Name: Beaver Creek
Brand: Laura Chiappetta Thompson
SKU: 9781467131933
Price: 24.99 USD
Availability: InStock

Beaver Creek

9781467131933

$24.99

Since 1883, Beaver Creek has attracted adventurous individuals. The allure of precious minerals brought miners to the valley, and many stayed after the illusion of striking it rich began to fade. Those folks homesteaded and farmed or ranched. Ranching flourished for a few families until the early 1970s. Two men credited with developing the Vail ski area set their sights on the Beaver Creek drainage for a new ski resort. Political battles over permits stretched from Denver to Washington, DC. In addition, environmental issues burgeoning in the early 1970s added another layer of complexity to the proposed ski area. Dark days were looming as interest rates hit 18 percent and a recession hit the national economy. A silver lining in all the turmoil at the fledgling resort occurred when former president Gerald R. Ford bought one of the first residential lots, making Beaver Creek his address. The original visionaries' goal to build a world-class resort was on its way to completion after years of challenges.

Basalt

9781467130462

$24.99

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.

Fort Collins

9781626197251

$21.99

While today's Fort Collins is a popular destination for foodies and weekend adventurers, it was once a lonely military outpost poised on the nation's frontier. Cattle rustlers and trigger-happy cowboys walked an uneasy line between saloon doors and the hangman's noose. By 1895, Fort Collins had lost some of its gritty edge, and it became a dry town full of churches, sheep ranches and sugar beet farms. The city was again transformed over the past century into a community that embraced a thriving beer culture and green living. Local historian Barbara Fleming traces the story of the Choice City from its early pioneer days through its modern renaissance.

Early Ascents on Pikes Peak

9781467118392

$21.99

Magnificent Pikes Peak rises dramatically from the Colorado prairie to a height of 14,114 feet above sea level. Visible for one hundred miles around, the granite giant's magnetic appeal compelled rugged mountaineers more than a century ago to risk loose saddles, electrical storms and even murder on treacherous expeditions to the summit. First known as Long Mountain by the Native Americans who sojourned at its hot springs, Pikes Peak was a full-fledged tourist destination by the 1870s. Eager men and women ventured up and down by foot, horse, burro, stagecoach, rail and bicycle. Colorado Mountain Club historian Woody Smith captures the news of the era to recount the thrill of pioneer days on America's most famous mountain.

Only in Boulder

9781596299757

$21.99

Boulder County has captivated settlers and travelers since gold prospectors founded the town in 1859. Only in Boulder is a look at the fascinating people who make up the area's rich and historic past. Here, you'll vicariously mine for gold with Indian Jack, fight for temperance with Lena Dwight and dance to the tunes of Glenn Miller. You'll also learn of Horace and Baby Doe Tabor's elusive connection to Boulder County and visit the final resting place of outlaw Tom Horn. Acclaimed historian Silvia Pettem has been writing about Boulder and its people for decades. This selected collection of her columns brings to life some of Boulder's most memorable and unique visitors, residents, activists, artists and entrepreneurs. Each compelling character is a thread in the fabric of the Boulder we know and love today.

The Fraser Valley

9781467132886

$24.99

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.

Boulder

9781596299740

$21.99

Journey with Silvia Pettem through Boulder's history in Boulder: A Sense of Time & Place Revisited. Watch the evolution from a frontier mining town to the "Athens of the West." Learn of murder and bootleggers in the 1920s, survive the Great Depression and follow Boulder's postwar growing pains as the city matures and residents reflect on its past. Each article is a story in itself but only a small piece of what makes Boulder the city it is today.

Dreaming of the Colorado Plateau

9781467197526

$9.99

In this board book for young readers, we'll learn to count down from 10 to 1 while discovering the breathtaking parks and sites in the Colorado Plateau. Hike the trails in the Grand Canyon, count amazing geological formations in Bryce Canyon National Park, and see the wildlife that calls this amazing part of our country home—all before bedtime! From Arches to Zion, there's so much to see—won't you join me?

Cover image for Dreaming of the Colorado Plateau, isbn: 9781467197526

Hello, Rockies!

9781938700217

$9.95

Welcome to the Rockies! Parent and child Black Bears tour the Rockies in best-selling author-illustrator Martha Day Zschock's Hello! board book series for children. In Hello, Rockies! join the pair as they visit four of America's most beautiful National Parks--Rocky Mountain, Grand Teton, Yellowstone, and Glacier. Along the way they meet park rangers, explore mountain trails, visit old mining towns, sleep under the stars, and even go white water rafting! For ages 0-3. Made in the USA.

