Grand Canyon railroad was a dubious dream

In 1889, a Denver businessman convinced investors he could build a railroad from Grand Junction, Colorado, through the Grand Canyon and on to southern California. Even after three men died, including the businessman, the dream continued. The drawing here was from a news article about the project in Denver in October, 1889. My history column about the project is linked below.

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Grand Canyon railroad was a dubious dream

3 hours ago1 min read

Gilman is a unique ghost town

For more than a century, mining took place on Battle Mountain, Gilman sat near top of Battle Mountain, while rail line and Eagle River below. and the town of Gilman developed near the mine entrance. First silver, then zinc made the mines profitable as they were carved out of Battle Mountain. My history column from The Daily Sentinel is linked below.

Feb 61 min read

Mesa County pioneer was an enthusiastic promoter

A.A. Miller, who was among the first people elected to the Grand Junction City Council in 1882, A.A. Miller in a peach orchard. also served as Mesa County Treasurer, then Mesa County Commissioner. As the county Immigration Commissioner in 1899, he worked hard to convince outsiders to move to the county. My Daily Sentine column is linked below.

Jan 191 min read

Lincoln Park Auditorium served as dance hall and convention center

The Auditorium at Lincoln Park in Grand Junction, now known as the Lincoln Park Barn, has been around for a little more than a century. For much of that time, it's primary function was as a dance hall. But it also hosted numerous conventions and other events. My column from The Daily Sentinel is linked below.

Jan 51 min read

Where the buffalo roamed

One hundred years ago this month, the first buffalo were delivered to Colorado National Monument. Their descendants would remain there for nearly 60 years. But it was never easy. They didn't do well in the limited space available to them. My Daily Sentinel column is linked below.

Dec 23, 20251 min read

Sheep became key for Cisco, Utah

Cisco, Utah was established in the 1880s as one of the many water stops for the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railway. By the early years of the 20th century, it had become one of the major sheep shearing and sheep shipping locations in the region. This photo shows a shearing plant near Bonanza, Utah during the same time. Cisco's plant was similar, but larger. My column in The Daily Sentinel is linked below.

Nov 25, 20251 min read

Military had a blast on Glade Park

In November of 1972, the U.S. Army, working in conjunction with other agencies, detonated one million pounds of TNT in an isolated spot in Western Colorado to simulate a small nuclear explosion. This photo show the blocks of TNT just prior to detonation. The photo on the home page shows a man standing next to 1,000 pounds of TNT. My column is linked below.

Nov 10, 20251 min read

Frederick S. Dellenbaugh was just 19 when he convinced John Wesley Powell to include him as an artist for Powell's second expedition through the canyons of the Green and Colorado Rivers in 1871 and 1872. Dellenbaugh proved to be not only a talented artist, but an excellent observer and writer. He wrote this book several decades later, including not only stories from his time on the river with Powell, but those of others who attempted to conquer the rivers, including Robert Brewster Stanton and the plan for a railroad from Grand Junction to San Diego, following the Colorado River.

ABOUT ME

I retired as editorial page editor of The Daily Sentinel in Grand Junction, Colorado in 2014. Since then, I've continued to write a twice-a-month history column for the Sentinel, while seizing every opportunity I can, with my wife Judy or my horses, to enjoy the beautiful outdoors of the Colorado Plateau.

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Grand Canyon railroad was a dubious dream

FEATURED POST

Never Miss a New Post.

TRAIN OF THOUGHT

Grand Canyon railroad was a dubious dream

Gilman is a unique ghost town

Mesa County pioneer was an enthusiastic promoter

Lincoln Park Auditorium served as dance hall and convention center

Where the buffalo roamed

Sheep became key for Cisco, Utah

Military had a blast on Glade Park

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Book
Picks

ABOUT ME

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Grand Canyon railroad was a dubious dream

FEATURED POST

Never Miss a New Post.

TRAIN OF THOUGHT

Grand Canyon railroad was a dubious dream

Gilman is a unique ghost town

Mesa County pioneer was an enthusiastic promoter

Lincoln Park Auditorium served as dance hall and convention center

Where the buffalo roamed

Sheep became key for Cisco, Utah

Military had a blast on Glade Park

BOB's Book Picks

ABOUT ME

SUBSCRIBE

BOB's
Book
Picks