Ranked among the top ten states for both disasters and dry climate, Colorado has a long history of extreme weather. On May 19, 1864, residents of the fledgling gold rush town of Denver awoke to a wall of water slamming into the city with enough force to flatten buildings and rip clothing from its victims. The infamous Big Thompson Canyon flood of 1976 killed 144 residents, tourists and campers. Per the National Center for Atmospheric Research, Coloradoans experienced twenty-two floods with contemporary monetary losses of $2 million or more since the flood of 1864. And as the population continues to grow, the loss of lives, property, crops and livestock may increase. Local author Darla Sue Dollman, who witnessed and survived many of the contemporary disasters, examines the state's most catastrophic flash floods from 1864 to 2013.
Black Cowboys and Early Cattle Drives
9781467153645
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Dust and Determination After the Civil War, emancipated slaves who didn't want to pick cotton or operate an elevator headed west to find work and a new life. Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving drove two thousand longhorns across southern Texas blazing a trail to Bosque Redondo in New Mexico. In 1866, the new Goodnight-Loving Trail was crowded with cattle headed for a government market. By the 1870s, twenty-five percent of the over thirty-five thousand cowboys in the West were black. They were part of trail crews that drove more than twenty-seven million cattle on the Goodnight-Loving Trail, Western Trail, Chisholm Trail and Shawnee Trail. They were paid equally, and their skill and ability brought them earned respect and prestige. Author Nancy Williams recounts their lasting legacy.
Yampa Valley's Lost Egeria Park
9781467143998
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Called the "Last Frontier," the "Land of the Last Pioneers" and the "Place that Time Forgot," Routt County was among the last places settled in the continental United States. Between 1820 and 1845, notable people such as Kit Carson, Jim Baker and Jim Bridger were all known to visit the Yampa Valley. But it wasn't until the removal of the Utes in 1881 that Egeria Park flourished. Stagecoaches, railroads, cattle, grain and sawmills followed. And despite the remote location, it grew into an agricultural and economic hub, the exact boundaries of which are still contested. Alas, Egeria Park dissolved with time. Author Rita Herold uncovers sketches of lost heroes, scoundrels and everyday characters who made history here.
Hidden History of Routt County
9781467143981
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Settling Routt County was never easy or safe. Fugitives used the undeveloped landscape as an "outlaw trail" to evade authorities. The inexorable Harry Tracy managed three jailbreaks before being killed by a posse. Conversely, many of the first families left entrepreneurial legacies. Widowed Alice Bartz sold the family homestead to start the Bartz Hotel in her Steamboat Springs' bakery and house, serving three meals a day to locals and guests. Others families, like the Nays and the Laughlins, were able to cut hay and raise enough livestock to pass the land down to future generations. Native author Rita Herold preserves oral histories and nearly forgotten episodes of the county's past.
Mountain Brew
9781609491772
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Colorado is the scene of a thriving culture of breweries. From Coors, America's largest single-site brewery, to Three Barrel Brewing Company, found in the back of an insurance office, each and every one holds a unique place in the state's brewing scene. For two years, author Ed Sealover traveled the state, speaking to more than one hundred brewers and learning what makes each place special, detailing their histories, quirks and signature beers. With profiles of breweries ranging from the world-renowned New Belgium Brewing Company to the Silverton Brewery, whose location is so isolated that its taproom shuts down six months out of the year, Mountain Brew: A Guide to Colorado's Breweries is a perfect companion for beer geeks and thirsty travelers.
