Book excerpt: "The history of the Denver Mountain Parks exposes the profound connections between city life and scenic preservation, outdoor recreation, and wilderness appreciation during the early twentieth century. By examining the cultural roots of Denver's mountain parks, this study links the conservation and preservation movements of the Progressive Era to specifically urban concerns. Denver's history highlights the central role that urban reform, urban planning, and municipal politics played in shaping the scenic natural landscape parks of these years..."--p. iii-iv.