1959 was the centennial of Colorado’s gold rush - “Rush to the Rockies.” This is Colorado, published by the Denver Post, is equal parts history and boosterism.  In addition to the actual history, written by Marshall Sprague and Lee Olson, it also contained a “Forecast for the future” by Post publisher Palmer Hoyt.  Filled with advertising, many of the merchants promoted their own histories, with historical photographs and tidbits, then and now comparisons, and historical, centennial gear – period clothing, souvenirs, etc.  Rockmount, the western wear maker, published their own centennial stationery.  The Great Western Sugar Company’s full page ad contained a facsimile of an 1876 letter written by Peter Magnes, sugar beet pioneer, urging the state to build sugar beet factories, and comparing the total gold production for 100 years ($905,956,200) with the value of sugar beet production in 58 years ($1,551,480,000).  There were also plenty of cut-out-and-send-away-for-more-information blanks.

F776 .D425 1959

This one time publication, by Golden West Publications, contains information on shopping, dining, sights and amusements.  Particularly interesting are photographs of Denver hotels and motels, many of them the new “new” thing.  Some of the buildings still exist, such as the Olin Hotel, today a senior assisted living residence, at 1420 Logan (175 rooms, six banquet rooms, single rooms $5 and up).  The Gotham Hotel at 12th and Grant (TV in every suite) became a studio apartment building, and in the 1990s morphed into a residence primarily for Colorado Institute of Art students and today has gone the way of many others…condominiums (about $70,000 for 337 square feet).  The historical sections were written by Marshall Sprague.

F784.D445 D46 1960

Rocky Mountain Motorists AAA guide, published continuously since 1928.  This edition, 1965-66, fits the guide template with tidbits of history, driving tips, fishing regulations, lists of events, dude ranches, ghost towns, advertising and photographs, some in color.  Only lodging accommodations are rated - from outstanding to satisfactory – no diamonds or stars.

F774.3 .W54

One in a series published by the pioneering airline (nine American cities, seven international).  A must-see sight in Denver was the Space Walk - the Security Life Building’s 31 story observation deck (16th and Glenarm) – visitors rode to the top in a glass walled elevator suspended on the outside of the building  At the time of publication the State Historical Museum was still at 14th and Sherman.  The guide also lists several residential drives in Denver’s old neighborhoods and has seven chapters on Colorado ski resorts.

F784.D4 F6 1973

The sub-title describes this publication as “A menu guide to the better restaurants in the Denver area, 1977.”  Printed on poor quality paper, it reproduces the menus and prices, addresses, hours, and phone numbers.  Thirty years is a long time in restaurant time, so it’s actually somewhat surprising that of the 80 restaurants listed, five still survive in 2006.  The oldest establishment in town and always considered among the “best,” the Buckhorn Exchange, is not listed.

TX907 .D4 1977

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