In the 1890’s there were several copper mines operating in southwestern Colorado. Some of the abandoned mines are located within easy driving distance from Grand Junction. The Last Chance Mine was one of those sites. The operation was an example of hard rock mining, which is the process of extracting hard minerals like copper, zinc, […]

In 1939 the Grand Junction Public Library was located at 5th and White. The children’s center had been recently remodeled and the youngsters who visited were undoubtedly excited to get to use the new area. At least 20 children regularly attended story time which was usually followed by a snack and crafts. It is now […]

Paul Dean Proctor’s book Uranium: Where It Is and How to Find it was published in 1954. During this time a uranium mining boom was taking place in the western United States and Mesa County was a hub for that industry. Several uranium mills operated in our region and the Atomic Energy Commission was headquartered […]

On November 13, 1837 Antoine Robidoux would have been traveling near the border of Utah and Colorado. There was a good chance that he was transporting trade goods between one of the trading posts that he established in the region. One of those trading posts was Fort Uncompahgre, which was located outside of what is […]

Agriculture was the original economic backbone in Grand Junction but the discovery of mineral resources in the area would quickly make an impact. Deposits of coal, copper, radium, vanadium, and uranium were discovered and mined for decades in the region. In 1888 commercial coal mining began and numerous coal mines were in operation in the […]

Western Colorado is known for fruit production, especially in the area of Palisade. In the past there were a variety of orchards spread throughout our region. Once the land was irrigated agriculture picked up quickly and by 1892 there were quite a few fruit growers in the valley. Peach, apricot, apple, and cherry trees were plentiful […]

In the late 1890’s and early 1900’s mining was an important part of the economy of the western United States. Several coal mines operated in the Grand Valley and western Colorado’s role in the mining industry was just beginning to emerge. During this time in Eastern Utah a rare mineral called Gilsonite was being mined. […]

The Gateway area is home to a variety of historical and archaeological sites. If you travel through the region you’ll probably notice a variety of structures related to mining, ranching, and homesteading. Divide Road will take you up above Unaweep Canyon and through the Uncompahgre National Forest. If you look off to the side of Divide […]

Many residents of western Colorado recognize the Grand Mesa as one of the dominant landmarks in the Grand Valley.  It rises to over 10,000 feet in elevation and contributes to the overall beauty of our region. The Grand Mesa National Forest was established on March, 11 1924 but it didn’t always go by that name. In […]