This volume illustrates the architectural history of Colorado--the nation's highest state--from the eastern High Plains to the Rocky Mountain backbone that melts into the canyons of the West. Both a quick-reference guidebook and a historical resource, this volume reflects the remarkabletopographical 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 variant climate and terrain--crossed by barbed wire, roads, power lines, and railroads.Tracing Colorado's architectural development from its Native American origins, the book covers the villages of Mexican settlers and mining camps set up during the Pikes Peak gold rush of 1858-59. It features the forts and farms of pioneers; homes, churches, and schools of early towns; and modernindustrial centers and vacation spots. Prehistoric pueblos 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.About the Buildings of the United States seriesA monumental, state-by-state survey of American architecture, the Buildings of the United States series, commissioned by the Society of Architectural Historians, celebrates the rich geographic, cultural, and economic diversity of the country."An irreplaceable and authoritative resource for anyone with an interest in American architecture."--nterior Design Magazine"A classic series in the making."--Boston Globe