Denver

A Silver Past, A Golden Future

[Collection A SILVER PAST, A GOLDEN FUTURE]

Denver: A Silver Past, a Golden Future is the third book in a series of books about landmark Colorado communities.

The present site of Denver was only a stop on the way to Oregon, as covered wagons followed the Oregon Trail during the early 1800s. The discovery of gold near Cherry Creek ignited the Gold Rush of 1859. “Pike’s Peak or Bust” became the rallying cry for fortune seekers. Those lucky enough to survive the trip west were woefully disappointed with the dismal prospects of finding gold and the expensive cost and strenuous effort required to extract it.

Denver was a Wild West mining town built along the banks of two sides of Cherry Creek. In its early days, it survived lawlessness, floods, fire, and attacks by Rocky Mountain locusts.

A race between business entrepreneurs began, ensuring that Denver was connected to a transatlantic railroad. This was key to its growth and establishment as the most important business hub in the West. Railroads made mining profitable. More than any other industry, mining built the city of Denver. But Denver was lucky—it was also declared the capital of Colorado, bringing government administration. The capital grew as a business center for ranching and farming, oil and gas exploration, finance, and tourism.

While the wealthy enjoyed a lifestyle comparable to any successful city in the U.S., many workers suffered from housing, medical care, and civil rights inequalities. The community of Denver has worked hard through the decades of the 1900s to overcome its social problems and embrace new and changing businesses. The new millennium has brought educated youth, progressive mass transit ideas, and an urban population concerned about its city’s outdoor environment.

This history of Denver is illustrated by an eclectic assortment of graphics, including antique prints, historical photos, old paper memorabilia, paintings, maps, and vintage postcards.

An Extra: Inside, you will find 18 postcards to pull out, send to friends, or share with family. They will help you remember Denver and its colorful history.

Denver

A Silver Past,
A Golden Future

[Collection A SILVER PAST,
A GOLDEN FUTURE]

Denver: A Silver Past, a Golden Future is the third book in a series of books about landmark Colorado communities.

The present site of Denver was only a stop on the way to Oregon, as covered wagons followed the Oregon Trail during the early 1800s. The discovery of gold near Cherry Creek ignited the Gold Rush of 1859. “Pike’s Peak or Bust” became the rallying cry for fortune seekers. Those lucky enough to survive the trip west were woefully disappointed with the dismal prospects of finding gold and the expensive cost and strenuous effort required to extract it.

Denver was a Wild West mining town built along the banks of two sides of Cherry Creek. In its early days, it survived lawlessness, floods, fire, and attacks by Rocky Mountain locusts.

A race between business entrepreneurs began, ensuring that Denver was connected to a transatlantic railroad. This was key to its growth and establishment as the most important business hub in the West. Railroads made mining profitable. More than any other industry, mining built the city of Denver. But Denver was lucky—it was also declared the capital of Colorado, bringing government administration. The capital grew as a business center for ranching and farming, oil and gas exploration, finance, and tourism.

While the wealthy enjoyed a lifestyle comparable to any successful city in the U.S., many workers suffered from housing, medical care, and civil rights inequalities. The community of Denver has worked hard through the decades of the 1900s to overcome its social problems and embrace new and changing businesses. The new millennium has brought educated youth, progressive mass transit ideas, and an urban population concerned about its city’s outdoor environment.

This history of Denver is illustrated by an eclectic assortment of graphics, including antique prints, historical photos, old paper memorabilia, paintings, maps, and vintage postcards.

An Extra: Inside, you will find 18 postcards to pull out, send to friends, or share with family. They will help you remember Denver and its colorful history.