Stymied by Canyonlands

An 1859 military survey expedition sought to find an easy route from Northern New Mexico to Southwestern Utah. What it found, instead, was what we know today as Canyonlands National Park. My column about the Macomb Exploring Expedition is linked below.

5 hours ago

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Stymied by Canyonlands

5 hours ago1 min read

Bob Meldrum is still missing

Lawman, strike-breaker, artist and killer Robert D. "Bob" Meldrum Bob Meldrum on his horse, with fancy tack disappeared in Wyoming 100 years ago this autumn. There's still a reward for anyone who can find him, or his remains. My Daily Sentinel history column about Melrum is linked below.

Sep 301 min read

When Harry met Conan in Denver

In the spring of 1923, Harry Houdini and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle met by coincidence in Denver, Colorado. They were one-time friends turned antagonists over the issue of spiritualism and contacting the dead. The two men and their wives seemed friendly as they met in Denver, but the animosity remained. My history column from The Daily Sentinel is linked below.

Sep 141 min read

Historian tracks history of Western Slope travel

David Bailey has been researching and writing about the history of western Colorado for decades. His latest book, just released in August, continues that effort by examining the evolving story of travel on the Western Slope. The drawing on this page is from one of the mid-19th century expeditions across western Colorado to the Pacific. My history column about Bailey's book is linked below.

Sep 21 min read

Cavalry to the rescue at Yellowstone National Park

One hundred forty years ago this month, Troop M of the United States Cavalry Members of U.S. Cavalry display bison heads recovered from a poacher in Yellowstone marched into Yellowstone National Park to assume administration and protection of the park. It may have saved both Yellowstone and the entire National Park system. My column from The Daily Sentinel is linked below.

Aug 171 min read

Path to Colorado statehood was rocky

There was plenty of opposition to allowing Colorado Territory to become a state in the 1870s. But after numerous attempts the Colorado Statehood proclamation was signed by President Ulysses S. Grant on August 1, 1876. My Daily Sentinel column about that effort is linked below.

Aug 61 min read

Tractors began to supplant horses in 1920

There were more domestic horses in the United States in 1920 than at any time in our history, but there were also more tractors. And more than 100 companies were selling tractors in the U.S. in 1920. My column about tractors versus horses in 1920 is linked below.

Jul 211 min read

This book, by Steven K. Madsen, offers a comprehensive look at the 1859 Macomb Exploring Expedition to the San Juan River and the Canyonlands. It also includes the journal of the expedition's chief surveyor, Charles Dimmock, which hadn't been published prior to Madsen's 2010 book.

However, for real history nerds, this book should be read along with a copy of Macomb's Report of the Exploring Expediton, which was published by the Government Printing Office in 1876. So, it is in the public domain, it's free, and readers can track down a copy online. In it they will find magnificent color landscape drawings like the one at the top of this page.

The Madsen book is available at bookstores, libraries and online.

ABOUT ME

I retired as editorial page editor of The Daily Sentinel in Grand Junction, Colorado in 2014. Since then, I've continued to write a twice-a-month history column for the Sentinel, while seizing every opportunity I can, with my wife Judy or my horses, to enjoy the beautiful outdoors of the Colorado Plateau.

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Stymied by Canyonlands

FEATURED POST

Never Miss a New Post.

TRAIN OF THOUGHT

Stymied by Canyonlands

Bob Meldrum is still missing

When Harry met Conan in Denver

Historian tracks history of Western Slope travel

Cavalry to the rescue at Yellowstone National Park

Path to Colorado statehood was rocky

Tractors began to supplant horses in 1920

BOB's
Book
Picks

ABOUT ME

SUBSCRIBE

Stymied by Canyonlands

FEATURED POST

Never Miss a New Post.

TRAIN OF THOUGHT

Stymied by Canyonlands

Bob Meldrum is still missing

When Harry met Conan in Denver

Historian tracks history of Western Slope travel

Cavalry to the rescue at Yellowstone National Park

Path to Colorado statehood was rocky

Tractors began to supplant horses in 1920

BOB's Book Picks

ABOUT ME

SUBSCRIBE

BOB's
Book
Picks