Crossroads Through Time Heritage Park
Pueblo Community College – Fremont Campus
Crossroads Through Time Heritage Park provides a quality educational experience for all ages by encouraging an understanding and appreciation for Fremont County’s rich geological, paleontological and historical heritage. Its location is literally a crossroads where the stories of the planet and its inhabitants intersect – tying together the deep-time geological past to the history of the region’s people and places. On the Geology Time Trail, where one-foot equals one-million years, examples of the area’s geologic past can be seen. The People & Places Trail presents information on the settlement of Fremont County, its early occupants and its history. For questions, suggestions or further information, please contact: [email protected].
Activities at Crossroads
Telling the Geologic Story of Fremont County
A recent addition to our Geology Time Trail is a huge black and white boulder which sits comfortably at the 523-million-year time period. This striking rock is called syenite (SIGH-en-night), and is abundant in the McClure Mountain Complex southwest of Cañon City.
The Evolution of the D.O.C Stego (Pt. I)
The Stegosaurus sculpture was the original inspiration of Donna Engard, Jay Hanson and Bob Hubbell. This sculpture is a remarkable achievement completed by inmates at the Colorado Department of Corrections (DOC).
The Evolution of the D.O.C Stego (Pt. II)
The Stegosaurs required a more realistic appearance, and during the summers of 2015-2016, she underwent a major re-fabrication under the direction of local metal artist Vaughn Chamberlain
Pikes Peak Granite settles in on Canon City’s Geology Time Trail
The Crossroads Through Time – Geology Time Trail has three new boulders representing one of the most iconic geologic features in the United States – Pikes Peak, America’s Mountain
Lykins Stromatolites Settle in on the Geology Time Trail (265MY)
The Crossroads Through Time Geology Time Trail has several new boulders pinpointing various geologic time periods in south central Colorado. The most recent arrivals are two Lykins Formation stromatolites placed at the 265 million year mark
Fossils in Cañon City Fountain Conglomerate
The Pennsylvanian Fountain Formation in Cañon City has long been prized for quarrying, as it contains an unusual highly-cemented conglomerate that has been used in the building stone of at least two buildings
Crinoids Get Framed
In an effort to raise awareness of the remarkable beauty and ancient fossil creatures preserved in the locally-quarried walls of our County building, several fossils have been framed with explanatory information.
Local Geology & The Geology Time Trail
It’s one thing to walk among rocks on the Geology Time Trail, and it’s another thing to walk among rocks on the Geology Time Trail with Harold Taylor.
Fremont County Quarry Exhibit
Loretta Bailey and her daughter Kimberly developed a delightful exhibit focusing on the Mica Lode Quarry at the Royal Gorge and the Cowan Brothers Quarry
The Geology Time Trail Gains Boulders from Local Historic Quarries
The Crossroads Through Time Heritage Park – Geology Time Trail project, which showcases rocks from local Fremont County formations and beyond, strives to help people understand and appreciate the beauty of our Fremont County landscape.
It’s All About Connections
Students in Jerry Davis’ Colorado History class designed signage for the People & Places Trail at Pueblo Community College – Fremont Campus (PCC).
July Storm Forces Closure of PCC Trails
Both the People & Places Trail and the Geology Time Trail are closed after a catastrophic storm on July 23, 2018, severely eroded the trails. On that afternoon, PCC received about 2.5″ of rain in an hour and a half
Morton Gneiss
Morton Gneiss is a rock with a long story to tell. Some very old rocks can tell us how much oxygen there was (or wasn’t) in the atmosphere or oceans at a particular time in Earth’s history
Canon City Meteorite on Display at PCC
A piece of the historic 1973 Cañon City meteorite is on display at PCC in the Learning Resource Room. Only the second meteorite in Colorado known to have hit a building at the time
CCHS Rock Collection on Display
Several pieces from the historic Cañon City High School rock collection are now on display in the Learning Resource Center at Pueblo Community College – Fremont Campus.
