A Brief History of Boulder
Boulder, much like the rest of the west was settled by European/Americans due to the allure of one four letter word: G-O-L-D.
Unlike the rest of the west though, it wasn’t taken: it was almost given.
Much of what I am about to write is kind of an extrapolation/interpretation of the information available to me. History is not clear on all the details regarding the initiation of Boulder’s settlement by European/Americans.
Once here, you’ll notice a lot of streets, locations, establishments…etc with the words ”left hand” in them. They are referring to chief Niwot, an Arapahoe chief, who’s name literally means ”left hand(ed).” When settlers arrived they were greeted by Chief Niwot. Niwot was a skilled political figure at the time: he had the reputation of someone who recognized the power of the settlers, the situation both settlers and Indians were in, and wanted to work with them rather than against them.
Suprisingly to settlers, Chief Niwot spoke English. Reports differ regarding exactly what he told them, but settlers ended up being allowed to make camp and over winter at the mouth of the Boulder canyon, quite simply, based on the agreement that they would leave in the spring. Those of you in leadership positions, do you sense a something wrong with that?
The problem was, they found gold.
This is the 1850s, the land is undeveloped, the native group was nomadic with little physical structure to their society. The settlers, similar to us, had a culture that respected materialism and symbolized their worth with structures, money, written laws and government…etc, and they were there for a reason, afterall.
What ended up happening was that the settlers stayed and Chief Niwot and his band of Arapahoes moved away. There is information missing here that I am going to try and fill in but, if I were to guess, I would say that the settlers (especially given the sociopolitical time frame) didn’t really see the native Americans as people, rather more like animals who’s desires and lives really didn’t matter. I’m also assuming their worship of money got the better of them and they didn’t think twice about not keeping their word to the Indians.
I would also guess that the lack of structural development on the part of the Indians in comparison to what they knew about the white man put them in a confidence deficit and they were pretty easily pushed aside once the newcomers got a whiff of gold fever and started acting accordingly ie: they started aggressively mining, building, panning…etc.
In my estimation, it does seem like a leadership error occurred there on the part of Chief Niwot. It was a hard situation to be in. I’m assuming his fluency in English was not the same as how we define it today. I’m also assuming he knew the consequences of going head to head with the white man at the time. With that said, there were likely ways to make clear to the settlers that they were not welcome beyond a certain time limit and illustrate that in action while the settlers’ numbers were still small. In addition to that, they likely could have shown them how to use the land or communicated their mastery over the environment to further emphasize their “ownership” of it. Teaching people how to do things generally helps to solidify their ownership over those things.
Simply put though: words are not enough especially when there is a language/cultural gap, and even more so when their is a prejudice involved.
Niwot felt strongly that was the beginning of the end and prophesied that “people seeing the beauty of this valley will want to stay, and their staying will be the undoing of the beauty.”
Moving on, Boulder developed pretty quickly. More specifically, it developed in ways very similar to how it looks today: as a cultural and intellectual hub. Much like the rest of Colorado, it still has its western, ”you’ve got to stand on your own two feet,” hard sort of feel but, with that said, already in the 1870s, construction of CU Boulder had begun, marking this area as one where not just cowboys lived, but also people on the other end of the lifestyle spectrum.
Moving on another 30 years or so, by 1900, early Boulderites adopted the Chautauqua movement into their city. Another oppurtunity to educate and refine themselves. Chautauqua, now the most common outdoor area to visit in Boulder, was a movement started in the 1800s focused on cultural development. They held classes, concerts, went on hikes, studied poetry and the environment…etc. In Boulder, it started out as a group of tents which later morphed into cabins, which later became bigger cabins, houses, and an auditorium. Now it is a park, cabins, a restaurant, the same auditorium and more, all showcasing the beauty of the flatirons right behind them.
*The Chautauqua Flat Irons: a two minute drive from downtown Boulder
With the exception of a short and uncomfortable stint in the 1920s where Boulder was run by the KKK, Boulder kept going on the same, intellectual/cultural epicenter sort of path it had been on with the university being its central point. Major scientific establishments moved in the 1960s and created jobs for young people who got their education here and things have continued in that direction ever since, with big tech being the latest evolution of companies taking space in Boulder. Science has become CU Boulder’s claim to fame.
Interestingly, the development of Boulder started off underhandedly and grew unchecked by legal or moral ramifications. Someone took liberties with a place that wasn’t theirs. In the second half of the 20th century, as is often the case when things start that way, the pendulum swung far in the other direction and people started limiting development. I think it is very interesting how often that is the case: the pendulum swings one way and then it swings back. I don’t think that’s ideal, but it is nonetheless how it often goes. The People’s League for Action Now (P.L.A.N.) was established to limit growth in Boulder. They argue(d), for instance, sucessfully for not allowing tall buildings to be built and ruin the view of the mountains. Interestingly, much like Stockholm (where I’m from) that has done that very same thing, this policy has driven up the cost of housing to amongst the highest in the world.
Yet another leadership lesson: unchecked growth is bad and elevating goals other than growth (like beauty) to the number #1 slot is also bad. Sustainable growth is good.
”Boulder Colorado History: CU Boulder: Boulder Colorado USA.” Boulder Convention and Visitors Bureau, www.bouldercoloradousa.com/travel-info/boulder-history/. Accessed 1 Apr. 2024.
”Chief Niwot: The Story of ‘Left Hand’ and the Boulder Valley Curse - Visit Longmont, Colorado.” Chief Niwot: The Story of “Left Hand” and the Boulder Valley Curse - Visit Longmont, Colorado, www.visitlongmont.org/things-to-do/museums-history/haunted-history/chief-niwot-and-the-left-hand-curse/. Accessed 1 Apr. 2024.