The Hastings Cutoff is not a familiar landmark, and it is a road few had traveled by the summer of 1846. Looking at a modern picture of where the Cutoff diverges from the main California Trail makes me think about Robert Frost’s poem “The Road Not Taken,” which speaks of the author’s finding a fork in his path and wanting to see what both paths might lead to, but choosing
Isabella Bird had the pioneer spirit unlike any woman of her age. She was an avid horsewoman, photographer, writer, and naturalist. Born in 1831, as a child she was told she was sickly and that fresh air and travel were the cure. Taking her doctor’s advice to the extreme, she traveled all over the world during her lifetime. Trips to Korea, China, Japan, Western Europe, and the Middle and Far
This series, “Pioneer Profiles,” explores some of the interesting characters that define Colorado history. All the quotes from the following article are from Cripple Creek Days by Mabel Barbee Lee. *** Mabel Barbee was born to Johnson and Kitty Barbee in 1884. Johnson Barbee was a prospector who spent his time looking for his mother lode, which he was sure was somewhere in Nevada. However, when he heard that Bob Womack
This series, “Pioneer Profiles,” explores some of the interesting characters that define Colorado history. *** Chipeta, a quiet, amenable woman, never expected to serve in a chief-like role among the Ute people, but many historians view her as an icon of female strength in the late 1800s. Married to Chief Ouray, this power couple served as liaisons between white agents, the U.S. government, and their people. Chipeta and Ouray tried
Hidden in the rolling prairie on Highway 83 near Franktown, Colorado, is Castlewood Canyon State Park. Don’t drive by too fast, or you’ll miss it. Many people don’t even know it’s there. It’s worth the drive from Denver or Colorado Springs, because this park has several unique features other local parks don’t have, such as: Unique geological formations. More than 60 million years ago, the park was part of a
Those who live in Colorado know how beautiful the scenery is, no matter the season, and the wildlife abounds. As the cities grow, though, they have been encroaching on the habitats of local animals. Deer are common sights in yards of homes near the foothills, and pronghorn are abundant on the plains, whether houses are around or not. It surprises me how domesticated these animals can get around our house,