Ladies of the Brown
9781609491284
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Since the day it opened in 1892, Denver's Brown Palace Hotel has been the Mile High City's foremost destination for high-powered business travelers, celebrities, royalty and politicians. In Ladies of the Brown, hotel historian and archivist Debra B. Faulkner introduces readers to some of the hotel's most fascinating and famous female visitors, residents and employees. From Denver's "Unsinkable" Molly Brown and Romania's Queen Marie to Zsa Zsa Gabor, Mamie Eisenhower and many, many more, these intriguing characters play leading roles in true tales of romance, scandal, humor and heartbreak. This collection of stories is integral to the history of the Brown Palace and Denver, offering a glimpse into the lives of generations of women from all walks of life
Riding Denver's Rails:
9781609499150
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In 1872, the Mile High City embraced a new way to get around and eventually boasted one of the largest streetcar systems in the nation. Enjoy the varied stops the transit system made as it grew along with the city, from the early horsecars of the Denver Horse Railroad Company and the steam-powered Colfax Avenue Railway to the running cable cars of the Denver Tramway and the electric trolleys of the South Denver Cable Railway Company. Though the last of the city's streetcars were pulled from service in the 1950s, Denver continues to expand its modern public transportation system with today's growing Light Rail. Join Denver historian Kevin Pharris on a tour of the city's glorious transit past as well as the modern improvements that are getting people onto the rails once again.
Chronicles of Douglas County, Colorado
9781626191792
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It's hard to imagine that Douglas County's breathtaking vistas--now occupied by expanding suburbs and quiet, open spaces--were once the home to dinosaur herds and, later on, nomadic Indian tribes. The nation's second gold rush brought those seeking great fortunes to central Colorado, but it was the untapped potential of the area and a dream of taming the land that appealed most to early settlers of Douglas County. Pioneers like General Bela Hughes and John D. Perry (whose agreement led to the railroad connection across Kansas to Denver) and Martin Henry Goddard (who, along with his wife, Nellie, ran the Rhode Island Hotel) were among the first of many settlers to establish roots here. Join the Castle Rock Writers for a journey through the history of this land and the diverse legacy left behind by those who made it their home.
Homesteading Haxtun and the High Plains:
9781609498436
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Very little has been written about the real" northeastern plains of Colorado, the small communities that dot its open, sky-filled, mountainless landscape. Haxtun began as two separate homesteads, "proved up" by Alice Strohm and Kate (Fletcher) Edwards, who sold their land to the Lincoln Land Company in 1887, which led to the founding of the town. The area was generally viewed as useless land in those early days but was promoted as being full of opportunity--neglecting mention of a proclivity toward drought, hailstorms and blizzards and the gamble of the land. The High Plains survived, though. Its settlers, proving to be hardy and industrious, faced the challenges head on. Today, Haxtun and the surrounding communities of Fairfield, Dailey, Fleming and Paoli are filled with the descendants of those early settlers, people with a strong sense of community and pride in their little High Plains towns."
The History of City Market: The Brothers Four and the Colorado Back Slope Empire
9781626192867
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City Market's story begins with a penniless eighteen-year-old immigrant and closes with the business becoming part of the largest supermarket chain in the United States. In 1924, brothers Paul, Frank, Leo and Clarence Prinster bought a meat market in Grand Junction, Colorado, a business venture that would allow them to ride out the stock market crash and the Great Depression. It also allowed them to open the state's first supermarket in 1939, the beginning of an empire that remained in the family for over a century and helped shape the heritage of western Colorado. Tony Prinster shares how the City Market founders and its dedicated employees transformed a family business into the retail brand that touched the lives of so many people.
Wicked Western Slope
9781609495701
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Early promoters of Colorado's Western Slope would have had settlers believe the area was one of proper behavior and upstanding morality. But this was not the case. Hot tempers led to quick trigger fingers and Main Street shootouts. Drinking, gambling and thieving were popular pursuits, and law breaking of all kinds thrived in this wild land. From Charles Graham, whose jealous rampage in Grand Junction is still talked about today, and the mysterious Friday the thirteenth murder of Jeanette Morris to Abe C. Ong, the mischievous pioneer bootlegger of De Beque, and Riverside's Mrs. Barnes and her foul crime, "History Sleuth" D.A. Brockett reveals some of the most outrageous and remarkable crimes in Western Slope history.
Hidden History of Denver
9781609493509
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When prospectors set up camp on Cherry Creek in 1858, Denver emerged as a lightning rod for the extraordinary. Time has washed away so many unusual stories--from the dark days of nineteenth century Law and Order League lynchings and the KKK's later rise and fall to the heroism of suffragettes and the touching plight of the gypsies. Elizabeth Wallace knocks the dust off these details and introduces readers to characters like world heavyweight boxing champion Charles L. "Sonny" Liston, hit-man turned rodeo promoter Leland Varain, aka "Diamond Jack," and the city's daring wall dogs, whose hand-painted building advertisements are fading reminders of a bygone Denver.
