Colorado: A History of the Centennial State

by Carl Abbott, Stephen J. Leonard, Thomas J. Noel

Since 1976 newcomers and natives alike have learned about the rich history of the magnificent place they call home from Colorado: A History of the Centennial State . In this revised edition, co-authors Carl Abbott, Stephen J. Leonard, and Thomas J. Noel incorporate more than a decade of new events, findings, and insights about Colorado in an accessible volume that general readers and students will enjoy.   The new edition tells of conflicts, new alliances, and changing ways of life as Hispanic, European, and African American settlers flooded into a region that was already home to Native Americans. Providing balanced coverage of the entire state's history - from Grand Junction to Lamar and from Trinidad to Craig - the authors also reveal how Denver and its surrounding communities developed and gained influence.   While continuing to elucidate the significant impact of mining, agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism on Colorado, this new edition broadens its coverage. The authors expand their discussion of the twentieth century with several new chapters on the economy, politics, and cultural conflicts of recent years. In addition, they address changes in attitudes toward the natural environment as well as the contributions of women, Hispanics, African Americans, and Asian Americans to the state. Dozens of new illustrations, updated statistics, and an extensive bibliography of the most recent research on Colorado history enhance this edition.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Textbooks, American History

576 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

Reviews

[Annie]

This is a very business-like, dispassionate history of Colorado. Lots of information, very few anecdotes. It’s more of a textbook than a history you’d read for pleasure. It does the job, I suppose, but there’s not much to be said for the joy of it.

In the back of the book are mini biographies of famous Coloradans—more of whom were originally from Ohio, like me, than any other state!

The most interesting thing I derived from this book were the stories of Julia Archibald Holmes and Dr. Justina Ford.

Holmes was unusual in that she was a woman gold prospector. She walked across the entire state of Kansas and half of Colorado to become the first (European) woman to climb Pike’s Peak. She later moved to New Mexico and was a writer for the New York Tribune (then the largest newspaper in the country). (Interestingly enough, the editor of the Tribune, Horace Greeley, later moved to Colorado and bought a mine in Gregor Gulch. I have to assume Greeley, CO was named after him).

Dr. Ford delivered 7000 babies; because she was black, she was not allowed to use Denver hospitals, so she went to peoples’ homes and delivered babies of all races. “Whatever color they show up, that’s the way I take them.”

[Kathleen]

“Those who chronicle the history of Colorado must view their subject with the perspectives of geologist, geographer, botanist, and zoologist, among others, to trace the plains and peaks, to sample the air and measure the rainfall, and to count the elk and analyze the grasses” (3).

[S.G. Scales]

Good CO State History book.

An interesting and instructive state history book, that could be used at several levels of education. Enjoyed it and felt that I learn a lot about the state I have lived in for over half my life..

[Barbara]

Thorough presentation of the history of Colorado. The reading is rather dry. Most fun fact: the Unsinkable Molly Brown of Titanic fame lived in Denver.

[Ryan]

Great way to get the broad history. Recommended.

[Neleigh Allen]

A good history book!

[J.M. Hushour]

Project Read-a-History-of-Every-State-in-Order-of-Statehood #38

[Bryan]

What a momentous idea! A book on Colorado history that ultimately plays as a metaphor for the Centennial State. You start the 575 page climb with high expectations. You get out the pickax and dig, you pitch a fire and turn the pages, but ultimately all you find is a bunch of sediment, some gneiss, and not a fleck of gold. I felt the sections on Native Americans and the much later cultural wars had narrative lift. Economic matters, perhaps not the author’s strong suit, are presented with a lack of nuance. The chapter Economic Peaks and Valleys ends tersely: “...The Broncos, Rockies, Nuggets, Avalanche, and other teams--professional and amateur--helped people take their minds of their problems.”
I wish they could’ve taken my mind off this book.

[Pj]

I think it was a comprehensive volume from even before the state became to 2005. (At first, the pertinent dated-history jumped around until I realized 'topics' were more important than dates, so topics would need to repeat or was the main goal of following it through. I am not an expert, but I think this book also presented 'negative history' fairly and didn't omit it or gloss it over but stated the facts. (ex. massacres, land taken, KKK, racial discrimination, disasters, pollution land/air etc.) There were numerous black and white photos throughout to keep it interesting and a large, suggested reading, facts, lists in the back of the book. It did read like a textbook and took me forever to read but I'm glad I did!

[Kate Lawrence]

This was a good overview of the state's history, telling me much I didn't know even though I am a long-time resident. What astounding changes have occurred over 150 years in this place! Besides being informative, the narrative moved along pretty well, not getting bogged down in too much detail. The numerous photos were a plus. However, I kept wanting a little more enthusiasm, even excitement; the events being recounted certainly warranted that. It was as though the authors wrote this as an assignment, a chore to be completed. I'd consider reading another similar account sometime to see how other authors approach it.

[Alison]

I read this for my Colorado Seminar in graduate school but I have read it before. It is a text book that takes you through the history of the state; however, the authors add their own flair to the writing with stories that are entertaining. If you have ever lived in the state, are moving there, or are interested in the state I would highly recommend this book. It is a good read and taught me (a native Colroadan) a lot of things I did not know about the state.

[Stephanie]

Some parts of this book are really fascinating. Other parts- BORING! I especially enjoyed the sections about the Rocky Mountains, how the national parks came to be during the depression, the history of the settlers in the mountains. The History of Estes Park is bitter sweet as one realizes what people have now done to ruin its beauty.

[Nostalgia Reader]

Good for a casual reader, wanting to know more about the state, but not at all an excellent textbook. Disjointed and skips around the timeline, so it's not exactly made for easy understanding.

Also disappointed that they consolidated and cut out some of the Native American history for a chapter on sports. No. Just. No.

[Ken Petersen]

A serious historical work, Colorado: A History of the Centennial State is nonetheless entertaining--at least to those of us who live among the landmarks, roads, cities, towns, and culture of the state. The book does well in highlighting the themes and movements of Colorado's past.

[Monika]

I read this book for my Colorado history class. It's full of interesting information about Colorado, but very much like a history textbook!

[Cheryl Hicks]

was good for a text book for history class i learned a lot

[Beth]

The best and most comprehensive study of Colorado history I've read.