The Saloon on the Rocky Mountain Mining Frontier

by Elliott West

Elliott West’s careful analysis of the role and development of the saloon as an institution on the mining frontier provides unique insights into the social and economic history of the American West. Drawing on contemporaneous newspapers and many unpublished firsthand accounts, West shows that the physical evolution of the saloon, from crude tents and shanties into elegant establishments for drinking and gaming, reflected the growth and maturity of the surrounding community.

Genres: History, Economics, Westerns

197 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1979

About the author

A specialist in the history of the American West, Elliott West is Alumni Distinguished Professor of History Emeritus at the University of Arkansas. He received his B.A. from the University of Texas (1967) and his Ph.D. from the University of Colorado (1971). He joined the U of A faculty in 1979. Two of his books, Growing Up With the Country: Childhood on the Far-Western Frontier (1989) and The Way to the West: Essays on the Central Plains (1995) received the Western Heritage Award. The Contested Plains: Indians, Goldseekers, and the Rush to Colorado (1998) received five awards including the Francis Parkman Prize and PEN Center Award. His most recent book is The Last Indian War: The Nez Perce Story (2009).

In 1995 West was awarded the U of A Teacher of the Year and the Carnegie Foundation‘s Arkansas Professor of the Year. In 2001 he received the Baum Faculty Teaching Award, and in 2009 he was one of three finalists for the Robert Foster Cherry Award recognizing the outstanding teacher in the nation.

Reviews

[David Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book up because I have read two other books by West and thoroughly enjoyed them. Compared to those two, this book is a bit on the lightweight side. I enjoyed it, but the topic isn't very deep or wide. In the 150 pages of text, West does cover all the topics I thought could be covered when going over the history of saloons in Rocky Mountain mining towns.

Includes appendices, bibliography, notes, and an index.

[Edd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scholarship in this book was dense and amazing.
Saloons were an important and central institution in the development of mining towns in the West; interesting subject.

[Matt Sadorf · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great look at the Saloon's role in the developing mining frontier. Here you learn about the beginnings of the saloon, the effect on towns that it had, the men that ran them, and ultimately the backlash against them.

It is truly interesting to read about how saloons began, and how they evolved over time. Some became lucrative business opportunities, and some took their owners into debt.

To me, this is a fascinating period of time in the development of America, and so I really enjoyed reading it and learning as I went. If the time period or subject matter is of interest to you, I have a feeling you will enjoy this.

[Neptunem · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great fun. It describes in detail a once very important part of the West. I was fascinated by the role the saloon played.

[Bruce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Discusses the usefulness of the saloon to towns in the Rocky Mtn mining areas. That is, their necessity to the development of the area.