Near Meeker in Rio Blanco County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Forest Foresight
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 25, 2016
1. Forest Foresight Marker
Wide open and wild, western lands in the 1800s were up for grabs. The vast frontier was swiftly carved into ranches, railroads, sawmills, and cities. Grazing and timber harvesting were unregulated, and forest fires raged uncontrolled. Alarmed citizens rallied public support to protect western resources.
The Forest Service was established to manage and protect public land with timber, and is built on a century-long tradition: "to provide a continuing flow of natural resource goods and services to meet the needs of the nation."
Erected by Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Horticulture & Forestry • Parks & Recreational Areas. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #23 Benjamin Harrison series list. A significant historical date for this entry is October 16, 1891.
Location. 40° 6.742′ N, 107° 17.732′ W. Marker is near Meeker, Colorado, in Rio Blanco County. It is on Flat Tops Trail Scenic Byway (County Road 8)
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Regionally, this marker is in the Western Slope. It is also in the American Mountain West. Globally, it is in North America, the Rocky Mountains, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 2 other markers are within 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: People of the Shining Mountains (approx. 9.4 miles away); Footsteps in Time (approx. 9.4 miles away).
Also see . . .
1. Our History: Peer back in time with the White River Forest. On Oct. 16, 1891, President Benjamin Harrison issued the proclamation establishing the White River Plateau Timber Land Reserve, the second such reserve in the nation. The reserve encompassed 1,198,080 acres of prime timberland. In 1905, Teddy Roosevelt set up camp at Divide Creek. Roosevelt, an avid outdoorsmen, spent plenty of time on the White River National Forest and the surrounding area. In 1933, the first CCC camps on the forest were established in the Buford area near Ute Creek and the Tigiwon Camp, south of the Minturn area. (Submitted on January 2, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
2. White River National Forest (Wikipedia). There are ten peaks with an elevation higher than 14,000 ft., (colloquially known as 14ers) in the forest: Castle Peak, 14,279 ft., Grays Peak, 14,278 ft., Torreys Peak, 14,274 ft.,
2. Marker detail: White River and Routt National Forests
Today, there are 156 national forests and grasslands encompassing 191 million acres throughout the United States.
Congress divided the White River Timber Land Reserve into the White River National Forest and the western portion of the Routt National Forest in 1930.
Congress divided the White River Timber Land Reserve into the White River National Forest and the western portion of the Routt National Forest in 1930.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 25, 2016
3. Forest Foresight Marker
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 25, 2016
4. Ripple Creek Pass Map
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 25, 2016
5. Routt National Forest / White River National Forest boundary
Credits. This page was last revised on November 8, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 1, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 318 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on January 2, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
