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American Alpine Club Library

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American Alpine Club Library

The American Alpine Club Library was established in 1916 to preserve the history and culture of climbing. Members can check out 20K books via the mail.

We are working to put our thousands of rare books and archives online. Established in 1916, the AAC Library is one of the oldest alpine libraries in the United States and likely holds the largest collection of mountaineering-related books in the world. The AAC Library was initially housed in the New York Public Library until 1929. It moved locations twice before settling into the AAC's new headqu

arters in a remodeled firehouse in Manhattan at 113 East 90th Street in 1946. There we remained until the mid-1990s when we moved to Golden and our present location. We have a circulating collection of more than 20,000 books and videos devoted to all aspects of mountaineering or alpinism, including rock climbing, ice climbing, bouldering, hiking and skiing. Our special collections and archives include thousands of photographs, artifacts and manuscripts as well as over 35,000 books. We also maintain and provide access to the Colorado Mountain Club Archives. AAC Members can borrow up to 10 items (5 videos at a time) for 28 days. For members outside the Golden area, library staff will mail you the guidebooks, videos, or other books for free (within the US). The only cost to you is the return postage and shipping insurance.

01/23/2026

To celebrate Colorado’s 150 years of statehood, a special stamp is being released on January 24, 2026. The photo selected for the stamp is one of John Fielder’s beautiful shots of Jagged Mountain.

Shown here is a photo of Jagged Mountain by Carleton Long, taken in 1933. The San Juan Mountaineers, including Long, made the first ascent on August 8, 1933. Overlayed is the paper they left as the summit register. The climbers were: Carleton C. Long, H.L. McClintock, Lewis V. Giesecke, Dwight G. Lavender, and T. Melvin Griffiths.

The video is a clip from Carl Blaurock’s 1941 film 🎥. It was taken during the CMC’s annual In-State Outing, that year they spent two glorious weeks in the San Juan Mountains in Colorado. This clip is of their attempt to climb Jagged Mountain.

06/23/2025

One hundred years ago today, an international team of Canadian, British, and American climbers stood atop Mount Logan after a very long slog of over a month of (mostly) walking. This was the first recorded ascent of the highest peak in Canada.

This photo was taken by Lambart and is from Andy Taylor’s photo album. The AAC Library has archives from most of the Americans on the expedition, including MacCarthy, Carpé, Morgan, Taylor, and of course our namesake Henry S. Hall, Jr.

03/15/2025

Here are some cartoons to lighten the mood on this fine Saturday!

These come from William Nealy’s “Skiing Tales of Terror” published in 1990, and found in the Clinch Collection.

02/26/2025

This just in!

Embrace the duality of the season with these beautiful covers for the Spring, 2025 issue of Summit Journal 🌿❄

08/23/2024

Getting excited for the Devil's Lake Craggin' Classic this weekend!
This photo is a favorite from our archives. It is Joe Stettner climbing at Devil's Lake in 1941.

04/16/2024

Say cheese! Bill Ervin stands, taking a photo of Carl Blaurock who shot this photo. Seated are (left to right) Sally Vaille Rogers, unknown, and Agnes Vaille. Date unknown, but likely between 1918-1924.

Climbing partners Ervin and Blaurock were the first to climb all of Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks, completing them in 1923. Agnes Vaille was not too far behind them with over 30 peaks climbed, but sadly died on the descent of the first winter ascent of Longs Peak’s East Face in 1925.

From the Vaille Collection.

03/11/2024

Heads up! We will be closed this week for a staff retreat.

This photo is of the Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies by Georgia Engelhard.

01/22/2024

This comes from the Clinch Collection.
It is "Statistique de la Suisse ; ou, Etat de ce pays des vingt-deux Cantons dont il se compose..." by Sean Picot, 1819.

01/16/2024

Snow Day! We are closed today and will reopen tomorrow for regular hours.

This lantern slide is a group of skiers in Glacier National Park, Montana, circa 1910-25.

12/15/2023

Cheers to the New Years!

Please be aware that the AAC Library will be closing at 2pm on Friday, Dec. 15th and remaining closed until Jan. 2 for collection maintenance and winter break.

P.S. :
Still looking for the perfect gift for the outdoor enthusiast in your life? Get 30% off collectible books on the AAC Store (link in bio) with code 'BOOKS30' until 12/31!

Image: holiday card from Peter and Catharine Whyte, AAC Holiday Card Collection.

11/15/2023

Join us tonight at 6pm for a discussion on the process of area and route development! Hear from some of the leading developers in the Front Range.

Beer generously provided by Golden City Brewery and charcuterie from Cheese Ranch.

09/07/2023

Here's a bright cover for from the always incredible Clinch Collection.

"Puget Sound and Western Washington" by Robert A. Reid, 1912

Anyone know which peak is featured in the photo on the cover?

Address

710 10th Street, Ste 15
Golden, CO
80401

Opening Hours

Tuesday	10am - 4pm
Wednesday	10am - 4pm
Thursday	10am - 4pm

Website

http://americanalpineclub.org/library

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