Although many people think of tourism as a modern phenomenon, it has always been an important factor in Colorado’s economy. From Colorado’s earliest days as a territory, entrepreneurs have relied upon the beauty and power of the landscape to attract tourists and potential settlers and investors. Many of Colorado’s most prominent citizens owed their success to the state'’ scenic attractions.

Not surprisingly, a small but vigorous advertising industry arose in Colorado, devoted to telling one and all about the glorious life that awaited them in the mountains and high plains. Historians would later call this literature "boosterism," and its power was to have a lasting effect on Colorado’s demographics.

The Society’s Stephen H. Hart Library is a treasure trove of booster literature. Agricultural publications that made all sorts of exaggerated claims about Colorado’s climate and soil are the most striking examples of the genre. A casual perusal of this material will offer the reader the impression that Colorado’s climate was so perfect, its soil so rich, that one could dispense with actually planting any crops and just dine on the dirt.

Some of the most beautiful examples of this type of literature are scenic, postcard-like picture books. The detail found in the drawings is impressive, and even though they are black and white, at least some of Colorado’s beauty and majesty seeps through. One cannot help but wonder how many adventurous souls made the difficult and time-consuming move to our state after looking through one of these small, delicate, and beautiful books.

By Patrick J. Fraker, Associate Curator, Books and Manuscripts