Buildings of Colorado

Tracing Colorado's architectural development from its Native American origins, Buildings of Colorado covers the villages of Mexican settlers and mining camps hastily constructed during the Pikes Peak gold rush and later bonanzas. It features the forts, farms, and ranches of pioneers; homes, churches, and schools of early towns; and modern industrial centers and vacation spots. Prehistoric cliff dwellings of the Anasazi Indians at Mesa Verde, the U.S. Air Force Academy north of Colorado Springs, and contemporary ski resorts such as Aspen and Telluride exemplify the dramatically disparate structures of Colorado's built environment.

Both a historical resource and a quick-reference guidebook, this volume reflects the remarkable topographical diversity of the state, a full one-third of which is designated as federal land. In over 450 photographs and maps, it explores the structures humankind has created to tame Colorado's dramatically varied climate and terrain.