One of his books, “Buildings of Colorado,” which he considers one of the most important, detailed the state’s significant buildings, but is now out of print. He is a former chair of the Denver Landmark Preservation Commission and a former member of the National Register Review Board for Colorado. Noel is interested in preservation and serves on the preservation committee for History Colorado. Another examines Hispanics, while future guides will detail mining and ethnic groups in the state. One focuses on Native Americans in the state, and related museums, websites and other resources. “And the academic journals don’t focus on the narrow local history.” The center also is publishing history resource guides that have been written by grad students. “Newspapers are shrinking and they don’t review books the way the used to,” he said. Some of the better publications will be reviewed. In conjunction with the Auraria Library, the center is listing all the new nonfiction books on Colorado, especially those that are self-published. Noel also is co-director for the Center for Colorado and the West. It always fascinated me that we are this close to the first settlers.” “You can see the first generation of log cabins and homes and buildings in ghost towns. “In Colorado, you can go out and see where things took place or interview people who were connected with it or their descendants,” said Noel, whose love of history began early. Students in his classes often play the roles of historical characters for his Halloween cemetery tour. That’s how the bar tours began.Īs he’s gotten older, he said, he’s conducted fewer bar tours and more that focus on churches and cemeteries. He began leading tours as a part-time teacher when “you would only get paid if the students enrolled.” On one rainy day, the group took refuge in Charlie Brown’s saloon, and Noel is sure at least two marriages and several affairs resulted from the detour. Noel, a professor of history and director of public history, preservation and Colorado studies at the University of Colorado Denver, has been connected with the campus since 1978. Through the years and 41 books later, he still works to make history less intimidating for everyone, from his students to those who participate in his walking tours, which use a variety of venues around the city to illuminate the past. The book, 1982’s “The City and the Saloon: Denver, 1858-1916,” still is in print and he proved that history really isn’t dry. His dissertation examined Denver through the lens of life at local taverns.
in history at the University of Colorado Boulder, Tom Noel wanted to find a topic that would 1) sell, and 2) enchant the general public.
Information: Email more about Noel’s tours and speaking engagementsĪs he worked toward his Ph.D.
161800 Grant St., first floor conference room
His topic is, “Larimer Street: Main Street to Skid Row to Urban Renaissance,” plus the evolution of the Auraria Campus.ġ1:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Tom Noel will be the featured speaker at an upcoming brown bag lunch presented by CU System Staff Council.