A Brief History of South Denver & University Park
9781609492335
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University Park was founded in the 1880s when the University of Denver (Colorado Seminary) moved from downtown Denver to land donated by potato farmer Rufus Clark. The University, founded by Methodists, wanted to escape the urban blight of the city and build an oasis for education. Liquor production or consumption was not allowed, and though today the area has many pubs a number of home mortgages to this day contain old covenants forbidding the making or selling of spirits. Around University Park grew the town of South Denver, which was annexed to the city of Denver in the early twentieth century. For many years in the late 1800s the primary employer was the University of Denver, but over time others moved into the area for its attractive homes and well respected schools. The area has traditionally been upper middle class and has enjoyed one of the lowest crime rates in the city. At the geographic center of University Park is Observatory Park, named for the famous Chamberlain Observatory, built in the 1890s and still fully operational with popular public viewing nights. In the early part of the century Colorado Governor Henry Buchtel lived in the park, as did a number of famed early DU faculty such as Ammi Hyde, who beat the freshman boys in an annual foot race well into his 90's. The area boomed after World War II as many from other parts of the country who were stationed in Colorado chose to remain and make it their home. The area has remained prosperous and continues to grow, sharing in the overall success that the Denver metro area has experienced.
The University of Denver
9781626193185
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Founded in 1864, the University of Denver is among the oldest institutions in Colorado. The school was founded by Dr. John Evans, who wanted to bring education to the citizens of the territory and did so by creating Colorado Seminary. While the school had close ties to the Methodist Church, students of all denominations were welcome. After relocating to the newly established University Park, the school was officially renamed the University of Denver, and it has become a highly ranked private university, attracting students from around the globe. University historian Steve Fisher traces the school's illustrious history from its founding through to today, celebrating the school's 150-year story. .
Ghosts & Legends of Colorado’s Front Range
9781467140096
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Stunning natural wonders and bustling cities make Colorado's Front Range one of the country's best places to live, but its rowdy past left some residents unable to quit the state--even in death. Outside Fort Collins, many a startled visitor spies grisly shadows hanging from the notorious Hell Tree. A reputed murderer stalks the Greeley Courthouse near where he was lynched for his alleged crimes. The disembodied heads of two vengeful banditos float through the basement of the Capitol Building in Denver. And the Broadmoor Hotel of Colorado Springs plays nightly host to a mysterious phantom lady. Author Cindy Brick reveals these and more gripping tales of the Front Range's spectral history.
A Brief History of Fairplay
9781609499556
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Explore Fairplay from the beginning with local historian Linda Bjorklund as she traces the town's story through Spanish settlers, early American government, Union-Confederate tensions and modern development. Even though Fairplay's remarkable gold and silver boom was reduced to ash overnight in 1873, a strong community overcame history's challenges and preserved its treasures. From the popular annual Burro Days to the Way of Life Museum, Fairplay gives folks a chance to celebrate and relive its rich mining history through festivities and time-capsule buildings such as the general store, drugstore, bank, Summer Brewery and Summer Saloon.
The Denver Beat Scene: The Mile-High Legacy of Kerouac, Cassady & Ginsberg
9781626197794
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The Beat Generation descended on Denver with the same feverish intensity that rattled the caf's and art galleries of New York and San Francisco. Home to Neal Cassady and favorite stomping ground for both Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg, the Mile-High City still pulses with the energy that made it a nerve center for cultural change and a sanctuary for the spoken word community. Author and Beat historian Zack Kopp pairs a narrative history of the movement with a stop-by-stop guide to its Denver landmarks and hot spots.
