valley proper. One of these communities was historic Bayfield. Pictured here are the earliest days of the community, including the homesteads, lumber camps, churches, downtown buildings, and businesses no longer existing, as well as the events and residents who helped forge the town's destiny.
Fruita's Historic Moon Farm
9781467109857
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$23.99
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In the summer of 1954, Wallace and Ella Moon moved their family to an 80-acre resettlement farm north of Fruita, Colorado. Over the next six decades, the family would transform the property into a children’s wonderland. Wallace and Ella constructed 30 unique playhouses and museums influenced by their pioneering history growing up in Utah. Fruita’s Historic Moon Farm details its transformation from a family farm to a field-trip destination, children’s day camp, pumpkin patch, vacation rental hub, and place to be enjoyed by kids of all ages. The nonprofit Grand Valley Equine Assisted Learning Center has taken the reins from the Moon family and plans to continue the farm’s vacation rental and pumpkin patch traditions.
Early Lakewood
9780738574417
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$24.99
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Since Lakewood's settlement in the 1860s, it has been a community in search of an identity, fluctuating from farm center to factory town, from Denver streetcar suburb to the map's stopover point between the big city and the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. Once known for its fruit orchards and dairy and poultry farms, Lakewood in modern times has been home to the western third of the nation's longest commercial street, Colfax Avenue, and houses more federal agencies than any community outside of Washington, DC. Most of the buildings associated with Lakewood's agricultural and manufacturing past are gone, but the can-do spirit of the men and women who forged and fashioned the city's destiny as a microcosm of western American life from the mid-19th to mid-20th centuries is recalled in these pages.
Douglas County
9781467109208
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$23.99
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Douglas County, established in 1861, is one of Colorado’s original counties. Mining, agriculture, sawmills, and railroads contributed to the growth of this territory, which includes two state parks and dozens of landmarked properties. Over 46 percent of the county’s land is public or protected. While retail is now the largest industry in the area, this book will highlight some of the working ranches, original structures, and open spaces that remain thanks to cultural and historical stewardship.
Kiowa County
9780738580937
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$24.99
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Carved out of Bent County in 1889, Kiowa County is a rural, agricultural area with a rich and varied history. Located in southeastern Colorado in the heart of the Great Plains, Kiowa County was originally dominated by cattle ranches; however, farming quickly became just as important. The construction of the Missouri Pacific Railroad in the late 1880s sparked the growth of towns in Kiowa County, bringing a variety of ambitious settlers facing many challenges. Confronted with a well-documented drought cycle in the semiarid climate, the settlers persevered to establish schools and businesses and to create homes. Although Kiowa County never became home to a booming metropolis as early residents dreamed, the county's citizens take pride in a rich history and strive to preserve it.
Boulder
9780738558967
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$7.99
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Born out of the 1859 Pikes Peak gold rush, Boulder sits along the Front Range where the Rocky Mountains meet the plains.
Discoveries of gold, silver, telluride, and coal nearby put the little supply town on the map, and early miners, farmers, and businessmen prospered there. The railroad's arrival in 1873 brought more newcomers who cultivated a diverse community full of new businesses, social organizations, and schools, and the town flourished despite the social problems and economic fluctuations that were typical of early mining towns. By the 1890s, education, health, and tourism had become significant to Boulder's economic development, a pattern that continues to this day. Great change came about during the early 1900s in the form of a citywide alcohol prohibition, the influenza epidemic, and the closure of the Switzerland Trail railroad in 1919, but Boulder weathered these difficult times even as it witnessed the end of the great railroading era. Enjoy the rich history of Boulder in this collection of 15 historic black-and-white postcards.
Colorado Ice Hockey
9781467160223
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$24.99
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Colorado has a long, rich ice hockey history. The earliest references date back to January 28, 1893, from an article in the Rocky Mountain Sun. There have been many colorful teams, like the Colorado Rocky team, the Denver Spurs, and the Colorado Flames. On February 22, 1980, ice hockey suddenly vaulted onto the forefront of the American sports scene, due in large part of what is simply known as “the Miracle on Ice.” The US men’s ice hockey team had pulled off an incredible upset over the Soviet Union men’s ice hockey team and then went on to win the gold medal over Finland. It gave the country a reason to celebrate and made the sport of ice hockey red hot! That “miracle” started in 1979 at the Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs with the selection of players at the 1979 National Sports Festival. Leadville, Steamboat Springs, Aspen, Colorado College, Denver University, Salida, Pueblo, and Fort Collins have all contributed to the “fastest game on ice.”
