The Hard Lessons of Oil Shale History on Colorado’s Western Slope

 The Silt Branch Library is proud to present Historian Andrew Gulliford to talk about the history, present, and future of Colorado oil shale on Saturday, February 23 at 3:30 p.m.

Gulliford will present an illustrated slide lecture on the history of Colorado oil shale from its bright future in the early 1920s through the roller coaster ride of boom and bust in the early 1980s. Gulliford will also discuss the future prospects for oil shale development and the impacts such development would have on the Western Slope’s water supplies, air quality, and public land amenities. He welcomes comments from audience members. Come find out more about “the rock that burns!”

Dr. Gulliford is a professor of History and Environmental Studies at Fort Lewis College who lived through the 1970s oil shale boom and bust in Garfield County and still owns a house in Silt. Gulliford, author of the award-winning book, “Boomtown Blues: Colorado Oil Shale,” has lectured on oil shale across the West and was interviewed by Colorado Public Radio during the 25th anniversary of the bust in May of 2012. Copies of “Boomtown Blues: Colorado Oil Shale” will be available for purchase at this event. Don’t miss the opportunity to talk to a local expert and have him autograph your book!

For more information, contact the Silt Branch Library at (970) 876-5500.