Brief History of Erie, Colorado, A
9781467118118
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From 1866 until 1979, Erie was one of the largest coal-producing towns in the nation. Numerous settlers contributed to building Old Town and making it one of the liveliest communities in northern Colorado. The Columbine Mine massacre in 1927 incited major changes to coal mining practices, inspiring unionization efforts nationally. The improved rights and working conditions that miners struggled to win benefit employees across America today. Emeritus Professor James B. Stull illuminates Erie's earliest pioneers, houses, schools and churches and the town's enduring evolution.
Forgotten Heroes & Villains of Sand Creek
9781596299436
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On November 29, 1864, Colonel John Chivington led a bloody and terrible raid on an encampment of Arapahos and Cheyennes who had come to the area believing they were on a path to peace. Before it was over, between 130 and 180 Native Americans had been massacred. This attack, known as the Sand Creek Massacre, is one of the most well-known and notorious events in Colorado's history. In Forgotten Heroes and Villains of Sand Creek, author Carol Turner turns an eye to the central characters, their histories and how they came to be part of this bloody episode. This fascinating look at such a pivotal event, its instigators and its martyrs includes the stories of John Chivington, an ambitious preacher with a streak of cruelty; Captain Silas Soule, a man who is still honored today by the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes for his efforts in saving their ancestors; Ned Wynkoop, one of Soule's compatriots who had a change of heart regarding the tribes; Chief One Eye, a persuasive and charismatic medicine man; and many, many more.
Wicked Denver
9781609491536
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The Mile-High City was never above fatal bar brawls, poison plots or any of the other transgressions history would like to ignore. From the moment it sprang from the frontier, Denver was a hotbed of violent money disputes, acts of criminal insanity and every manner of wickedness associated with street and saloon life. Men posed as women while committing crimes, and murderous madams left trails of scarred girls and ruined lives. Some sordid tales are common Mile-High lore, like the case of the Denver Strangler, while others, like the Capitol Hill Slugger, who plagued the well-to-do neighborhood at the turn of the century, have disappeared from note...until now. Follow Sheila O'Hare and Alphild Dick through the tantalizing and wicked tales that undeniably sculpted the city.
Hammond's Candies
9781626197169
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In 1920, Carl T. Hammond founded his company with a commitment to quality. He single-handedly developed recipes, sold candy and handled everything else required to run the small operation. Nearly a century after that humble beginning, Hammond's Candies still clings to that original vision, creating prized confections by hand. The Mitchell Sweet, first introduced in the 1930s, is still a top seller, and visitors touring the factory can view the original machinery being used in production. Author Corky Thompson traces the history and growth of this family-owned company from 1920 until its sale at the end of the twentieth century and follows its transition under new ownership to the present time.
Lost Ski Areas of Colorado's Front Range and Northern Mountains
9781626197121
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Avid skiers have flocked to the northern reaches of the Centennial State for over a century. While the prized powder remains the same, the top skiing destinations bear only a faint resemblance to the resorts of previous generations. Neighborhood slopes, such as Tabernash Hill, featured little more than a rope tow and a storage shed. Other spots like Estes Park's Old Man Mountain held tournaments and contests with Olympic participants. From the Cathy Cisar Winter Playground in Craig to Cheyenne Mountain's Ski Broadmoor and everywhere in between, join authors Caryn and Peter Boddie on a tour through the lost ski areas of northern Colorado and the Front Range.
Colorado Forts
9781609496609
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Throughout the 1800s, explorers braved brutal weather and hostile enemies, trekking through the towering mountains and fertile valleys on the ragged edge of civilization. These early pioneers built stockades, trading posts, military camps and miniature citadels that would shape the state of Colorado for generations to come. As the settlers struggled to survive desperate times, economic depressions and bloody wars, some of these historic outposts would become Colorado's cities, schools, hospitals and museums, while others would sink back into the mud from which they came. Join author Jolie Anderson Gallagher as she chronicles the stories of the forts and the early explorers, fur trappers, soldiers and wives who constructed and occupied them.
