Abandoned Colorado: A History Told in Ruins

Explores the state’s forgotten history through ghost towns, mines, railroads, and striking photographic ruins.

Abandoned Colorado is the adventurer’s guide to the lost and forgotten history of the Centennial State. From the vast grasslands of the Great Plains to the towering peaks of the Rocky Mountains, explorer and photographer Evan Alderson takes readers on a pictorial journey to ghost towns, gold mines, abandoned railroads, and more. Over 140 photographs capture the derelict haunts that marked the Pikes Peak Gold Rush, the Colorado Silver Boom, the Cripple Creek Gold Rush, and the infamous labor wars that ravaged a fledgling state. This is the history of Colorado told in ruins. Accompanying numerous photos, Alderson provides a historical narrative that delves deep into the dark and violent parts of Colorado’s past. Discover the locations of major gun battles, deadly disasters, and clandestine attacks. This isn’t your high school history book. Whether you leave coffee rings or mud stains on the jacket, this book is bound to take you on an unparalleled adventure.