Page 565 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

INTRODUCING THE ROCKIES  563

The former silver-mining town of Wallace, near Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
followed in the 1870s and 1880s by Native American pow-wows, or theatrical
other railroads, such as the Northern re-creations of Wild West shootouts.
Pacific and Great Northern. Carrying This is also the best place to appreciate
cattle to eastern markets, and bringing the great outdoors. Intrepid guides offer
weapons and supplies to the Wild West, unforgettable trips such as white-water
it was these railroads that actually rafting or fly-fishing for trout. The
consolidated American settlement. proliferation of ski resorts has also added
The search for and discovery of valuable to the state’s tourism potential. When gold
minerals, mainly gold, silver, and copper, was discovered outside Denver in 1850,
was another primary impetus to settlement. several mining camps sprang up at such
Because of the region’s expansive forests, evocatively named places as Silverton
the lumber industry, too, had been an and Cripple Creek in Colorado and “Last
economic mainstay since pioneer times, Chance Gulch,” now Helena, Montana.
and over the previous century oil and coal Many of these erstwhile mining centers
deposits have been the source under lying are now deluxe winter resorts, such as
numerous booms and busts, especially in Crested Butte, Telluride, and Aspen in
Colorado and Wyoming. Colorado, and Idaho’s Sun Valley.

Tourism & the Economy
Natural resource-based industries are still
active all over the Rockies, though the
main economic force today is tourism.
These four states contain the highest
mountains, the densest forests, the wildest
rivers, and the most rugged canyons in
the “Lower 48” states. Consequently, the
Rockies is a magical place offering sublime
scenery as well as a wide variety of
attractions, such as historic train rides,
summer “dude ranches,” and historic sites.
Many places also feature music festivals, Neon sign for the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, Jackson, Wyoming

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