LOL Jokes Denver

9781467198165

$9.99

Bursting with laugh-out-loud jokes and fun facts, LOL Jokes: Denver combines the best of humor and history for young readers!

Inspired by all the wonderful sights, sounds, and . . . smells of the Mile-High City, this local joke book delivers kid-friendly punchlines that will have readers laughing ’til they cry! Alongside hilarious jokes and puns are fascinating facts, goofy tidbits of local history, and engaging graphics that will keep readers chuckling and sharing with friends. LOL Jokes: Denver is sure to deliver hours of knee-slapping entertainment.

Denny: What has a head and a tail but no body?

Penny: A nickel!

Fun Factoid: The Denver Mint produces 8 billion coins a year, all of which have a D for Denver on them!

The Ghostly Tales of Denver

9781467198226

$12.99

Ghost stories from the Mile-High City have never been so creepy, fun, and full of mystery!

The haunted history of Denver comes to life--even when the main players are dead. Visit the state capitol and you may see a haunted head floating through the halls. Stop in at the Peabody-Whitehead mansion for any number of ghostly interactions. Or stroll along Market Street to see if the spirit of a young woman is again stealing people's shoes. Dive into this spooky chapter book for suspenseful tales of bumps in the night, paranormal investigations, and the unexplained; just be sure to keep the light on.

Cañon City

9780738580470

$7.99

From its early days as a frontier town to now, Colorado’s Cañon City has a rich and unique history even in comparison to other former Gold Rush towns.

From the scenic and geological diversity to some of the initial oil discoveries in the United States, this Fremont County seat has been a hub of coal mining and archaeological discoveries, particularly of dinosaur remains. Here the Royal Gorge Bridge crosses the Arkansas River, 1,053 feet below, as the highest suspension span in the world. The temperate weather means long growing seasons, celebrated each May by the Blossom and Music Festival. Once a commerce center supplying food, lumber, and other goods to surrounding gold towns--from Cripple Creek to Leadville--Cañon City also once was a silent-film capital, the base for hundreds of motion pictures produced after the beginning of the 20th century. Like most of history, times weren’t always good in Cañon City, reflected in the first territorial prison founded here, many more still operating today. Enjoy the rich history of Cañon City in this collection of 15 historic black-and-white postcards.

Rocky Mountain National Park

9780738525365

$7.99

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.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison, The

9780738570310

$7.99

The Black Canyon of the Gunnison boasts a rich history.

Colorado Ice Hockey

9781467160223

$24.99

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."

Cover image for Colorado Ice Hockey, isbn: 9781467160223

Grand County

9781467109079

$7.99

Established in 1874, before Colorado became a state, Grand County is nestled in the north-central Rocky Mountains. Named for the Grand River (renamed the Colorado River), Grand County encompasses 1,868 square miles, which is larger than Rhode Island. For thousands of years, Indigenous, nomadic tribes enjoyed natural hot springs and summer hunting. Spanish explorers, French fur trappers, and mountain men followed. In 1858, the gold rush brought rugged prospectors, creating towns named Coulter, Gaskill, Lulu City, and Teller. Later, homesteaders, loggers, merchants, and the Moffat Railroad built Arrow, Hideaway Park, Winter Park, Fraser, Tabernash, Granby, Grand Lake, Hot Sulphur Springs, Parshall, Kremmling, and Radium. Today, tourists flock to Rocky Mountain National Park, Arapaho National Forest, and award-winning dude ranches and resorts to enjoy some of the world's most beautiful lakes, mountain ranges, and abundant wildlife.

Treason in the Rockies

9781467135375

$21.99

Harvard honor alumnus Dale Maple had a promising future, but his obsession with Nazi Germany led to his downfall. Classmates often accused him of pro-Nazi sentiments, and one campus organization even expelled him. After graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, only to be relegated to a unit of soldiers suspected of harboring German sympathies. He helped two German POWs escape imprisonment at Camp Hale and flee to Mexico. The fugitives ran out of gas seventeen miles from the border and managed to cross it on foot, only to be arrested and returned to American authorities. Convicted and sentenced to death for treason, Maple awaited his fate until President Franklin Roosevelt commuted his sentence to life imprisonment. Ultimately, he was released in 1950. Paul N. Herbert narrates the engrossing details of this riveting story.

