Ashley Fetner Fine Art Photography

Colorado National monument, located southwest of Grand Junction Colorado, is thirty-two miles of semi-desert plateau and canyon country.  It is a fascinating landscape where natural rock sculptures have been carved out of the canyon by water, wind and ice erosion.  In 1907 John Otto wrote “I came here last year and found these canyons, and they felt like the heart of the world to me. I’m going to stay and promote this place because it should be a national park.”People thought he was crazy to live alone in such a wild and desolate place but he loved the land and he built miles of trails through the canyons so others could enjoy the beauty he had found here.  He urged the residents of Grand Junction to send letters and petitions to the politicians in Washington, DC.  So in1911 the Colorado National Monument was established.  John was named the park’s caretaker and held that job until 1927.

Kay

Colorado National monument, located southwest of Grand Junction Colorado, is thirty-two miles of semi-desert plateau and canyon country.  It is a fascinating landscape where natural rock sculptures have been carved out of the canyon by water, wind and ice erosion.  In 1907 John Otto wrote “I came here last year and found these canyons, and they felt like the heart of the world to me. I’m going to stay and promote this place because it should be a national park.”People thought he was crazy to live alone in such a wild and desolate place but he loved the land and he built miles of trails through the canyons so others could enjoy the beauty he had found here.  He urged the residents of Grand Junction to send letters and petitions to the politicians in Washington, DC.  So in1911 the Colorado National Monument was established.  John was named the park’s caretaker and held that job until 1927.  The Coke Ovens are a series of rock domes that were sculpted from the forces of water, wind and ice over the years.

 

Kay

 

 

Colorado National monument, located southwest of Grand Junction Colorado, is thirty-two miles of semi-desert plateau and canyon country.  It is a fascinating landscape where natural rock sculptures have been carved out of the canyon by water, wind and ice erosion.  In 1907 John Otto wrote “I came here last year and found these canyons, and they felt like the heart of the world to me. I’m going to stay and promote this place because it should be a national park.”People thought he was crazy to live alone in such a wild and desolate place but he loved the land and he built miles of trails through the canyons so others could enjoy the beauty he had found here.  He urged the residents of Grand Junction to send letters and petitions to the politicians in Washington, DC.  So in1911 the Colorado National Monument was established.  John was named the park’s caretaker and held that job until 1927.   The Praying Hands –another amazing rock sculpture in the grand landscape of the Colorado National Monument.

 

Kay

 

 

Colorado National monument, located southwest of Grand Junction Colorado, is thirty-two miles of semi-desert plateau and canyon country.  It is a fascinating landscape where natural rock sculptures have been carved out of the canyon by water, wind and ice erosion.  In 1907 John Otto wrote “I came here last year and found these canyons, and they felt like the heart of the world to me. I’m going to stay and promote this place because it should be a national park.”People thought he was crazy to live alone in such a wild and desolate place but he loved the land and he built miles of trails through the canyons so others could enjoy the beauty he had found here. (I can identify with John!)  He urged the residents of Grand Junction to send letters and petitions to the politicians in Washington, DC.  So in1911 the Colorado National Monument was established.  John was named the park’s caretaker and held that job until 1927.  Balanced Rock is a 600-ton boulder that was part of the canyon wall that has been eroded away and now it is left balanced precariously on a pedestal.

 

Kay

 

Located in north central Colorado at the headwaters of the North Platte River is the small town of Walden Colorado.  Walden is located in a large open valley called North Park and in the past this area was a favorite hunting ground for the Ute. Walden is also the home of the nation’s 1990 Capitol Christmas Tree in Washington, D.C.  We spotted this Union Pacific Caboose as we were heading south out of Walden. The origin of the word caboose is said to be a derivation of the Dutch word “Kombuis” which referred to a ships galley. The first use of a caboose was in the 1830’s when the trainmen lived in shanties that were built on flatcars.  The cupola was added in1863 in order for the trainman and conductor to have a better view of the train as they watched for signs of trouble that could occur.

 

Kay

 

 

Garden of the Gods, located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, was named by two surveyors in 1859.  M.S. Beach and his friend Rufus Cable were exploring locations for a town site when they found this beautiful area of giant red-sandstone formations. Beach suggested that as the surrounding area grew it would make a great place for a beer garden. To this Rufus said “Beer Garden”, why it is a fit place for the Gods to assemble – we will call it Garden of the Gods”.  In 1879, Charles Elliott Perkins, head of the Burlington Railroad, purchased 480 acres in the Garden of the Gods for a summer home, but in 1907 instead of building on the land, he decided to make it a public park so everyone could enjoy this natural wonder of nature.   After his death in 1909, his children gave the property to the City of Colorado Springs “Where it shall remain free to the public, where no intoxicating liquors shall be manufactured, sold, or dispensed, where no building or structures shall be erected except those necessary to properly care for, protect, and maintain the area as a public park.”  Colorado Springs continues to honor Mr. Perkins request.