Berthoud Pass
9780738575292
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$24.99
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Since its official discovery in 1861 by Ed Berthoud and mountain man Jim Bridger, Berthoud Pass has been an important transportation route over the Continental Divide. At more than 11,000 feet in the Rocky Mountains, and coupled with its large number of switchbacks, it has become one of the most beautiful and widely used mountain passes in the West. Henry Ford's inexpensive Model T opened up America to the masses and in the 1920s, following early struggles in road development, a successful construction project gave way to the Golden Age of Automobile Touring. A solid road, US Highway 40, was paved in 1938 that opened the West to a wave of tourists during the 1940s and 1950s. Berthoud Pass's steep terrain and abundant snow provides access to some of Colorado's best skiing and snowboarding activities.
University Park and South Denver
9780738569017
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$24.99
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The University of Denver had existed for less than 30 years when the decision was made to relocate the campus from its original site downtown to a place several miles to the south, a move completed in 1892. The town of South Denver grew up around University Park. At first both a university town and a neighboring suburb of Denver, South Denver was soon annexed into the larger city. In the coming decades, South Denver would establish its own residential and business identities apart from the influence of the University of Denver, known as DU, though it would remain a central character in the shaping and growth of the community. In the 21st century, University Park and South Denver have flourished with beautiful homes, attractive parks, and highly rated schools.
Parker
9781467133159
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$24.99
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The town of Parker underwent several name changes before adopting its current title. First called Pine Grove for its setting in a copse of ponderosa pines at the northern edge of Colorado's Black Forest, that name lasted through the final days of stagecoach travel. When the US Post Office officially began operations in the 1880s, officials requested that Pine Grove be renamed, as another town with that name existed on the Platte River, causing the mail to be mixed up. James Sample Parker requested that the town's name be changed to Edithville, in honor of his young daughter. Again, the US Post Office denied the request, renaming the town Parker to recognize James Sample Parker and his brother, George. From these early beginnings, Parker faced spurts of growth and recession, more recently becoming a significant Denver suburb.
Park County
9781467132459
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$24.99
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Created in 1861, Park County is one of Colorado's original 17 territorial counties. It is named after South Park, which is the vast, high alpine valley at the county's center. By the time the first fur trappers and explorers arrived in the early 1800s, Ute Indians had long visited the area to hunt the mountain valleys and fish the trout-filled streams. In 1859, prospectors discovered gold along Tarryall Creek, ushering in a mining boom that gave rise to dozens of boisterous mining camps. Ranchers soon followed, taking advantage of the nutritious native grasses and raising cattle to feed hungry miners, often under harsh conditions. By the 1880s, the Denver, South Park & Pacific and Colorado Midland Railroads arrived, spurring the growth of new towns and opening new markets for Park County's minerals, hay, ice, lumber, and cattle. As mining waned, tourism emerged as a major economic force attracting visitors eager to experience Park County's authentic character and stunning natural beauty.
Around Rocky Mountain National Park
9781467133753
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$24.99
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Following the establishment of Rocky Mountain National Park in 1915, promotional campaigns generated by the railroads lured wealthy travelers to the park with images of the great outdoors and the many luxuries offered by the finest hotels. Postcards were circulated proclaiming the park as the Playground of the World. The gateway communities of Estes Park and Grand Lake became vibrant hospitality centers, and in 1920, when the two towns were connected with the opening of Fall River Road, a new era of tourism was introduced that continues today. More than 200 postcards are used in this book to provide a chronology of the early hotels, ranches, and other settings that have shaped the park's history for more than a century.
Douglas County
9781467126526
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$24.99
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Castle Rock Writers bring readers a collection of vintage images and sketches of Douglas County from approximately 1861 to 1950, covering the settling of towns such as Parker and Sedalia and rural areas like Cherry Valley and Daniel's Park. Early homesteaders, adventurers, and prospectors journeyed west following the 900-plus miles along the Cherokee Trail, seeking the wealth of gold or needing the curative air of Colorado. On the long and arduous trip, travelers stopped at the Twenty Mile House in Parker or the Pretty Woman Ranch on the First Territorial Road. They needed to clean off the dust and dirt and enjoy a nourishing meal before the final push to Denver and beyond. Some simply stayed. They homesteaded ranches, staked out mines, and built small towns in the rolling plains, mesas, forested hills, and mountains that make up the 843 square miles of Douglas County. In the first half of the 20th century, the region grew into cohesive communities, where families thrived through ingenuity and hard work. Neighbors supported neighbors.