Colorado's Historic Hotels
9781609493011
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Lured by the promise of land and opportunity, miners, cowhands, laborers, settlers and fortune-seekers poured into Colorado during the mid-to-late 19th Century and into the 20th. To accommodate the population boom, industrious Coloradoans built scores of hotels some elaborate, some modest, all a touchstone to this critical era in Centennial State history. Join Alexandra Walker Clark on this tour through Colorado's historic hotels. Discover how the Oxford and Brown Palace Hotels have managed to maintain their elegance, while others such as the Timberline Hotel of Holy Cross City and the California Hotel of Independence have vanished. With timeless recipes from hotel kitchens, learn how hotels have adapted to eras like the Native American desertion and the Roaring Twenties.
Colorado's Iceman and the Story of the Frozen Dead Guy
9781609492489
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The Frozen Dead Guy was once just a regular Norwegian named Bredo Morstoel. When he died in 1983, his family cryogenically preserved his body and placed it in a permanent holding facility in Nederland, Colorado, to wait until technology might allow it to be defrosted and resurrected. His caretaker is Bo Iceman" Shaffer, who has transported ice to the facility and represented the Frozen Dead Guy for seventeen years and counting. Here he chronicles one of Colorado's strangest and most colorful attractions, one that draws travelers from around the globe to tour the site, attend the annual Frozen Dead Guy Days festival and have a drink."
Haunted Hotels of Northern Colorado
9781626199330
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The haunted hotels of northern Colorado offer chance encounters with wispy apparitions from a fabulous century gone by. The Earl of Dunraven prowls in the night at the Stanley Hotel. Melancholy Carl haunts the halls of the Brook Forest Inn, and Eleanor James tosses pots and pans about at the Elkhorn Lodge. A little boy, tragically drowned, leaves watery footprints in the Hotel Jerome. Book a stay with author Nancy Williams as she explores Colorado's iconic hotels where spirits aren't confined to the bar.
Notorious San Juans:
9781609492601
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From the shooting of a Secret Service agent in the wilds near Hesperus to the grave misfortune"? of Kid Adams, a not-so-successful highwayman, these tales from the lofty heights of the San Juans are packed with mystery, pathos and fascinating historical details. Mined from the frontier newspapers of Ouray, San Juan and La Plata Counties, these stories tell of range wars, desperadoes and cattle rustlers, lynchings, ill-tempered ranchers with trigger fingers and women fed up with their husbands. There are famous and infamous newsmen, wild stagecoach rides, scapegoats and stolen lands. Carol Turner's Notorious San Juansoffers a rowdy ride through the region's not-so-quiet history."
Notorious Jefferson County
9781596299542
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Before the Colorado Territory, this land was Jefferson Territory. Made up mostly of ranching and farming communities, early Jefferson County was the kind of place where only the stouthearted and downright crazy could survive. And with any settlement comes violence. It's true that Hollywood has embellished the history of the Wild West, but that doesn't mean it wasn't truly wild. From the "psychic" Italian mother who lured an elderly woman to her death to the violent end of the McQueary-Shaffer feud in the upper Platte region, local historian Carol Turner's Notorious Jefferson County offers readers a peek into some of the area's most famous and infamous murder cases of the frontier era.
Eagle County Characters:
9781609496975
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Long before the first ski runs were ever carved into the mountains of Vail and Beaver Creek, Eagle County drew adventurous settlers and pioneers who brought life to the mines and the Eagle River Valley. Allow local journalist and historian Kathy Heicher to introduce you to the Doll brothers as they establish their ranching and business legacy. Ride a stagecoach with Sarah Doherty, Cattle Queen of the Badlands. Follow Jake Borah through bear country with President Theodore Roosevelt and his hunting cabinet." Trail cattle alongside Ellis "Bearcat" Bearden and his ranching family. Meet a cast of characters whose stories arc across decades and reach the very roots of this beautiful mountain valley."
Forgotten Cuchareños of the Lower Valley
9781609491345
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During the late 1860s, Hispanos from Colorado's San Luis Valley moved their families east over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains into Huerfano County. Their story is an important and almost forgotten part of Colorado's history as a whole, though their contributions are still felt throughout the area today and their descendants still call this land home. In Forgotten Cucharenos of the Lower Valley, historian Virginia Sanchez brings this fascinating account of Native American, Hispano and Anglo cultures to life, presenting new information about Cucharas and the people who settled there.