Explore the old west of Colorado

Before the volcanic explosion that formed these famous mountains, the area was tropical. Dinosaurs traveled through the area. Palm trees and ferns were the flora of the time.

The first cavemen ventured into the US from the land bridge across the Bering Strait connecting present-day Russia with Alaska. These people populated the western region of the US and became our Native American founders.

Fast forward thousands of years. Spanish explorers visited the territory in search of gold and other riches.

Then came the French. They were expanding their domain in the undiscovered United States west of the Mississippi. American explorers then traveled west to map their new acquisition from the French, the Louisiana Purchase.

Other Americans moved west from the colonial US to find their adventures. The mountaineers who ventured into the red territory decided to live in this wild land. French fur trappers came to the territory for the beaver pelts that were so sought after for hats, coats, and furs for wealthy people.

A man named Zebulon Pike explored central Colorado and discovered the famous mountain that bears his name. Mr. Pike opened up the Colorado Territory to further exploration. Many sought riches just like the Spanish a few hundred years earlier.

And they found it. The gold rush was in Colorado. Thousands rushed from the east to make their fortunes with the slogan “Pikes Peak or Bust” on their lips or painted on their wagons. The cities you now know, like Denver, Aspen, Leadville, were once tent cities set up around gold mines.

With the fledgling cities established, lawlessness, gambling, disreputable houses, and outlaws invaded the gold rush scene. Many legends of the Old West made Colorado a stopping point on their travels to other parts of the established West.

When the gold was finally mined, the miners either left the area to return east or stayed on the Colorado plains to farm the land. Some hearty souls joined the wagon trains heading west, because our new country was suddenly getting bigger and more people were expanding into the territory.

With the influx of these new residents, the original owners of the land, the Native Americans, were driven from their property.

The Indians retaliated against this invasion, and bloody battles occurred between them and the United States government.

By the turn of the century, 1899, Colorado was fairly well established and established as a state. So you can see, in such a short time, Colorado was part of the legend of the Wild West in a very big way.

When you come to visit, think about where you are walking or the mountains you are taking photos of.

Hundreds of years ago, the first explorers were looking at exactly the same thing, walking through the same area. It definitely gives you a sense of perspective.