05/24/2021
John Otto at Colorado National Monument.
Happy 110th birthday, Colorado National Monument!
110 years ago, on May 24, 1911, the rugged sandstone canyons that provide the scenic backdrop to the southwest of Fruita and Grand Junction, were declared a national monument by President Taft.
That designation was largely due to the efforts of one man, Monument “booster” John Otto.
Otto fell in love with Western Colorado when he arrived here to work as a “powder monkey” (explosives expert) on the Fruita pipeline, an ambitious scheme which brought mountain spring water from Piñon Mesa, through the canyons and across the Colorado River into the small town of Fruita.
When John Otto first saw the rugged redrock canyons south of Grand Junction in 1906, it was love at first sight. The following year he wrote “I came here last year and found these canyons, and they feel like the heart of the world to me. I’m going to stay and build trails and promote this place, because it should be a national park.”
Otto spearheaded fundraising campaigns, collected signatures for petitions, penned newspaper editorials, and wrote endless letters to Washington politicians in support of national recognition for the ancient canyons and towering monoliths of his adopted home. He spoke to reporters and photographers and public representatives, and conducted tours of the area.
In addition to his campaign for national recognition, Otto worked to make the area physically accessible to visitors. “Some folks think I’m crazy but I want to see this scenery opened up to all people,” Otto wrote. He lived alone in the canyons and used a pick and shovel to carve out the trails. Always the patriot, he named the rock formations he encountered after great heroes and historic events. Some of the formations, such as Independence Monument and Liberty Cap still bear the names he gave them. Gradually through his single-minded pursuit and his herculean physical efforts, the scenic treasures hidden in the canyons were made accessible to the public.
Otto sought neither personal recognition nor wealth. He was seen as an eccentric and a recluse. But his enthusiasm for his beloved canyons was contagious. Although his ideas were initially met with skepticism, many people joined him in his efforts and deluged Washington politicians with letters of support. Finally on May 26, 1911, President Taft signed the proclamation that established Colorado National Monument. It was the culmination of John Otto’s years of hard work.
110 years later, as we celebrate the anniversary of the founding of our beloved Colorado National Monument, we give thanks to the visionary who first fell in love with these canyons and shared them with us all. Thank you, John Otto!
Photo courtesy National Park Service.
Denise & Steve Hight
Historical Photos of Fruita & Western Colorado:
https://www.facebook.com/HistoricalFruitaPhotos/
Historical Photos of Women’s Stories:
https://www.facebook.com/HistoricalSuffragePhotos/
