George A. Crofutt

Crofutt's Grip-Sack Guide of Colorado 1885

"The site of Ouray is one of great beauty being just inside of the canon of the Uncompahgre River. . .On all sides the canon walls and mountains rise, range upon range, peak overshadowing peak, all grooved and furrowed by the hand of the Great Maker, from the tiniest wrinkle to a chasm of most gigantic proportions, from the smallest depression and most rugged ravine to one of the grandest canons in the world."

CrofuttGeorge A. Crofutt wrote more guide books about the West than any other single person but knowledge about his life is limited. He first wrote his Grip-Sack Guide to Colorado in 1881 and then wrote an expanded edition in 1885. This softback is a replica of the 1885 guide with a pictorial supplement of 150 photos taken in the 1880s, many of which have not been published before.

This reprint provides a service to the student of Colorado's mining history, the ghost town hunter, the avid collector of Western Americana, and the tourist who, as he travels about this colorful state, becomes curious as to the size and appearance of the old abandoned towns as they were in their heyday.

One review of this replica of the 1885 guide states: "Excellent original source for historical research on Colorado in the 1880s, with guides to most of the major rail routes through the state at that time, with photographs. This also makes it an excellent source for those interested in railroad and mining history in general. Overall the quality is good for a reprint, although the photographs suffer the usual contrast issues of reprints."

 

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