State Historical Society of Colorado Markers

Northwest Colorado - The Old West

Eagle, Garfield, Grand, Jackson, Moffat, Pitkin, Rio Blanco, and Routt Counties

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Glenwood Springs
Garfield County
Glenwood Springs at southeast corner of 9th & Grand (CO-82).
N 39°32'43" W 107°19'26"
photos taken 6/29/09
        
This tablet is the property of the State of Colorado. Glenwood Springs. The hot springs were prized and used by Indians since time immemorial. Visited by Richard Sopris and white prospecting party, July 23, 1860. J.M. Landis squatted on site in 1879. Indian land until Ute removal, 1881. Town founded 1882, incorporated, 1885. Named for Glenwood, Iowa, and for the mineral springs here. Garfield County seat since 1883. First railroad arrived October, 1887. A region rich in mines and ranches, scenic and recreational attactions. Erected by the State Historical Society of Colorado from the William A. Braiden Fund and by the Lions Club of Glenwood Springs, 1947.

West Glenwood Springs
Garfield County
West Glenwood Springs rest area on east-bound I-70 about 0.5 miles east of exit 114.
N 39°33'37" W 107°20'55"
photos taken 6/29/09
              
Glenwood Hot Springs - Coming for the Cure - Storm King Mountain Fire - Glenwood Country

Glenwood Canyon
Garfield County
Rest area on I-70 at exit 121.
N 39°33'39" W 107°15'08"
photos taken 6/29/09
           
From Vision to Reality - A Promise Made - Making it Fit - A Promise Kept

Rifle
Garfield County
Lion Park rest area, north and west of I-70 at exit 90.
N 39°31'28" W 107°47'12"
photos taken 6/29/09
           
Rifle - The Rock That Burns - Colorado Wilderness - Rifle Country

Gore Pass
Grand County
CO-134 northwest of Kremmling. On south side of CO-134 at entrance to camp ground.
N 40°04'29" W 106°33'37"
photos taken 8/11/07
     
This tablet is the property of the State of Colorado. Gore Pass. Altitude 9,000 feet. Here in 1855 crossed Sir St. George Gore, an Irish baronet bent on slaughter of game and guided by Jim Bridger. For three years, he scoured Colorado, Montana and Wyoming accompanied usually by forty men, many carts, wagons, hounds and unexampled camp luxuries. More than 2,000 buffalo, 1,600 elk and deer, 100 bears were massacred for sport. A trail by 1866, a wagon road by 1874, this modern highway opened 1956. Erected by the citizens of Routt and Grand counties and the State Historical Society of Colorado through the Mrs. J. N. Hall Foundation.

Kremmling
Grand County
Kremmling - In city park on northeast corner of US-40 and 2nd Street.
N 40°03'32" W 106°23'35"
photos taken 6/3/08
           
Kremmling - Kremmling Country - Wildlife Conservation - Middle Park Medicine

Moffat Tunnel
Grand County
On west side of US-40 south of Winter Park above the west portal of Moffat Tunnel.
N 39°53'14" W 105°45'39"
photos taken 5/31/08
                       
This tablet is the property of the State of Colorado. Here, at an elevation of 9,044 feet, is the west portal of the Moffat Tunnel. With an apex elevation of 9,239 feet, this tunnel runs 6.2 miles through the Continental Divide, under James Peak. The railroad bore is 21x16 feet, the pioneer or water bore 8 feet in diameter. With the Dotsero cut-off, the Moffat Tunnel reduced the rail route over the Divide by 23 miles in distance and 2,421 feet in altitude. It cut the rail distance between Denver and Salt Lake City by 175 miles and put Denver for the first time on a transcontinental rail line. When an assessment district extending from Denver to Craig agreed to tax itself for this purpose, the tunnel was begun, in 1923. It was holed through February 12, 1927. The first train through the tunnel emerged from this portal February 26, 1928. Cost of constructing the tunnel was 18 million dollars. Its name honors David E. Moffat, founder of the Denver & Salt Lake Line. Moffat died before the tunnel was built, but his vision inspired the army of engineers, contractors and workmen in their historical battle against underground rivers and a tide of moving rock. Erected by the State Historical Society of Colorado from the Mrs. J.N. Hall Foundation and by the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad.

