Roadside History of Colorado
by Candy Moulton, Mountain Press Publishing Co., Missoula, Mont., 2006, $20.
Among the Westerners who are forever linked, for better or worse, with what became the state of Colorado are explorer Zebulon Pike, Major Stephen Long, trader William Bent, expedition leader John C. Frémont, guide Kit Carson, Major John Chivington, Major Edward W. Wynkoop, Cheyenne Chief Black Kettle, man-eater Alfred Packer, Cheyenne leader Roman Nose, odd couple H.A.W. and Baby Doe Tabor, outlaw Butch Cassidy, stagecoach man Ben Holladay and dying Doc Holliday. Among the Colorado locations that make anyone think of frontier times are Pikes Peak, Sand Creek, Beacher’s Island, Brown’s Park, Julesburg, Glenwood Springs, Trinidad, Telluride, Leadville, Cripple Creek and, of course, Denver.
Because of the Centennial State’s connection with the Wild West, this latest entry in the “Roadside History” series should be welcomed by anyone who enjoys researching or reading about Western history or traveling to historic sites. Of course, there is other information to be gained here as well, such as: the stegosaurus is the state fossil, in 1887 Aspen became the first city in Colorado to provide electricity to all its residents, the Denver Mint issued its first coins in 1906, the Pikes Peak Highway was built in 1915, Mesa Verde became a national park in 1906, and one of the most popular things to ever come out of Pagosa Springs was the Daisy Red Ryder BB rifle. Author Candy Moulton is not only an award-winning author but also a Roadside History veteran, having earlier produced the Roadside History of Nebraska and the Roadside History of Wyoming.
The book is divided into six geographic sections, beginning with “Southwest: Four Corners Country” and ending with “Northwest: Mountain Parks and Dinosaur Country.” At the beginning of each section is a helpful map, though travelers should bring along a state road atlas as well as the book when visiting Colorado. Some 120 black-and-white photographs accompany the text, and there is a brief chronology in the beginning and a solid bibliography in the back.
Originally published in the October 2006 issue of Wild West. To subscribe, click here.
