Arts
Rollins Pass focus of new history book ROLLINSVILLE
Rollins Pass, a new book in Arcadia Publishing’s “Images of America” series to be released in May, details the unique history of the “scenic route to the top of the world” in new and interesting ways. Local authors B. Travis Wright and Kate Wright are the co-founders of Preserve Rollins Pass and are also photographers, apprentice archaeologists, discoverers and technologists. Throughout the pages of this book, the authors thoughtfully detail the many heroes and legends of Rollins Pass – from worker John Trezise, to David Moffat and his respect for his men, to how Rollins himself wrote about his initial journeys on what would become known as Rollins Pass. To take the reader back in time, the authors incorporate the text of many historical newspaper articles, giving an added dimension to the zeitgeist and arc of the Rollins Pass story. The book contains many rare images in pristine quality. It is the only book on Rollins Pass to feature an image of John Quincy Adams Rollins, after whom Rollins Pass was named. Also included are several 19th-century stereocard images documenting landscapes as they were before the railroad. The work includes dozens of incredible photographs from the personal collection of a railroad engineer, John T. Trezise, who worked on Rollins Pass. Intrigued by the consistent inconsistencies regarding the elevation of Rollins Pass, the authors conducted primary research to get to the bottom of this mystery. As such, this is the only publication to date that explains, using the help of both the National Geodetic Survey and the US Geological Survey, what the exact elevation of Rollins Pass is and how older elevation values were derived. Unlike other published works on Rollins Pass, this is the only book to mention and dedicate a full-chapter to the 10,000 years of Native American history on the pass. The book includes a foreword by archaeologist Jason M. LaBelle, PhD, who studies the Native American presence on the pass and has concluded it holds “one of the greatest concentrations of ancient hunting structures documented in North America.” Finally, this is the only book on Rollins Pass to document discoveries made on the pass within the last decade – including modern-day discoveries of settlements, a derailed railcar, and more. Through their organization, Preserve Rollins Pass, the authors provide modern-day hikers and visitors with the means to directly contact interested archaeologists about artifacts found on the pass enabling more complete historical records to be created. With each published work, Travis and Kate assure proper preservation of materials and sources. While writing Rollins Pass, nearly 2,000 historical photographs and documents were digitally safeguarded and shared with academia, museums, and historical societies. Travis and Kate were selected to participate in the US Forest Service “Passport in Time” project where artifacts and features on Rollins Pass were classified as National Heritage Sites and given trinomials to be included in the Smithsonian’s national collection. The Wrights are co-authors to other academic research publications, including those documenting archaeological discoveries they made or contributed to on Rollins Pass. Visit www.arcadiapublishing. com to learn more
A train and passengers on top of Rollins Pass. Photo courtesy DPL/Western History Collection
Author-hosted event celebrates book release
LITTLETON Local authors, B. Travis and Kate Wright, present “Rollins Pass: Through the Lens of Time,” a special one-day event in celebration of their new book, Rollins Pass, May 12 from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, 7301 South Santa Fe Dr. FILM & Discover Rollins Pass “as you’ve PHOTO never seen it before” through rare images and films on the big screen. With opening remarks by archaeologist Jason M. LaBelle, PhD, the authors hope to leave attendees with a renewed appreciation for the pass and its place in history. All tickets include complimentary appetizers, mimosas and beer. Most ticket levels include pre-release copies of Rollins Pass and accompanying postcard book. The evening includes a rare screening the silent film, “The White Desert,” with live piano by Hank Troy and moving pictures of trains battling the elements on Rollins (Corona) Pass. “Stone & Steel at the Top of the World” featuring Native American presence on Rollins Pass, will also be shown. There will be an author’s presentation featuring untold stories, rarely seen photographs and trivia as well. Tickets are $20-$75 in advance. For more information and purchase tickets, which are limited, visit thewhitedesertrollinspass.com.
Chorale presents musical about train stranded on pass PEAK TO PEAK The Peak to Peak Chorale, a group of mountain neighbors “united by a love of singing and sharing great music” presents its annual spring musical play, May 4 in Central City, May 6 in Coal Creek Canyon and May 12 MUSICAL in Golden Gate Canyon. THEATER This year’s musical play tells the tale of a train trapped for days by a spring blizzard atop Rollins Pass in the 1900s. Backed by talented singers and musicians, actors portray the passengers and crew that departed from The Stage Stop and become stranded Page 12
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when a huge rotary snow plow stopped working. The first performance, May 3 at 6:30 p.m., is a dinner theater evening at the Central City Elks Lodge, 113 Main St. Adults are $30 and children 12 and under $15. Show only tickets are $15. The show, May 6, at Coal Creek Canyon Improvement Association Community Hall, 31528 Hwy. 72, and the final show, May 12, at Golden Gate Grange, 25201 Golden Gate Canyon Road, begin at 3 p.m. Refreshments will be served after each show. Adults are $15 and children 12 and under $10. Call 303-277-1843 or e-mail marith16@gmail. com to learn more.
| MAY 2018
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