Centennial was published by Random House in 1974. The novel traces the history of a fictional town called Centennial in northeastern Colorado from the geological formation of the land (beginning 136 million years ago with the dinosaurs) through every phase of Western American history: the arrival of humans across the land bridge, Native American civilizations, Spanish exploration, the fur trade, the cattle drives, the farming boom, the dust bowl, and post-war suburban development.
The geological opening — unprecedented in fiction at the time — establishes Michener’s argument that human history is inseparable from natural history, that the land shapes the people who live on it as much as they shape the land. The Colorado plains, with their extreme weather, thin soil, and vast distances, produce a specific type of human civilization: hardy, resource-conscious, and always conscious of nature’s power.
The 1978–1979 television miniseries adaptation (twelve episodes, twenty-six hours) was one of the most successful miniseries in American television history and introduced Michener’s work to a new audience.
Collecting Centennial
First edition (Random House, New York, 1974): Boards with dust jacket.
Market values:
- Fine in dust jacket: $75–$200
- Very good: $30–$75
Projected values (2026–2036): Moderate to strong appreciation.
Geological Ambition
Centennial is Michener’s most ambitious novel structurally because it begins not with humans but with the land itself — 136 million years of geological history, from the formation of the Rocky Mountains to the creation of the Great Plains. This geological prologue, running to dozens of pages, establishes the land as the true protagonist: every human drama that follows is shaped by the physical landscape.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Centennial adapted for television? Yes. A 26-episode NBC miniseries aired in 1978–1979, starring Robert Conrad, Richard Chamberlain, and Timothy Dalton. It was one of the most expensive television productions of its era and remains one of the most faithful Michener adaptations.