Frisco and the Ten Mile Canyon

9780738575490

$24.99

Frisco and the Ten Mile Canyon tells the story of the once-thriving railroad town that served as the gateway to the towns and mines of the Ten Mile Canyon. Beginning in 1879, mines produced silver, gold, and other minerals while experiencing the usual boom and bust cycles. With the slow, painful death of mining and the curtailing of rail service, Frisco and nearby towns suffered. While the towns in the canyon became memories, Frisco experienced a rebirth and revitalization when the recreational landscape and economy replaced that of the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Berthoud Pass

9780738575292

$24.99

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.

Fort Collins Beer

9781467137706

$21.99

Although alcohol arrived with the first settlers in Fort Collins, Prohibition lingered until 1969. But the city was one of the first to latch onto the burgeoning craft beer movement. In 1989, Old Colorado Brewing Company paved the way as the city's first microbrewery. And with the inception of breweries like Odell and New Belgium, local beer soon saw a strong resurgence followed by popularity nationwide. By 2010, a new generation of breweries, like Funkwerks and Equinox Brewing, emerged. Brea D. Hoffman divulges the history of Fort Collins's evolving beer scene.

Hidden History of Fort Collins

9781625858948

$21.99

From its Wild West days to the early twentieth century, Fort Collins boasted its share of colorful characters. British import Edith Boothroyd saved a mare from meeting a tragic fate after the bridge she and the horse were traveling across unexpectedly collapsed. In 1915, barnstormer Billy Parker built his first biplane in a local field. Happy Jack slipped away from prison after slyly convincing the jailer to loosen his restraints. And Francis Carter-Cotton left investors holding the bag when he fled to Canada after racking up $300,000 in debt. Barbara Fleming divulges these entertaining stories and more.

The Denver Dry Goods: Where Colorado Shopped with Confidence

9781467135368

$21.99

Over the course of eleven decades, The Denver Dry Goods and its predecessor, McNamara Dry Goods, proudly served Coloradoans, who knew they could "shop with confidence" for the best quality at the fairest prices. Much more than the goods it sold, the store was a major institution that touched the lives of nearly every Denverite. Comforting culinary traditions like Chicken ala King in the vast fifth-floor tearoom and breakfast with Santa delighted locals. Festive chandeliers adorned the four-hundred-foot-long main aisle during the holidays, and longtime salesclerks knew customers by name. Devoted patrons dearly missed all that charm after the doors closed in 1987. Mark Barnhouse explores the fascinating history and cherished memories of Denver's most beloved department store.

The Denver Dry Goods: Where Colorado Shopped with Confidence

University Park and South Denver

9780738569017

$24.99

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.

Evans

9781467131216

$24.99

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.

Colorado Vanguards:

9781467119375

$24.99

Colorado history is filled with maverick men and women who shaped the state's identity and culture. Trailblazers Zebulon Pike and Stephen Long laid groundwork for the miners, farmers and statesmen who helped the area evolve into a territory and a state. Father of Rocky Mountain National Park Enos Mills and writer Isabella Bird praised the surrounding natural splendor and championed its preservation. Entrepreneurs Otto Mears and William Jackson Palmer linked mines with towns such as Colorado Springs and Telluride, while the innovations of F.O. Stanley and Nikola Tesla energized the state. Author Phyllis J. Perry chronicles the lives of thirty men and women who left their indelible marks on Colorado.

Denver's Washington Park

9781467130745

$24.99

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."

Western Colorado Fruit & Wine:

9781626197800

$21.99

Enterprising pioneers transformed the isolated lands of the North Fork and Grand Valleys into blossoming oases. Sowing cultural roots in this arid rocky landscape, the settlers cultivated what became delectable destinations boasting world-class wine and award-winning fruit. Midwestern immigrants cultivated orchards, Europeans produced their own table wine and growers delivered their harvest by horse and wagon to the first locavore market--area miners. Sit down, pour a glass of wine or cider and join journalist Jodi Buchan on a journey through the Western Slope's fruit and wine country. Meet orchardists and viticulturists, and celebrate the discoveries, traditions and innovations thriving today across the region.

Daniels and Fisher:

9781626199231

$21.99

For 129 years, Daniels and Fisher and May-D&F proudly served the Mile High City. Today, the restored Daniels and Fisher Tower adorns the Sixteenth Street Mall while the I.M. Pei-designed ice-skating rink and hyperbolic paraboloid at May-D&F survive only in memories. The story of these institutions is filled with fascinating characters, including dashing, tower-building William Cooke Daniels; his aristocratic English wife, Cicely; and flamboyant William Zeckendorf, whose city-building dreams outpaced his finances. Generations of Denverites shopped these stores and still remember white-gloved sales ladies, meals served in the D&F Tea Room and views from the observation deck. Join author Mark A. Barnhouse as he brings the spectacular Christmas displays, fantastic fortnights celebrating foreign cultures and Carl Sandell--the seven-foot, five-inch Daniels and Fisher doorman--back to life.

