Reviews

"An important addition to the historiography of western urbanism. . . . Succinct and well-written, Morley's book is an excellent example of how western landscapes, the myths surrounding them, and the policies managing them can uncover new insights into the West's regional character."--Western Historical Quarterly"Morley's must-read book confirms that the history of place is a history of power as it exposes the hidden histories and the constructed nature of landscapes. Her work stands as a valuable contribution to the historiography of gentrification, historical preservation, tourism, collective memory, and the creation of the U.S. West, as well as urban development and planning."--New Mexico Historical Review"Provides wonderful insight into the events and people that have come to define these unique places."--Pacific Northwest Quarterly"Morley's book is refreshing because it does not categorically discredit these environments for sanitizing the past and sparking gentrification, as does so much academic scholarship on the subject."--Pacific Historical Review"Morley makes a real contribution to preservation by writing in detail about the pioneering efforts that worked (and failed) in these three cities."--Denver Post

"The process of historic preservation not only generated contests over the uses of city space, the meanings of the past, and the beneficiaries of investment and planning; it also produced vital neighborhoods that quickly became integral to the identity of Albuquerque, Denver, and Seattle. Morley demonstrates how preservation made growing western cities more legible through creative references to their pasts."--John M. Findlay, author of Magic Lands"An important contribution to the history of preservation in the U.S., and its pivotal role in urban revitalization."--Chris Wilson, author of The Myth of Santa Fe"An important, path-breaking book."--Thomas J. Noel, coauthor of Colorado: A History of the Centennial State