Jan MacKell Collins
@janmackellcollins.bsky.social
Author and Historian of Western History. I read old documents and newspapers, visit ghost towns and museums, travel the back roads, explore abandoned places, and take photographs everywhere I go. Then I write about it. www.JanMacKellCollins.com
So...I tried to post a PG video I made several years ago, "To the Ladies," as a tribute to the prostitutes in history that I write about. This morning, however, I found it is banned from here! LOL! So if you want to see it, click here www.janmackellcollins.com/bio and scroll down to the title.
July 28, 2025 at 6:05 PM
So...I tried to post a PG video I made several years ago, "To the Ladies," as a tribute to the prostitutes in history that I write about. This morning, however, I found it is banned from here! LOL! So if you want to see it, click here www.janmackellcollins.com/bio and scroll down to the title.
Updated my website; be sure to visit the Bio page to see some of my presentations, appearances and interviews. www.janmackellcollins.com
July 24, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Updated my website; be sure to visit the Bio page to see some of my presentations, appearances and interviews. www.janmackellcollins.com
Sorry to be MIA for so long, readers! I'm back with a vengeance and will be sending more posts your way, starting with this one about some wild women in Boulder, Colorado: janmackellcollins.wordpress.com/2025/02/19/t...
June 19, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Sorry to be MIA for so long, readers! I'm back with a vengeance and will be sending more posts your way, starting with this one about some wild women in Boulder, Colorado: janmackellcollins.wordpress.com/2025/02/19/t...
During its time as the scene of Colorado's last big gold boom beginning in 1891, the city of Cripple Creek and the entire district around it became famous world-wide. Behold the books I've written about it, which you can see here: www.janmackellcollins.com/books
May 6, 2025 at 2:18 PM
During its time as the scene of Colorado's last big gold boom beginning in 1891, the city of Cripple Creek and the entire district around it became famous world-wide. Behold the books I've written about it, which you can see here: www.janmackellcollins.com/books
Two early images of Grassy, Colorado which soon became Cameron in the famous Cripple Creek District. Below is an article I wrote years ago; the whole story is in Lost Ghost Towns of Teller County.
janmackellcollins.wordpress.com/2014/04/03/c...
www.arcadiapublishing.com/products/978...
janmackellcollins.wordpress.com/2014/04/03/c...
www.arcadiapublishing.com/products/978...
April 30, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Two early images of Grassy, Colorado which soon became Cameron in the famous Cripple Creek District. Below is an article I wrote years ago; the whole story is in Lost Ghost Towns of Teller County.
janmackellcollins.wordpress.com/2014/04/03/c...
www.arcadiapublishing.com/products/978...
janmackellcollins.wordpress.com/2014/04/03/c...
www.arcadiapublishing.com/products/978...
All the books! www.JanMacKellCollins.com
April 28, 2025 at 3:01 PM
All the books! www.JanMacKellCollins.com
Barry, an early camp in the Cripple Creek District of Colorado, was quite wild in its time. Here's an article I wrote about it from my book, Lost Ghost Towns of Teller County (which you can order here www.arcadiapublishing.com/search/?q=Ma...) :
janmackellcollins.wordpress.com/2022/08/01/b...
janmackellcollins.wordpress.com/2022/08/01/b...
April 21, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Barry, an early camp in the Cripple Creek District of Colorado, was quite wild in its time. Here's an article I wrote about it from my book, Lost Ghost Towns of Teller County (which you can order here www.arcadiapublishing.com/search/?q=Ma...) :
janmackellcollins.wordpress.com/2022/08/01/b...
janmackellcollins.wordpress.com/2022/08/01/b...
Frivolous boys in the Cripple Creek District of Colorado stage a fight for the camera (courtesy of the Cripple Creek District Museum), but such brawls were quite common in this historic gold camp. You can read about them in my book! Click here to order: www.arcadiapublishing.com/products/978...
April 19, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Frivolous boys in the Cripple Creek District of Colorado stage a fight for the camera (courtesy of the Cripple Creek District Museum), but such brawls were quite common in this historic gold camp. You can read about them in my book! Click here to order: www.arcadiapublishing.com/products/978...
