It’s no secret that the Montrose, Colorado area is full of things to do. Being in the heart of so much beauty and adventure makes being a Montrose Realtor so rewarding. Not only do I get to help people find the perfect homes, but I get to help them do it in a perfect town. Being a Montrose Real Estate Agent isn’t just about selling properties and making money to me. It’s about finding people a place to call ‘home’ surrounded by the things they love. One of the many things that make being a Montrose Realtor so great is all of the historical sites and tours that are in and around the Montrose area.
Cimarron Canyon Railroad Exhibit
Open year-round this unique exhibit located in Cimarron features the last remaining structure from the Black Canyon route of the Rio Grande Narrow Gauge. In fact, In 1976, the trestle was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, due to its significance as the last remaining structure representing the history of the narrow gauge railroad in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Cimarron was once an area that contained a lot of activity for transporting livestock from local ranches. It now is home a National Park Service Visitor Center and the Cimmaron Canyon Railroad Exhibit. When you check out this exhibit you’ll see Locomotive #278, which is a coal tender, a boxcar, and caboose that stand atop the last remaining railroad trestle along the Black Canyon of the Gunnison route. Living on the Western Slope, and being a Montrose Realtor, I really find the history of the area to be fascinating.
East Portal and The Gunnison Tunnel
Plans to divert water from the Black Canyon’s more dependable Gunnison River began in 1894, eventually leading to the revealed locations of both ends of the tunnel, and work a road was scraped into the canyon slopes, descending to the river and the town of East Portal was born! From 1905 to 1909 laborers drove a tunnel 11 feet x 12 feet six miles through the cliffs of the Black Canyon and helped ensure the survival of communities in the valley. To this day the tunnel provides water from the Gunnison River to the agricultural lands of the valley and is located in the canyon below the South Rim entrance of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
Historic Walking Tour
You can take do this tour on your own time, or there are periodic ones hosted by the Montrose County Historical Museum. The Historic Montrose Downtown Walking Tour consists of 12 interpretive signs within a five-block area of Downtown Montrose. The tour will show early history of Montrose and the Uncompahgre Valley, and highlight downtown buildings as well as the people associated with them who played a part in creating Montrose’s history. If you choose to take the tour on your own time you can pick up a map from the Montrose Visitors Center. As a Montrose Realtor, this tour really makes me appreciate the history of this amazing town.
Montrose Genealogy Center
The Montrose Genealogy Center has an extensive collection of records for Montrose County, Colorado. It includes 120 courthouse books, historic Montrose newspapers ranging from 1899-1939, historic Olathe newspapers ranging from 1905-1973, school yearbooks, subject pamphlet files, numerous computers for online databases, and more. They even try to have files accessible from the counties of Delta, Dolores, Gunnison, Hinsdale, La Plata, Mesa, Montezuma, Ouray, San Juan, and San Miguel. This center is truly a hidden gem if you’re wanting to learn more about history in Montrose, Colorado and the surrounding areas.
The Montrose, Colorado area is such a beautiful place to live, and the history is truly amazing. If you’re ready to make Montrose your home, this Montrose Realtor is ready to find you the perfect place. Contact me today.
