Published: Dec. 1, 2016

Boulder Historical Society Collection of the Carnegie Branch for Local History - Digital Restoration by Mona Lambrecht

The Centennial of the United States was a momentous year in the Rockies: The Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ territory became the State of Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ, the union’s 38th, and the University of Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ was formally established in Boulder.

In this southward view of campus from 140 years ago, Old Main stands alone in the distance, top left, Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ Boulder’s first and only building. To the west, there’s nary a structure on The Hill. All else that Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ would become is pure possibility.

Photo courtesy Boulder Historical Society Collection of the Carnegie Branch for Local History - Digital Restoration by Mona Lambrecht