Arequa in the Cripple Creek District of Colorado came and went very fast. I shot some images during 2006 of what looked like the last building there. My article here (janmackellcollins.wordpress.com/2014/03/20/a... ) tells more, as well as in my 2016 book Lost Ghost Towns of Teller County.
April 18, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Arequa in the Cripple Creek District of Colorado came and went very fast. I shot some images during 2006 of what looked like the last building there. My article here (janmackellcollins.wordpress.com/2014/03/20/a... ) tells more, as well as in my 2016 book Lost Ghost Towns of Teller County.
Revered Colorado photographer William Henry Jackson snapped this image of Anaconda in the famous Cripple Creek District during its early days. Here's an article I wrote about Anaconda for westernmininghistory.com/towns/colora...
www.JanMacKellCollins.com
www.JanMacKellCollins.com
April 16, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Revered Colorado photographer William Henry Jackson snapped this image of Anaconda in the famous Cripple Creek District during its early days. Here's an article I wrote about Anaconda for westernmininghistory.com/towns/colora...
www.JanMacKellCollins.com
www.JanMacKellCollins.com
Altman, Colorado was indeed the wickedest town in the gold-booming Cripple Creek District. Here are some details on what was once the highest incorporated town in America: janmackellcollins.wordpress.com/2022/03/07/a...
April 15, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Altman, Colorado was indeed the wickedest town in the gold-booming Cripple Creek District. Here are some details on what was once the highest incorporated town in America: janmackellcollins.wordpress.com/2022/03/07/a...
Alta Vista, Colorado was once a high-altitude whistle stop integral to assisting the Florence & Cripple Creek Railroad engines make it up a steep hill. The depot now lives in nearby Victor. You can read about it here: janmackellcollins.wordpress.com/2022/02/16/a...
April 14, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Alta Vista, Colorado was once a high-altitude whistle stop integral to assisting the Florence & Cripple Creek Railroad engines make it up a steep hill. The depot now lives in nearby Victor. You can read about it here: janmackellcollins.wordpress.com/2022/02/16/a...
Clyde, Colorado was once located near the famed Cripple Creek District of Colorado. Unlike the gold mining cities nearby, however, Clyde's residents were dedicated to mostly farming and ranching. Here is their story: janmackellcollins.wordpress.com/2022/06/29/c...
April 10, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Clyde, Colorado was once located near the famed Cripple Creek District of Colorado. Unlike the gold mining cities nearby, however, Clyde's residents were dedicated to mostly farming and ranching. Here is their story: janmackellcollins.wordpress.com/2022/06/29/c...
A little known fact about Catamount Reservoir in Colorado is that there once was a small city there. You can read about Lanter City here: janmackellcollins.wordpress.com/tag/lanter-c...
www.JanMacKellCollins.com
www.JanMacKellCollins.com
April 9, 2025 at 3:05 PM
A little known fact about Catamount Reservoir in Colorado is that there once was a small city there. You can read about Lanter City here: janmackellcollins.wordpress.com/tag/lanter-c...
www.JanMacKellCollins.com
www.JanMacKellCollins.com
The Carlton Tunnel in Colorado was located at the early camp of Marigold. Here is Marigold's story: janmackellcollins.wordpress.com/2023/07/20/m...
April 6, 2025 at 4:18 PM
The Carlton Tunnel in Colorado was located at the early camp of Marigold. Here is Marigold's story: janmackellcollins.wordpress.com/2023/07/20/m...
The history of Berwind, Colorado - right here: janmackellcollins.wordpress.com/2025/01/31/b...
April 6, 2025 at 4:15 PM
The history of Berwind, Colorado - right here: janmackellcollins.wordpress.com/2025/01/31/b...
A scam and a sham was Bare Hills City, with promotors trying to take advantage of folks flocking to the Cripple Creek District in Colorado in search of gold! Click here to read about it: janmackellcollins.wordpress.com/2014/03/27/t...
