First Newspapers in Colorado - William N. Byers - John L. Merrick - Cherry Creek Pioneer versus The Rocky Mountain News - Western Traveling Printers - 1440 Johnnas Gettenberg and the printing press (original internet) - Official Record Begins in Colorado

The first newspapers (yes! two newspapers with editors) arrive in Denver City, K.T. (Kansas Territory) not knowing of the other (at first).  John L. Merrick and William Newton Byers have come to the Pike's Peak Gold Regions to begin the permanent record.  A reward for the first paper printed is offered, TWO editors enter...ONE editor leaves.  

Authentic letters and articles from the original pioneers of Colorado (from and to the Old  West).  This episode brings color, detail, attitude, and life to the fifty-eighters and fifty-niners who have the honor of arriving in the Denver / Auraria (Colorado) region (Arapahoe County) FIRST.  Arguments, an invention, descriptions of the Wild West, slices of life - this is a great episode to dig into and "hear" the brave arrivals to the edge of western Kansas Territory.

William Larimer Jr. - William Parsons - Henry Allen - John Scudder - Peleg Trip Bassett - A.O. McGrew (the wheelbarrow man)

NON-POP History! 

Homicide - First Execution - First Capital Murder Case and Trial - Denver / Auraria - P.T. Bassett and John Scudder - John Scudder and Thomas Biencroff - New County Elections

The first "legal" execution occurs in Auraria (now Denver) and a friendship ends in bloodshed, this episode details the first murders and trials in the western edge of the Kansas Territory.  John Stoefel is tried for capital murder, the first case of a people's court and execution at the future site of Denver.  Also, John Scudder shoots and kills his former friend P.T. Bassett - the trial and verdict surprising.  Justice in the old west?

FRIENDS and Family 

Two forgotten Native American legends - The Legend of the Manitou Springs - The Legend of the Maiden (Georgetown, Colorado) - Comanche - Ute (Utah) 

Legends are fun and were an excellent way to pass on knowledge, particularly when the circumstances are other-worldly; unexplainable.

The first tale explains the reason why the Shoshone and Comanche became separated and waged war on one another.  The second legend gives an explanation for a figure, a female figure, who seems to stand watch over Georgetown, Colorado.  The statue was observed daily in the frontier days, now, it's very rare to find a person who can locate it on Republican Mountain - but you will be able to after this show!  

There is also a brief history of the Ute Nation and directions to find the mysterious maiden.

Old West!

George Andrew Jackson - Gold in Colorado - Idaho Springs - Hot Springs - Wolverine attack - Clear Creek - Chicago Creek

The story of Colorado takes a turn, the first big discovery of gold in the mountains is made in current Idaho Springs, Colorado, near the confluence of Chicago and Clear Creeks.  A hot spring, several mountain lions, mountain sheep and a wolverine greet our hero.  A terrible fight and a treasure map!

Places to know:  Floyd Hill, Evergreen, Bergen Park, Ute Trail, Jackson's Hill, Mother Cabrini Shrine, US40, I-70, Denver, Arapahoe City and Golden.

The people to know:  George Andrew Jackson, Black Hawk (Jim Sanders), Tom Golden

The co-stars:  Glutton (Carcajou)

Mountain Lions - Mountain Lions

Elk - Elk

Tools of note (belt axe, belt knife and skinning knife)

Note:  Where's the mule in the story?  Every time I see this story exhibited, there is a mule.  There was no mule...sorry.

Crossing the Plains - 58ers - Augustus Voorhees - Jason Voorhees - Buffalo of the Plains - Rattlesnakes - Sioux - Comanche - Apache - Arapahoe - Bent's Fort - Pueblo - Cherry Creek

Today we hear about the journey across the plains from a member of the Lawrence Party, Augustus Voorhees, by way of his journal entries beginning May 31, 1858.  These entries describe the scenery, interactions with the native inhabitants (many tribes) and the conditions of life on the Santa Fe Trail in 1858.  

Back in Denver, a murder is committed, and the 58ers prepare for winter.

This is a good chance to hear and learn of the pioneer traveler, for ion the coming episodes the country will be inundated with those who make this trek.

William Larimer Jr - Auraria - Denver City - Arapahoe City - Kansas Territory - Montana City - Colorado - William Greenberry Russell - Golden 

The creation of Denver AND Colorado, three places to visit in Denver, the first towns of Montana City, Auraria, St. Charles and Arapahoe City - all  in contention for the county seat (Arapahoe County, Kansas Territory).  This is the dawn of Colorado, and now the story really begins!

Denver City, Colorado, Montana City, Arapahoe City, Auraria

Pike's Peak gold rush, Grant Frontier Park, Confluence Park, the saddest and loneliest historical marker ever!

Murder on the Plains - Julia Archibald Holmes - Lawrence Party - Georgia Party - Leavenworth Party - Russell Party - Gold - Garden of the Gods - Arapahoe County - Cherry Creek

1858 is a huge year for Colorado, this is the story of the early risk-takers, the fifty-Eighters, who arrived at future Denver in 1858 (lured by rumors of gold).

First significant gold discovery - First attempted murder and trial - First summits of Pike's Peak by Anglos (men and a woman) - The Bloomer Girl - The Wheelbarrow Man - Garden of the Gods - First county officers arrive

How Pioneers Found Gold - Gold Panning - Gold Falls From Heaven - Asteroids - Water is the Key

After an unknown teamster finds gold in Cherry creek (modern downtown Denver), gold will be a driving force to this series - time to learn a little about GOLD.

Basic gold prospecting (panning) and how the frontier miners found gold in the water and way up on mountainsides.

placer gold and lode gold 

Special thanks to: primalhousemusic, nickogloire, free_sound community and moodmode  

Captain Marcy's Disaster - Colonel Loring March - Frozen and Burned - Eating the Horses and Mules - Death of the Road

The lonely gravesite of Michael Fagan marks the location of the Marcy / Loring march, in which a snowstorm killed 3, one man burned to ...

Thanks to DELOSound