Students Design Trail Signs
Colorado History students Chris Kleinschmidt and Jacob Lewis. Each designed a poster and, as Work Studies students, they also placed all the posters along the People & Places Trail.
Crestone Conglomerate
With its fascinating geologic history, this rock can only be found in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains near Crestone (south of Poncha Springs). It’s uniqueness is due to two unusual characteristics: color and size of inclusions.
Mountain Masonry Provides Manpower
Mountain Masonry LLC generously donated pallets of beautiful thick Dakota Sandstone slabs to the Geology Time Trail for the future amphitheater, which will provide seating for students and community members during 'trail talks'
South Canon Geology Hike
20 community members joined author Harold Taylor on a hike in the southern part of Ecology Park where Harold noted fossils, dinosaur tracks, and especially interesting geologic outcrops.
Recent Activity on the Geology Trail
The entire length of the trail has now been completed, and on April 28, 2017 ten trail markers were finished, providing information at ten points along the trail.
Construction on the PCC – Fremont Campus
Now half completed, this 2,300′ trail will feature interpretive signs explaining major local and global geology and paleontology events. The Geology Trail includes large rocks as examples from local geologic formations and is an extension of the Riverwalk Trail System on the PCC campus
Crossroads Through Time Gallery
This is not just trails, but an array of places to sit and reflect on this most interesting setting and if interested, the visitor can be a participant, not just be an observer. Projects will create various opportunities for the local community to provide geologic and historic display pieces, ideas, and support. Located at the western gateway to the city, Crossroads Through Time Heritage Park epitomizes the unity of the faculty, the students, and the Fremont Campus of Pueblo Community College with the community, the region and our heritage.
Major Sections
Crossroads Through Time Heritage Park has two major sections: a Geology Time Trail, and a People and Places (History) Trail. By including educational, cultural, and artistic displays, each will augment campus activities, encourage public visitation, and enhance local lifestyle. From the Geology Time Trail, multiple geologic rock formations are visible in all directions It is also in close proximity to some for the greatest paleontological discoveries and excavations made in the late 1800s up to today. The People and Places Trail begins at a time thousands of years ago with the Pre-Clovis/Paleo-Indians and runs to present time.
People & Places Trail
The objective of this approximately 2,000 foot People and Places Interpretive Trail is to present the story of the people, places, activities and circumstances that have touched, and been touched by, the Fremont County Region. Waysides along the trail will include informative signs, artifacts, representations and art pieces. PCC students and community members are encouraged to participate in researching and organizing displays. The Fremont Campus Colorado History courses will use the People and Places Trail for learning purposes and will be involved in classes that include development of possible future displays, activities, and K-12 curriculum.
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The first section of the trail “From the Early Coloradans” will include the Paleo-Indians, the Spanish and the French. Displays will include information from the end of the last Ice Age, the first people in the region, and the Spanish that traveled through the area. One display will be designed to enlighten visitors about the Spanish battle against Greenhorn that happened just south of the campus.
The second section of the trail will cover highlights of the 19th Century “The 1800s.” Starting with early explorers, it will include stories of mountain men, fur traders, and international border disputes. Informational displays showing historical events such as the gold rush, the founding of villages and towns, railroad builders, cattlemen and farmers, and the silver boom will all be present. Displays will include a replica of the blockhouse that Zebulon Pike built within view of today’s PCC Fremont campus and a rock garden designed to represent the map Pike drew showing this region and his travels. Visitors will be able to walk the path that Pike traveled via this replica. The Railroad War and the Native Americans of this region will all be represented. An informational display about the Colorado Territorial/State Prison farms and ranches in the region has already been built and will be included.
“The 20th Century” (third) segment of the People and Place Interpretive Trail will include displays about the Progressive Era, the 1920s, involvement in the World Wars, the movies that were filmed in this region, and the booms and busts of the times. Displays regarding the Sand Creek Prison Gardens located at what are now the current grounds of the Fremont campus of PCC and another about when the prison gardens property was deeded to the college have been built and will be displayed.