 

Kay

 

Garden of the Gods, located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, was named by two surveyors in 1859.  M.S. Beach and his friend Rufus Cable were exploring locations for a town site when they found this beautiful area of giant red-sandstone formations. Beach suggested that as the surrounding area grew it would make a great place for a beer garden. To this Rufus said “Beer Garden”, why it is a fit place for the Gods to assemble – we will call it Garden of the Gods”.  In 1879, Charles Elliott Perkins, head of the Burlington Railroad, purchased 480 acres in the Garden of the Gods for a summer home, but in 1907 instead of building on the land, he decided to make it a public park so everyone could enjoy this natural wonder of nature.   After his death in 1909, his children gave the property to the City of Colorado Springs “Where it shall remain free to the public, where no intoxicating liquors shall be manufactured, sold, or dispensed, where no building or structures shall be erected except those necessary to properly care for, protect, and maintain the area as a public park.”  Colorado Springs continues to honor Mr. Perkins request.

 

Kay

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Garden of the Gods, located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, was named by two surveyors in 1859.  M.S. Beach and his friend Rufus Cable were exploring locations for a town site when they found this beautiful area of giant red-sandstone formations. Beach suggested that as the surrounding area grew it would make a great place for a beer garden. To this Rufus said “Beer Garden”, why it is a fit place for the Gods to assemble – we will call it Garden of the Gods”.  In 1879, Charles Elliott Perkins, head of the Burlington Railroad, purchased 480 acres in the Garden of the Gods for a summer home, but in 1907 instead of building on the land, he decided to make it a public park so everyone could enjoy this natural wonder of nature.   After his death in 1909, his children gave the property to the City of Colorado Springs “Where it shall remain free to the public, where no intoxicating liquors shall be manufactured, sold, or dispensed, where no building or structures shall be erected except those necessary to properly care for, protect, and maintain the area as a public park.”  Colorado Springs continues to honor Mr. Perkins request.

 

Kay

 

The Kissing Camels are just one of the many sandstone rock formations found in the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  The garden was named by two surveyors in 1859.  M.S. Beach and his friend Rufus Cable were exploring locations for a town site when they found this beautiful area of giant red-sandstone formations. Beach suggested that as the surrounding area grew it would make a great place for a beer garden. To this Rufus said “Beer Garden”, why it is a fit place for the Gods to assemble – we will call it Garden of the Gods”.  In 1879, Charles Elliott Perkins, head of the Burlington Railroad, purchased 480 acres in the Garden of the Gods for a summer home, but in 1907 instead of building on the land, he decided to make it a public park so everyone could enjoy this natural wonder of nature.   After his death in 1909, his children gave the property to the City of Colorado Springs “Where it shall remain free to the public, where no intoxicating liquors shall be manufactured, sold, or dispensed, where no building or structures shall be erected except those necessary to properly care for, protect, and maintain the area as a public park.”  Colorado Springs continues to honor Mr. Perkins request.

 

Kay

 

This view of Pikes Peak is through a red-rock sandstone formation along one of the hiking trails in Garden of the Gods. Garden of the Gods, located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, was named by two surveyors in 1859.  M.S. Beach and his friend Rufus Cable were exploring locations for a town site when they found this beautiful area of giant red-sandstone formations. Beach suggested that as the surrounding area grew it would make a great place for a beer garden. To this Rufus said “Beer Garden”, why it is a fit place for the Gods to assemble – we will call it Garden of the Gods”.  In 1879, Charles Elliott Perkins, head of the Burlington Railroad, purchased 480 acres in the Garden of the Gods for a summer home, but in 1907 instead of building on the land, he decided to make it a public park so everyone could enjoy this natural wonder of nature.   After his death in 1909, his children gave the property to the City of Colorado Springs “Where it shall remain free to the public, where no intoxicating liquors shall be manufactured, sold, or dispensed, where no building or structures shall be erected except those necessary to properly care for, protect, and maintain the area as a public park.”  Colorado Springs continues to honor Mr. Perkins request.

 

Kay