Summit : A Gold Rush History of Summit County, Colorado

by Mary Ellen Gilliland

SUMMIT's content is rich as the gold the book describes. Narrow-gauge alpine railways, nomad Ute Indians, lusty mine camps, the 1860s birth of now-famous ski towns and self guided mine tours all highlight this classic history. A parade of larger-than-life characters march across its pages-people like dredge king Ben Stanley Revett and Colorado's famed Snowshoe Itinerant, John Lewis Dyer, the skiing preacher. Saints and sinners (mostly sinners) lead the parade of prospectors, claimjumpers, shyster lawyers, shady ladies and hard-working miners who scaled the high mountain passes to create the history this book records. This lively gold rush history of Summit County, Colorado has been designated a Best Seller by regional Colorado bookstores. Gilliland's high-energy writing style enhances her detailed picture of gold rush days.

350 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1980

Reviews

[Jan Gates · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve had this book since I lived in Colorado in the 70’s. Heading back to Breckenridge in the high peaks of Summit County in a few weeks so reviewed it. It’s pretty detailed and self published but gives good background on how the area was settled, the challenges the miners faced and the towns that grew out of their explorations.

[Debi Crawford-Poyner · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were interesting sections in this book about the different people and their livelihoods in Summit County , CO.