Colorado State Capitol: History, Politics, Preservation

by Derek R. Everett

As the representative building of the state, the Capitol has served as a silent witness to the evolving needs and interests of all Colorado citizens. The statehouse provided a proud testament for nineteenth-century Coloradoans who wanted to prove their state's potential through grand architecture and it represents "the heart of Colorado" to this day. In one comprehensive volume historian Derek Everett traces the establishment, planning, construction, and history of Colorado's state capitol - including a discussion on the importance of restoring and preserving the building for current and future generations of Coloradoans.

244 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2005

Reviews

[Kjersti · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a general rule I stay away from historical books (even historical novels) because I find them BO-RRING. But I requested this book from the library after going on a tour of the Colorado state capitol, and I think the key to my enjoying it is that it was so timely and built upon the knowledge I learned from the tour. You could tell the author was passionate about the subject matter and the book was well researched, including footnotes and pictures. He provided quite a bit of information about the political squabbles which I found quite interesting; and it was a good reminder that no matter what the year, there is always drama in government. Rating is 2-1/2 stars.

[David Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

After spending a day at the Colorado Capitol I was curious about the history of the building and picked up this book from the gift shop. My copy came autographed by the author, who once worked as a tour guide in the building.

I'm somewhat fascinated by public buildings of this sort. I spent some time working San Francisco's very interesting City Hall and have toured a handful of other similar buildings. They don't make them like this any more. It isn't just that architectural styles have changed; the sorts of materials used are vastly different as well. This building is truly of another age.

To put this building in its proper context, the author starts the story of the Colorado State Capitol even before Colorado became a territory. By the time of the 1859 gold rush and the great influx of people the desire for statehood became a force, and once achieved, it was decided the seat of government should exist on a par with larger, more established states.

The early chapters concentrate on the construction itself, which spanned 15 years or so, using materials from all over the state. To tell the story, the author includes a fair amount of early Denver and Colorado history, with a bit of national history as well.

The second half of the book is about the events that took place around the Capitol, the challenges faced in its maintenance and upkeep, and the demand for space to house government agencies that resulted in building other buildings in the Capitol complex.

There are many interesting photos, a bibliography, and index.