On Colorado Route 9 at County Road 2, on the left when traveling north on State Route 9.
This memorial is the property of the State of Colorado Hoosier Pass Across Continental Divide between South Park and the Blue River Altitude 11,542 feet Crossed by Fremont 1844 Named for Hoosier . . . — — Map (db m171494) HM
A 900-square-mile grassland basin in the center of Colorado
In 1994 a group of local ranchers gathered to discuss the future of South Park's authentic landscape. From that meeting a vision emerged for preserving our abundant open spaces, . . . — — Map (db m152927) HM
On Main Street (State Highway 9) north of 5th Street, on the right when traveling north.
Named by the pioneer miners in expression of their determination for equal opportunity and fair dealing. Site visited by Captain John C. Fremont and Kit Carson in 1844. Fairplay diggings organized and mining laws enacted in April 1860. Seat of Park . . . — — Map (db m152925) HM
Fairplay was settled in 1859 near a promising gold strike on the South Platte River. Vowing that things would be different here than in Tarryall, the founders were said to proclaim, "in this camp we'll have fair play.” When Fairplay became the . . . — — Map (db m152926) HM
On U.S. 24, 0.2 miles west of State Highway 9, on the left when traveling west.
At the center of Colorado, the Hartsel area served as a summer hunting ground for the Mountain Utes and other American Indian tribes.
After 1860, fields of irrigated hay replaced native grasses, domestic cattle and sheep replaced the bison, and . . . — — Map (db m107886) HM
On U.S. 24, 0.2 miles west of State Highway 9, on the left when traveling west.
Sam Hartsel:
Life in Hartsel has always called for character and adaptability.
Sam Hartsel came to South Park in 1860 to mine but realized that he could make a better living raising food for miners.
Starting with a 160-acre homestead in . . . — — Map (db m107890) HM
In commemoration of
Ralph L. Carr
Governor of Colorado (1939 - 1943)
Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, tens of thousands of Japanese Americans were forcibly sent to internment camps by the federal government. These Americans . . . — — Map (db m152979) HM
This memorial is the
property of the State of Colorado
Spread before you lies the famous
South Park
Entered by Kenosha Pass, elevation 10,000 feet
The Bayou Salado of early trappers.
Favorite Indian . . . — — Map (db m152980) HM
On U.S. 285, 0.9 miles south of Packer Lane (County Road 34), on the right when traveling south.
This memorial is the
property of the State of Colorado
Extending up the creek to the mountains were the
Tarryall Diggings
Discovered in July, 1859.
Towns of Hamilton and Tarryall
(2 miles west) thrived in 1860s.
A . . . — — Map (db m152978) HM
Dubbed Bayou Salado by early European explorers, South Park is one of four high-altitude mountain parks in Colorado.
The view from Wilkerson Pass looks down to a great flat plain, perhaps the best-known mountain park in the state.
The name, . . . — — Map (db m153273)
In 1859-60, thousands of people drawn by the promise of gold crossed over the passes into South Park.
Towns named Tarryall, Fairplay, and Buckskin sprang up. This first boom receded by 1864, but the discovery of silver in 1870 spurred another . . . — — Map (db m153258) HM
Water is a precious commodity here and throughout the West.
Forests, fisheries, wetlands, waterfowl populations, and recreation all rely on healthy
watersheds. In addition, the Forest Service manages watersheds in this area that provide large . . . — — Map (db m153269) HM
Before European settlement, healthy stands of widely spaced ponderosa pines and Douglas-firs covered the montane ccosystem.
These open forests likely occurred because lightning caused and human-set fires eliminated some young trees, pine needles, . . . — — Map (db m153257) HM
South Park has long served as a crossroads and a destination for people from other places.
American Indians who came to hunt, collect natural salts, and soak in hot springs established routes through the landscape as they traveled between their . . . — — Map (db m153262) HM
This landscape tells countless stories of human journeys, building homes and lives on the land.
People have always been drawn here for the natural resources: wild game, water. salt, timber, minerals, open spaces, and sweeping mountain views. . . . — — Map (db m153277) HM
Although Pikes Peak is not the highest peak in Colorado, it may be the best known, thanks to "America the Beautiful."
On Pikes Peak, Katharine Lee Bates was inspired to write a song that praises the natural beauty of this country. As you look . . . — — Map (db m153280) HM
The Utes and their ancestors migrated into South Park annually, arriving in the spring and staying into late fall.
They traveled a regular circuit, following the large game herds until the mountain seeds and berries ripened. During the winter, . . . — — Map (db m153282) HM
When gold became hard to find in the 1860s, some Park County gold-seekers turned to ranching.
They quickly learned that irrigation was essential, and that water could turn Park County fields into rich meadows of native hay. By 1861, the rights . . . — — Map (db m153265) HM
On Frontage Road north of County Road 115, on the right when traveling north.
In 1886, James W. Price homesteaded here & in 1889 built the Grandview Hotel. In 1900 he & the Colo. & Southern Railway developed Shawnee & built Shawnee Lodge which burned in 1929. In 1900 Price built the Shawnee Mercantile Co. Store & moved the . . . — — Map (db m152982) HM