Writing History

Some of our favorite reads about the state's storied past

By Jennifer Chance
Colorado: A History in Photographs by Richard N. Ellis and Duane A. Smith (University Press of Colorado, upcolorado.com).
Drawing on a rich legacy of photographic history dating back to 1861, Ellis and Smith bring Colorado’s colorful past to life with striking images and rich text. ($29.95)
Colorado: A History in Photographs by Richard N. Ellis and Duane A. Smith (University Press of Colorado, upcolorado.com).
Drawing on a rich legacy of photographic history dating back to 1861, Ellis and Smith bring Colorado's colorful past to life with striking images and rich text. ($29.95)

Images of Rail: Rails Around Durango by Allan C. Lewis (Arcadia Publishing, arcadiapublishing.com).
From the beginning of the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad in the 1880s to the current Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Lewis explores the rail systems around Durango, with excellent attention to their history and impact on the Centennial State. ($19.99)
Colorado's Rodeo: Roots to Modern-Day Cowboys by Kathryn Ordway (The Donning Company Publishers, donning.com).
From early roots in the Old West to the sport and entertainment of present-day rodeo, Ordway explores the history and pageantry of this multimillion dollar industry, and Colorado's contribution and influence throughout the years. ($39.99)
The Brown Palace: Denver's Grande Dame by Corinne Hunt (The Brown Palace Hotel, brownpalace.com)
Since 1892, The Brown Palace has held sway over the corner of 17th St. and Broadway in downtown Denver. Stunning images illustrate the story as Hunt delves into the colorful history and clientele that have made the “Grand Dame” an indelible part of the Denver skyline. ($24.95)
I Looked in the Brook and Saw a Face: Images of Childhood in Early Colorado by David N. Wetzel, Mary Ann McNair and the Colorado Historical Society (Westcliffe Publishers, westcliffe.com).
With help from photographic archives of the Colorado History Museum, this book creates a portrait of childhood in late-19th- and early-20th-century Colorado. The accompanying text by Wetzel beautifully complements the images with quotes and offers a glimpse into the lives of these children. ($35)

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Some more of Our Favorite Reads:

Tallgrass by Sandra Dallas (St. Martin's Press, stmartins.com). Based on the Amache interment camp in Granada, this historical novel explores the impact of World War II on Colorado, and the reality of life close to the camp. ($23.95)

High Drama: Colorado's Historic Theatres by Daniel and Beth R. Barrett (Western Reflections Publishing Company, westernreflectionswww.com). This book offers a wonderful overview of Colorado's theatrical legacy. From the Wheeler Opera House in Aspen to the Broadway Theatre in Denver, the reader is given a tour of theatres across the state-some still standing and some long gone. ($19.95)

Colorado: A History of the Centennial State by Carl Abbott, Stephen J. Leonard and Thomas J. Noel (University Press of Colorado, upcolorado.com). This book explores the rich history of Colorado and the contribution of its residents. From north and south to east and west, newcomers and natives alike can learn more about the people and events that have shaped the history of the Centennial State. ($29.95)

Colorado, Mother of Rivers: Water Poems by Justice Greg Hobbes (Colorado Foundation for Water Education, cfwe.org). This book collects four decades of the author's poems, many of which are inspired by hiking the San Juan Mountains of Southwestern Colorado. ($10.00)

Spanish Peaks: Land and Legends by Conger Beasley Jr. (University Press of Colorado, upcolorado.com). From Native Americans to homesteaders to present-day hikers, the Spanish Peaks have drawn people to their majestic beauty and mystery for centuries. This book shares the history of these rugged mountains, and explores the legends surrounding them. ($27.95)

Old House New Home: Stylish Modern Living in a Period Setting by Ros Byam Shaw  (Ryland Peters & Small, rylandpeters.com). Updating an old building can be challenging, but with sections such as Period Piece, Urban Chic, and Recycled Spaces, Shaw uses her own expertise, and that of other professionals, to help owners of older buildings create elegant homes. ($35.00)

Colorado: An Illustrated History of the Highest State by Thomas J. Noel and Debra B. Faulkner (American Historical Press, amhistpress.com). From industry to nature, Noel and Faulkner paint an amazing and comprehensive historical picture of Colorado and its people. ($34.95)

All books available through The Tattered Cover Book Store, tatteredcover.com, or amazon.com.