The Eagle River Valley
9780738556352
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$24.99
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Starting as a trickle in the Rocky Mountains, the Eagle River emerges in a glacial valley, cuts through a spectacular gorge near Red Cliff, and then creates the broad flood plain of the Eagle River Valley. At Dotsero, the river joins the mighty Colorado River. As long as humans have settled along the river, they have depended on it for their livelihood, trapping beaver for hats, mining gold and silver, collecting water for locomotive engines and channeling it for crops and ranching, harvesting ice for food preservation, and, most recently, converting water into snow with modern machines. Today the Eagle River Valley is the backbone of two of the greatest ski areas in the world, Vail and Beaver Creek. Sparkling through the ancient riverbed, the Eagle River continues its course to this day, flowing through the same valley that drew pioneers here in the 19th century.
Highlandlake and Mead
9780738596013
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$24.99
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Today, Mead is a vibrant Little Town with a Big Future, but when Lorin C. Mead homesteaded 80 acres in 1871, it was nothing more than virgin prairie with a small spring-fed pond he named Highland Lake after Sir Walter Scott's poem The Lady of the Lake. In 1873, he completed the Highland Ditch and enlarged the pond into a reservoir. The availability of irrigation water attracted additional settlers, and soon a village named Highlandlake sprang up along the shore. In late 1905, a promised railroad bypassed Highlandlake and instead established a beet dump along the eastern border of Paul Mead's farm. Paul, the son of Lorin C. Mead's brother Dr. Martin Luther Mead, immediately platted a new town, naming it after his father. Mead thrived until the Great Depression, during which several businesses were lost, including both banks. For almost 60 years, the town struggled to overcome the resultant losses until finally, in the 1990s, families rediscovered Mead's quaint charm and rural beauty.
Thornton
9780738558950
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$24.99
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In 1953, developer Sam Hoffman set out to build modern brick homes in a brand-new neighborhood north of Denver. He envisioned a planned community with land reserved for schools, churches, and shopping centers. Many veterans of World War II, with their young families, moved into houses built by Hoffman's F&S Construction, and these new citizens formed the Thornton Community Association, which eventually led the effort to incorporate the city in 1956. The history of Eastlake, founded in 1905, is tied to that of Thornton, and it is therefore included in this volume as well. Eastlake retains its own identity even though it now lies within Thornton's boundaries, and both communities continue to see housing and population growth as new families move in seeking the same opportunities as those who first settled here.
Golf in Denver
9780738582016
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$24.99
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Golf in Denver looks at the people, places, and events involved in the grand game in the Denver area for more than a century. The photographs in this volume chronicle the sport in Denver beginning in 1896, when it was played nearly exclusively by a handful of socially prominent, wealthy Denverites, to today's popular sport played on dozens of courses dotting the metro area. Casual and avid golfers as well as history buffs will appreciate the stories behind the game, including an in-depth look at how local courses were established, tales of well-known people, and accounts of women and minorities involved in local golf.
Poudre Canyon
9781467133708
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$24.99
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Carved eons ago by the Cache la Poudre River, the Poudre Canyon, north and west of Fort Collins, Colorado, has long been a favored recreation place, for fishing, hiking, camping, and more, of area residents and tourists. The canyon has many colorful tales to tell; this book takes readers on a drive through that history, milepost by milepost, stopping at historic places and taking some side trips along the way. Beginning with trappers and mountain men, the canyon has been traveled since the early 1800s, and Native Americans roamed here for times unknown before that. Explorers came, as did seekers of gold and silver. The expanding railroads resulted in logging enterprises, and mining interests brought about better access to mining towns. Near the end of the 19th century, tourists began to enjoy the hunting and fishing of the area. In 1920, the road, which had been blocked from either direction by a place in the canyon called the Narrows, finally went through all the way, bringing resorts and tourists.
Cripple Creek District
9780738524139
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$24.99
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The Cripple Creek District, on the back of Pikes Peak in central Colorado, first found fame through Bob Womack, the cowboy who publicized his knowledge of gold in the high country and drew thousands to the area. Gold fever allowed the region to flourish, while strikes, fires, and economic hardships threatened the district's survival. The dwindling population's fortitude, plus innovative ideas to boost the economy, carried the city from a struggling gold-miners' paradise to a favored tourist spot.
Brighton
9780738569413
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$24.99
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The town of Brighton was founded by railroad man and real estate developer Daniel F. Carmichael at the junction of the Denver Pacific (now Union Pacific) and Denver and Boulder Valley Railroads. Carmichael determined, "There should be a town here that would do credit to the splendid valley." The junction, originally named Hughes after the first president of the Denver Pacific Railroad, had a long history as a crossroads of the West. The town grew into an agricultural center for the Platte River Valley with a thriving sugar beet industry, dairies, and canning factories, but the changing economy would transform Brighton first into a suburban community and now into one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States.