The bad old days of Colorado : untold stories of the wild West

The Bad Old Days of Colorado celebrates the state's glorious and rowdy past. Many people born and bred here relish just how "bad" things used to be: the terrain, the inhabitants and especially the quality of whiskey. It almost goes without saying that Colorado had all the characteristic Wild West elements—and in abundance! The chapters focus on the infamous and notorious rather than the law-abiding and civic-minded settlers. These pages, like the state, recount the tales of people who came West seeking, if not their fortune, at least opportunity. It is no secret that Colorado was settled by the adventurous willing to brave the harsh conditions and to prevail. Whether on the right or the wrong side of the law, all settlers and pioneers made unique contributions to the state's complex culture. Certainly, in the nineteenth century, Colorado was not for the faint of heart. Colorado really was the Wild West with foundations go back to gambling dens, saloons, brothels, and shady characters along with hardworking miners, ranchers and town people. Colorado wasn't for the faint of heart, and the backbone that ran through it was a four-letter word. Gold. This is a lively history that looks at the wicked side of progress on the frontier