(Old) Rabbit Ears Pass
Jackson County
FR-315 north of Rabbit Ears Pass on US-40 southeast of Steamboat Springs
N 40°23'59" W 106°37'05"
photos taken 8/12/07
        
This memorial is the property of the State of Colorado. Rabbit Ears Pass. Across Continental Divide between North Park and the Yampa River. Altitude 9,680 feet. Named from Rabbit Ears Peak which was so called by earliest trappers because of its appearance. Improved highway opened 1919. Erected by the State Historical Society of Colorado from the Mrs. J. N. Hall Foundation and by the State Highway Department and the U.S. Forest Service. 1929.

Dinosaur
Moffat County
In Dinosaur at visitor center at US-40 (Brontosaurus Blvd) and CO-64 (Stegoosaurus Fwy).
N 40°14'43" W 109°00'34"
photos taken 6/29/09
           
Marks of Human Passage - Rangely Oil Field - Welcome to Colorado - Dinosaur Country

The Escalante Expedition
Rio Blanco County
Rangely, at eastern city limits on north side of CO-64.
N 40°05'16" W 108°47'09"
photos taken 6/29/09
              
This tablet is the property of the State of Colorado. The Escalante Expedition. Discovered White River (which they called the San Clemente) and crossed it near here on Sept. 9, 1776. Seeking a route from Santa Fe to California, these Spanish explorers were the first white men to examine much of western Colorado. Erected by the State Historical Society of Colorado from the Wm. A. Braiden Fund and by the Rio Blanco County Historical Society and citizens of Rangely, Sept. 9, 1951.

Founding of Meeker
Rio Blanco County
Meeker, on Rio Blanco County courthouse lawn at Main St / 6th Street.
N 40°02'15" W 107°54'48"
photos taken 6/29/09
        
This tablet is the property of the State of Colorado. Founding of Meeker. Following the Meeker massacre, Gen. Wesley Merritt established at this site his "camp on White River," 1879. After withdrawal of the garrison in August, 1883, the town of Meeker was founded by the following pioneers: George S. Allsebrook, Charles S. Attix, Thomas Baker, William H. Clark, John C. Davis, Charles Dunbar, Samuel Fairfield, W. Harry Goff, A. J. Gregory, Henry J. Hay, George S. Hazen, J. W. Hugus, James Kendall, James L. McHatton, Newton Major, Frank E. Sheridan, G. Dana Thayer, Eddie P. Wilber, Mrs. S. C. Wright. Erected by the State Historical Society of Colorado from the William A. Braiden Foundation and by the Chamber of Commerce and citizens of Meeker. 1949.

Meeker Country
Rio Blanco County
West of Meeker on south side of CO-64, 1.1 miles west of CO-64 / CO-13.
N 40°01'51" W 107°58'25"
photos taken 6/29/09
        
White River Utes - Meeker Country

Meeker Massacre
Rio Blanco County
West of Meeker on south side of CO-64, 2.2 miles west of CO-64 / CO-13.
N 40°02'20" W 107°59'17"
photos taken 6/29/09
              
Similar to Colorado Historical Society Markers.
Wooden sign reads: This area was site of White River Ute Indian Agency where U.S. Gov't agent Nathan C. Meeker, with male employees were massacred, women and children captured by Utes. Sept 29th, 1879. Arrow points to monument in field on the spot where Meeker fell near his office building.
Bronze marker reads: This native granite stone erected by the citizens of Rio Blanco County, Colorado 1927 and dedicated to the memory of Nathan C. Meeker, United States Indian agent, who, with his government employees, was massacred by the Ute Indians at the White River Ute Indian Agency, one and one half miles west of this spot. September 29, 1879. Employees W.H. Post, Frank Dresser, Henry Dresser, E.W. Eskridge, Mr. Price, Fred Shepard, George Eaton, Arthur L. Thompson, Carl Goldstein, unknown teamster.

Oak Creek
Routt County
Oak Creek - On CO-131 (main street).
N 40°16'34" W 106°57'27"
photos taken 6/3/08
                       
Oak Creek - Oak Creek Country

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Last modified: September 21, 2009