Rocky Mountain National Park History

Rocky Mountain National Park, established by Congress in 1915, has long been admired for its scenic and natural wonders.

A very brief, thumbnail history –

• Thousand of Years Ago - Rocky Mountain National Park was the hunting ground thousands of years ago for the ancestors of today's Native Americans.
• 1843 – Scenes in the Rocky Mountains was written by Rufus Sage.
• 1859 – The Pikes Peak gold rush brought miners and speculators to the area.
• 1859 - Joel Estes first came to the area on a hunting trip in October of 1859 and decided to establish a cattle ranch in the area. Thus, the settlement of Estes Park, Colorado began.
• 1864 – Estes Park was named for Joel Estes.
• 1860 – Homesteaders came to the area, but the hard winters were too much to bear. However, the abundant wildlife, the trees and the mountains continued to bring Easterners to the spectacular region.
• 1874 - The land was finally surveyed in 1874 and then increasing numbers of settlers flocked to the area.
• 1884 - Enos Mills traveled to the area of Longs Peak when he was only fourteen years old. Mills was a naturalist and a writer. He wrote many books and articles about the area.
• 1890 -The landscape became dotted with rustic lodges and ranching and tourism became the livelihood of most of the reported 200 citizens of 1900.
• 1903 - F.O. Stanley first travels to the area now known as Estes Park in an effort to find a location that was better for his health. Stanley is better known for his invention of the Stanley Steamer automobile. Stanley was so taken with the beauty of the valley and his experience of his own better health; he was convinced to invest both his money and his future in the area.
• 1906 - The Estes Park Protective and Improvement Association was established. The role of this organization was to protect local wildflowers and wildlife and to promote improvement of the local roads and trails.
• 1909 - F.O. Stanley built The Stanley Hotel to cater to all of the travelers during the golden age of touring.
• 1909 – Enos Mills is the first to suggest that this spectacular area become the tenth national park in the nation's park system.
• 1915 - Mills spent years spreading his idea throughout the nation by lecturing, writing letters and articles and lobbying Congress. Finally, on January 26, 1915, President Woodrow Wilson declared the area Rocky Mountain National Park.
• 1917 - Just two years after the establishment of the Rocky Mountain National Park, the town of Estes Park was incorporated.
• Present Day -This area is now a lasting legacy to those individuals and pioneers who were able to see beyond the use of the resources available in Rocky Mountain National Park to the preservation of its lasting value.