Author, Lecturer, Tour Guide - Kenneth Jessen                                    

Kenneth Jessen is best known as author of Ghost Towns, Colorado Style, a three volume set covering over 600 town histories.  His most recent work is Rocky Mountain National Park Pictorial History featured on "Colorado GetAways" (Channel 4, CBS).  In 2007, Jessen introduced The Great Western Railway covering the history of the Great Western Sugar Company and its railroad.  Colorado's Strangest was featured on Channel 9's "Colorado and Company."  Other selected titles include Out the Back, Down the Path – Colorado Outhouses, Railroads of Northern Colorado, Thompson Valley Tales, Eccentric Colorado, Colorado Gunsmoke, Bizarre Colorado, Estes Park ‑ A Quick History, Georgetown ‑ A Quick History, The Wyoming Colorado Railroad and An Ear in His Pocket.  He is presently working on an extensive history of Eastern Colorado including over 900 abandoned town sites, which will be published before the end of the year.

In addition to books, Jessen is the author of over 1,200 illustrated articles plus several booklets.  His column on Colorado artists is featured weekly in the Loveland Reporter-Herald's "Valley Window" and his column on area history is featured weekly in the Sunday "Focus" section.  He is also a contributor to North-Forty News, Colorado Time-Table and Colorado Central Magazine. 

Jessen is a professional lecturer and tour guide for the Colorado Historical Society, the Estes Park Museum and the National Park Service.  His tours include Colorado ghost towns, historic sites in Rocky Mountain National Park and public art in Loveland.

A life member of the Colorado Railroad Museum, Jessen is also a longtime member of the Rocky Mountain Railroad Club, a Centennial member of the Colorado Historical Society and one of the founders of the Western Outlaw‑Lawman History Association.  He is a patron of the San Luis Valley Historical Society.  Other memberships include the Estes Park Museum Friends & Foundation, Loveland Historical Society and the Berthoud Historical Society.  Jessen has served for 13 years on various boards as appointed by the Loveland City Council.

Jessen holds a BSEE, 1962, from the University of Utah and also holds an MBA, 1964, from the University of Utah.  Jessen has partially finished post-graduate work towards a master's degree through CU in the field of telecommunications.