Lost Ski Areas of Colorado's Central and Southern Mountains

9781626197138

$24.99

Colorado's central and southern mountains still draw droves of skiers to the slopes. However, many of the historic runs and areas that were popular over the past century--some near the current resorts of Aspen, Breckenridge, Crested Butte, Purgatory, Telluride and Vail--no longer exist. Local hills like Whittaker Ranch near Eagle featured little more than a rope tow and warming hut. Now underneath Lake Dillon, Prestrud Jump hosted tournaments where Olympian Anders Haugen broke ski-jumping world records. From Lands End near Grand Junction to Sugarite near Trinidad, from swanky Hoosier Pass in Summit County to Stoner in Montezuma County, authors Caryn and Peter Boddie take readers on a tour of the lost ski areas of central and southern Colorado.

Lost Ski Areas of Colorado's Central and Southern Mountains

Ghosts of Boulder

9781609497361

$21.99

Founded in 1859 and situated at the base of the Rocky Mountains, Boulder's small size harbors a big-city feel, and its rich past hides plenty of hair-raising lore. A home in the Newlands is said to be haunted by a previous owner who was displeased with remodeling done on his longtime abode, while a small Victorian on Pearl Street has been plagued by strange events for over a century. Guests at one hotel might be surprised by the number of mysteries wrapped around the building, and local spirits have a standing reservation at a popular restaurant that was once a mortuary. Authors Ann Alexander Leggett and Jordan Alexander Leggett offer up a tour of the tales that haunt this Colorado college town.

Around Nederland

9780738581491

$24.99

Nederland survived three boom-and-bust cycles involving three different minerals. During the silver boom, U.S. president Ulysses S. Grant visited Central City in 1873 and walked on silver bricks that had been mined in Caribou and milled in Nederland. The second boom followed the discovery of gold in Eldora in 1897 and lasted only a few years. The third boom was sparked by the discovery of tungsten by Sam Conger, the same man who made the original discovery of silver in Caribou. The Conger mine eventually became the greatest tungsten mine in the world. During World War I, Nederland's population swelled to 3,000--twice the size it is today--and another 2,000 were estimated to live nearby. In each boom, men came to mine, open stores, and transport goods and ore. They brought families with them, and many towns sprang up, including Caribou, Eldora, Lakewood, Tungsten, and Rollinsville. Some of these communities have survived, while others remain only in memories and photographs.

Compendium of Curious Colorado Place Names, A

9781467137324

$21.99

The origins of Colorado place names offer insightful glimpses into the state's formative years. Emanuel Saltiel named his new community along the Arkansas River Cotopaxi, after a volcano in Ecuador. Rifle Creek and the town of Rifle earned their names thanks to a rifle left behind along the banks of the creek. Optimistic miners mistakenly believed Tarryall had an abundance of gold and thus named it as a place where prospectors could mine and tarry. And despite attempts by government officials to rename a small community along the I-70 corridor in western Colorado, locals refused to call it anything other than No Name. Learn these stories and more as author Jim Flynn unravels the intriguing origins of Centennial State place names.

Compendium of Curious Colorado Place Names, A

The Uncompahgre Valley

9780738580715

$24.99

Settlers of European heritage arrived in the Uncompahgre River Valley after the Ute tribe was ordered to reservation lands in Utah by the federal government in 1881. The pioneers staked out properties and established covenants. The Uncompahgre River carried the usual annual melt from the San Juan Mountains through today's Ouray, Montrose, and Delta Counties toward its confluence with the Colorado River near Grand Junction. But the settlers' crops required more water than the river or irrigation ditches could bring. Engineers assessed the failed farms and abandoned villages in the wake of the Uncompahgre Valley's over-settlement and looked east of Montrose to the Black Canyon, cut by the nearby Gunnison River. They drilled the Gunnison Tunnel to bring the snowcap melt from the Continental Divide's western slopes to the Uncompahgre Valley, creating one of the Rocky Mountain region's most fertile valleys. The tunnel, completed in 1909, was the biggest irrigation project up to that time.

Littleton

9781467132558

$24.99

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.

Early Craig

9780738599694

$24.99

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.