Colorado A Classic Western Quarrel: A History of the Road Controversy at Colorado National Monument

Cover

List of Figures

Foreword

Abstract of Thesis

Acknowledgements

Preface

Chapter One

The Landscape / The Setting
The Roots of Conflict 1881-1911

Chapter Two

"The Nationalization of a Cañon': The Local Park Movement: 1906-1911

Chapter Three

The Otto Years: 1911-30
Otto's Agenda
Road Building, 1911-1927
Park Administration and Otto's Ouster
The Chamber of Commerce and its New Program, 1927-1931

Chapter Four

Construction of Rim Rock Drive: 1931-1950
Road Construction, 1931-1933
Road Construction. 1933-1942
The CCC and Federal Work Camps at Colorado National Monument, 1933-1942
The Road Project and the Community
Administration of Colorado National Monument, 1933-1942
The Postwar Years

Chapter Five

Origins of the Road Controversy: 1951-1980
Administration of Colorado National Monument, 1951-1980
Local Use of Colorado National Monument, 1951-1980
The Commercial Vehicle Issue, 1955-1978

Chapter Six

The Lawsuit: 1981-1986
The Lawsuit
The Decision

Conclusion

Endnotes

Works Cited

Figure 1.1. Colorado National Monument and Surrounding Communities

Figure 1.2. Topography of Mesa County, Colorado

Figure 2.1. Historic photo of John Otto at what appears to be mouth of Fruita Canyon

Figure 2.2. Historic photo of John Otto (top) and Whipple Chester ascending the 550-foot Independence Monument

Figure 3.1. Aerial view of Serpent's Trail (right) and Rimrock Drive (left)

Figure 3.2. Car ascending Serpents Trail

Figure 4.1. Progress of Construction on Rim Rock Drive

Figure 4.2. CCC camp NM-1-C at present site of Monument Canyon Trail parking area

Figure 4.3. Portion of group photo of CCC enrollees and army personnel at Colorado National Monument

Figure 4.4. View from cliff above the south portal of tunnel #3 (bottom right) and east side road and switchbacks

Figure 4.5. Men working at Cold Shivers Point on east Rim Rock Drive

Figure 4.6. Blasting at Half-Tunnel site

Figure 4.7. Blasting at Half-Tunnel site

Figure 4.8. Half-Tunnel site after the December 12, 1933 accident

Figure 4.9. Progress of Construction on Rim Rock Drive

Figure 4.10. Workers remove blast rubble from coyote hole or pilot bore in one of the road's three tunnels

Figure 4.11. North portal of tunnel #3 on east Rim Rock Drive