April 4, 2025 at 3:50 PM
A scam and a sham was Bare Hills City, with promotors trying to take advantage of folks flocking to the Cripple Creek District in Colorado in search of gold! Click here to read about it: janmackellcollins.wordpress.com/2014/03/27/t...
The old Beaver Creek Stage Road is still used in Teller County, Colorado - but much of it now lies on private property. Even so, some mighty important history took place there, including at the community of Love. Here's my article about that: janmackellcollins.wordpress.com/2023/06/01/l...
April 3, 2025 at 3:02 PM
The old Beaver Creek Stage Road is still used in Teller County, Colorado - but much of it now lies on private property. Even so, some mighty important history took place there, including at the community of Love. Here's my article about that: janmackellcollins.wordpress.com/2023/06/01/l...
Nothing remains of Alnwick, Colorado today, but an 1888 postcard to Mrs. William Bell (Bell founded Manitou Springs) shows Alnwick may have been the earliest town in Teller County. Here's an article about it from one of my books: janmackellcollins.wordpress.com/2022/01/06/a...
March 30, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Nothing remains of Alnwick, Colorado today, but an 1888 postcard to Mrs. William Bell (Bell founded Manitou Springs) shows Alnwick may have been the earliest town in Teller County. Here's an article about it from one of my books: janmackellcollins.wordpress.com/2022/01/06/a...
Adelaide, Colorado no longer exists. But the story of an ill-fated flood there does. Click here to read it: janmackellcollins.wordpress.com/2021/09/14/a...
March 29, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Adelaide, Colorado no longer exists. But the story of an ill-fated flood there does. Click here to read it: janmackellcollins.wordpress.com/2021/09/14/a...
Why am I in love with Alma, Colorado? Here's why: janmackellcollins.wordpress.com/2025/01/05/h...
March 27, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Why am I in love with Alma, Colorado? Here's why: janmackellcollins.wordpress.com/2025/01/05/h...
The Sells Floto Circus of Colorado was partly named for boxing manager and sportswriter Otto Floto, who was partly responsible for the 1896 fire that burned much of Cripple Creek. The story unfolds in my book, which you can order here: www.arcadiapublishing.com/products/978...
March 26, 2025 at 3:52 PM
The Sells Floto Circus of Colorado was partly named for boxing manager and sportswriter Otto Floto, who was partly responsible for the 1896 fire that burned much of Cripple Creek. The story unfolds in my book, which you can order here: www.arcadiapublishing.com/products/978...
A favorite Colorado landmark: The South Platte Hotel. This was one of some satellite towns once nestled in the same general area along the South Platte River. Here's another: janmackellcollins.wordpress.com/2014/03/14/n...
March 25, 2025 at 3:05 PM
A favorite Colorado landmark: The South Platte Hotel. This was one of some satellite towns once nestled in the same general area along the South Platte River. Here's another: janmackellcollins.wordpress.com/2014/03/14/n...
I think this is the "Pick and Gad," once a brothel in Silverton, Colorado, but I'm not certain. I did, however, run across this awesome website: storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/c567...
Want to buy my book about Silverton & Colorado's bawdy history? click here: www.globepequot.com/978149303805...
Want to buy my book about Silverton & Colorado's bawdy history? click here: www.globepequot.com/978149303805...
March 24, 2025 at 5:10 PM
I think this is the "Pick and Gad," once a brothel in Silverton, Colorado, but I'm not certain. I did, however, run across this awesome website: storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/c567...
Want to buy my book about Silverton & Colorado's bawdy history? click here: www.globepequot.com/978149303805...
Want to buy my book about Silverton & Colorado's bawdy history? click here: www.globepequot.com/978149303805...
Silver Plume, Colorado circa 1884. Click below to read my article about this charming little town and its neighbor across Interstate 70, Georgetown: janmackellcollins.wordpress.com/2014/06/17/g...
March 23, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Silver Plume, Colorado circa 1884. Click below to read my article about this charming little town and its neighbor across Interstate 70, Georgetown: janmackellcollins.wordpress.com/2014/06/17/g...