Rocky Mountain National Park: A History

This book provides a thorough, engaging and fascinating historical account of human activity in the area of Colorado now known as Rocky Mountain National Park. The book includes sections detailing prehistoric Native Americans activity in the area, the first European & American explorers, settlement of the area, the struggle to create the national park and early park promotion, management & use. The narrative continues into modern times, ending with a brief discussion of challenges & questions facing this popular park at the end of 20th century (the hardback edition I read was printed in 1983). The history includes plenty of colorful stories, little-known facts and some interesting early photographs. For anyone interested in Colorado history, or anyone who enjoys Rocky Mountain National Park, this book is an invaluable resource. The book may also serve as an inspiration to anyone concerned about protecting America's natural treasures today. Though nearly a century in the past, the heroic and noble efforts of individuals like Enos Mills to preserve this priceless landscape for the enjoyment of all, despite intense opposition from some of his neighbors & powerful business interests, provides a laudable example for modern times.

A thorough history, well written and spiced with anecdotes, this book shows the surpising rapidity with which the settlers in the area adapted to its greater value as a tourist mecca than as a ranching or mining prospect. It then dramatizes how the Park Service learned to negotiate the competing claims of wilderness lovers, water needs of ranchers, and vehicle visitors to provide an acceptable experience for all the varied lovers of the Rockies.