The final section of the People and Places Trail, tentatively titled “The 21st Century,” will exhibit current and future “history.” The Iron Mountain and Royal Gorge fires and the construction of new schools (Harrison School and Florence High School) will be presented during this part of the trail.
The history of the people of the Fremont County Region, and those who passed through, will be chronicled. Stories regarding the land, the river, the towns and the wildlife will be told along this trail. Day-to-day activities, the circumstances the people lived under, and their connections with the past, the present, and the future will unfold as students and visitors take a stroll through the crossroads of people and places.
Geology Time Trail
In an effort to illustrate our rich geological and paleontological heritage, including events which occurred in Fremont County as well as in the global scene, a 2,300 foot trail will ring the perimeter of the field between PCC and Highway 50. At 1 foot equals 1 million years, this length corresponds to half the history of the Earth (2.3 billion years). This scale provides a perspective of the deep time involved in a way that participants can comprehend, and in the process educates our community and others about the formation and history of familiar venues in our own back yard, expanding peoples’ horizons and leading to an appreciation of our unique landscape.
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A trailhead will be established to enable a general introduction to local geology, geologic time, trail use, and additional places to go for more information. The trail will include informational displays focusing on key milestone events important in our local geology story: dinosaurs, the ancestral Rocky Mountains, the Western Interior Seaway, and the earliest vertebrates on the planet. A variety of local rocks and boulders will be utilized along the trails in the time period they represent. Rocks, slabs, and boulders will be utilized as seating locations, creative landscaping, and informational displays. Small signs will call attention to geologic events not dealt with at waysides, and small markers will be placed on the bed of the trail indicating 100 foot/100 million year increments.
In addition to its educational offerings, over time, enhancements to the trail system will be developed to make it both fun and recreational. This will be achieved by a variety of projects and programs including a connection to the Arkansas River Walk, a labyrinth, a group seating area (small amphitheater), native prairie vegetation, a Jurassic plant garden, additional dinosaur sculptures, and rock art such as carvings or stacked stones. We will provide round or flat stones for visitors to construct their own stacked stones displays. Currently the area is utilized for Frisbee golf by college students and it is possible to incorporate this activity in new and creative ways.
This trail will enable introductions to other important local geology sites including the Royal Gorge, Garden Park Fossil Area, Red Canyon Park, and Skyline Drive. It will also maintain a strong connection to the Royal Gorge Regional Museum and other local trail networks. In the future the trail location has the capability to continue to grow, expanding to include additional rock walls, more geologic waysides, and additional campus access points.
Crossroads Through Time Heritage Park: Under Construction on the PCC – Fremont Campus. Looking East
Crossroads Through Time Heritage Park: Under Construction on the PCC – Fremont Campus. Looking West
Benefits
The Crossroads trail network will have a broad cross section of users including:
- Arkansas River Walk connection- Bikers and Hikers
- PCC students and staff – campus walking and even Frisbee golf participants
- Local and regional classes for K-12 and students of any age
- Fitness enthusiasts – a place to work out or to sit and meditate
- Local artists and art students –sculpting, landscape, and other art projects
- Local gardeners, and students interested in native prairie vegetation and a Jurassic Garden
- Birdwatchers fascinated with our local winged residents and visitors
- Heritage tourism – those that take the time to “see the sites” and loop back into town over Skyline Drive.
- Community event organizers.
Community Support
Local organizations and individuals are encouraged to provide money, labor or material donations for this community project. The Crossroads Through Time Steering Committee, made up of PCC – Fremont faculty, staff, students and community members is coordinating activity and welcomes community suggestions, questions and participation in bringing this vision to life. For further information, please contact [email protected].
Contacts
If you are interested in more detail on how you can support this project, please contact either:
Cindy Smith (719-275-9781 or 303-818-3084) [email protected]
Jerry Davis (719-296-6100) [email protected]