This pictorial history shows the transition of Colorado Springs from a frontier town, founded in 1871 by William Jackson Palmer, to those years just prior to the city's exposive growth which started during World War II.

Sprawling Piedmont cities, ghost towns on the plains, earth-toned placitas set against the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, mining camps transformed into ski resorts--these are some of the diverse regions in Colorado explored in this fascinating book. Historical geographer William Wyckoff traces the evolution of the state during its formative years from 1860 to 1940, chronicling its changing cultural landscapes, social communities, and connections to a larger America and showing that Colorado has exemplified the unfolding of a complex western environment. Wyckoff discusses how nature, capitalism, a growing federal political presence, and national cultural influences came together to produce a new human geography in Colorado. He explains the ways in which the state's distinctive settlement geographies each took on a special character that persists to the present. He leads the reader through the transformation of the state from wilderness to a distinct region capable of accommodating the diverse needs of ranchers, miners, merchants, farmers, and city dwellers. And he describes how a state created out of cartographic necessity has been given uniqueness and meaning by the people who live there.

This is quite possibly the most interesting, fun and entertaining book you'll ever find about the state of Colorado. It comes packed with interesting stories, history, trivia and fun facts that will spark your curiosity about the great state of Colorado.

The city of Denver was born during the great "Pikes Peak or Bust" gold rush of 1859 when flakes of placer gold were found where the South Platte River meets Cherry Creek. With the discovery of more gold, Denver became a boomtown, and African American pioneers began to arrive in search of prosperity and a better future. Initially, Denver's African Americans lived scattered throughout the city and in the Cherry Creek area. By the late 1890s, most had relocated to the Five Points Neighborhood. Many worked in Denver during the week and farmed their homesteads in Dearfield on the weekends. They often spent their holidays at Winks Lodge and summers at Camp Nizhone.

Many types of settlers have called Colorado home, including Pueblo, Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians, Mexicans, rugged cowboys, and fortune seekers. Now, Colorado is full of national parks, swanky resorts, bustling cities, and cozy suburbs that draw people from around the world. Discover Colorado in the exciting new pictorial history, Colorado Past and Present. Incredible archival and contemporary photographs showcase the magnificent landscapes, culture, and evolution of Colorado since the late 1800s. Rocky Mountain high! Colorado boasts 53 awe-inspiring mountain peaks that rise 14,000 feet and higher. What was once arduous territory for Colorado’s early settlers is now home to famous ski resorts like Aspen, Vail, and Steamboat Springs. Despite its rocky reputation, nearly half of Colorado is flat. See how life in the Eastern Plains has changed as cattle ranches make way for progress. In 2005 Outside Magazine named Buena Vista, Colorado, one of the "Best Towns in the U.S." Check out how this town, in the shadow of the Rockies, sprang up from nothing and developed into a symbol of the New Urbanism movement. With its amazing natural beauty, exciting culture, and adrenalineinducing activities, Colorado is one of America’s most popular destinations.

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.

In the early days of the twentieth century, movies weren't made in California. As America's film pioneers traveled westward, Colorado became a beacon to them, contributing to the early motion picture business with all the relish and gusto of a western saga. The gorgeous natural scenery was perfect for the country's (and the world's) growing infatuation with the West, turning Colorado itself into a bigger star of the early cinema than any particular actor. Using rare photos and contemporary accounts, writer and filmmaker Michael J. Spencer explores the little-known filmmaking industry that flourished in the Rocky Mountains between 1895 and 1915--west of New York but east of Hollywood.