Fremont County Heritage Blog
A collection of all informative posts on this site
Mule Skinners, Jehus & Whips – How Cowboys Shaped Early Fremont County
This is the story of Fremont County’s ties to the mining camps after the 1859 Gold Rush.
Bushels & Barrels – Agricultures Deep Roots in Fremont County
Hearing that there were promising diggings in South Park, the group of men that laid out Pueblo in 1858 came up the Arkansas River in mid-October 1859 and established Cañon City
Fremont Geologic Time Scale
Dating is provided to aide general understanding of when important local occurrences took place in geologic time
Rocks of the Cañon City Basin
Rocks of the Cañon City Basin
Geologic Time Scale, Formations and Major Happenings in/around Fremont County
Geologic Time Scale of Fremont County
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.
Minnie Harding
Minnie L. Harding was inducted into the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame in March, 2016 in recognition of her civic leadership in Cañon City and the State of Colorado
Magdelene Scheetz Raynolds
Magdelene Raynolds was 12 years old in 1872 when she, along with her mother, Mrs. Helen Scheetz, and her sister arrived in Cañon City from Freeport, Illinois, without any male protection.
Bird Millman & the Millman Trio
Bird Millman, born “Jennadean Engleman” in Cañon City, Colorado, has been hailed by many historians as the greatest female wire artiste who ever lived; certainly, in her lifetime, she achieved the height of fame.
The Griffin Ranches & Family History Research Project
Albert Benjamin Griffin (b. 1811 – d. 1896) started a legacy in Canon City and Fremont County beginning in the fall of 1860.
Harriet Spencer Rudd & Anson Rudd
Harriet Spencer was born July 23, 1818 in New Hampshire. After an 18 year engagement, Harriet married Anson Rudd on October 2. 1856 in Davis County Iowa.
Prospect Heights Jail
The Prospect Heights Jail was built in 1906 and was the only municipal building for the Town of Prospect Heights, previously a Slavic enclave of mine workers near the Nonac Coal Mine.
Fossil Boot Camp – Covid Style
Stones ‘n Bones of Fremont County traditionally presents two or three Fossil Boot Camp classes each year for school age students and adults. With COVID, that has proven a little difficult
Fossil Boot Camp for PCC Historical Geology Students
Fremont Stones ‘n Bones introduced 16 Pueblo Community College students to fossils in Steve Wolfe’s Historical Geology class.
Stones ‘n’ Bones With Villa Bella School’s 2nd Graders
“What do paleontologists do?” is the question we were asked to help answer for 50 second graders at Pueblo, Colorado’s newest elementary school on January 16, 2020.
The Close Relationship Between Man & Dog
Dr. Sue Ware returned to the Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience for the second time, to the delight of 27 community members. She presented a program entitled “From your Campfire to your Bed: The Evolution, Importance & Relationship between Dogs and Humans”.
Fossil Boot Camp at PCC Mini-College
For the 5th straight year, Stones ‘n Bones presented Fossil Boot Camp to 31 senior citizens in the Fremont County community.
Stones ‘n’ Bones & the Enormous Egg
What happens when an entire elementary school reads the same book, The Enormous Egg, and asks Fremont County Stones and Bones to come in to help with the family night to celebrate the reading? A two-hour evening full of paleontology learning!
Introducing Geology Students to Fossils
How does Steve Wolfe, Historical Geology instructor at PCC-Fremont Campus, prepare his students for field season observations? One way is by introducing them to fossils
Identifying Trilobites
The Pioche Formation of eastern Nevada is world famous for its amazing preservation of trilobites. Very old trilobites, from the Lower Cambrian (542 – 521 million years old), almost the oldest on record.
Everything Begins With Mining
There are many ways to appreciate rocks. Many of us notice them simply for their color, texture and shape, irresistible and raw in nature.
Insects Trapped in Amber
Many of us are familiar with the high preservation of insects and leaves in the Green River Formation, a Colorado lagerstätte well known for field trips yielding magnificent fossils.
Fossil Basket for ESA Chapter Auction
Mary Chamberlain of Fremont County Stones ‘n Bones put together a gift basket for the third annual Epsilon Sigma Alpha (ESA) Auction, sponsored by our local Cañon City Beta Zeta Chapter, held October 6, 2018.
Fremont County Quarry Exhibit
Two of Fremont County’s historic quarries are featured in a new display at the Fremont County Administration Building in Cañon City. Loretta Bailey and her daughter Kimberly developed a delightful exhibit focusing on the Mica Lode Quarry.
Libraries Rock!
Thirty eight young, would-be paleontologists between the ages of 3 and 11 years old gathered at the Penrose Community Library in June to learn about and examine fossils, many found beneath our feet in Fremont County.
Skeletons – The Story is in the Bones
Dr. Sue Ware, forensic paleontologist and Research Associate with the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, presented “Skeleton Crew: Learning About Animal Bones and What They Do” at the Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience on May 12, 2018.
2018 – Fossil Boot Camp 101
2018 - Fossil Boot Camp 101Stones ‘n Bones reached more than 40 community members interested in the introductory Fossil Boot Camp classes offered to the Cañon City Geology Club (CCGC) and to the PCC Mini-College in March of 2018. Students with no familiarity with...
Dino Daze in Cañon City
Dinosaurs have returned to Cañon City, including a few that haven’t shown up in the fossil record previously. Anatomically correct they aren’t, but inspirational we hope they will be.
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.
Fossil Study Group
Today we were treated to an excellent Training Session on Corals by Loretta Bailey, who has been a long-time ammonite and baculite fossil collector on Spud Hill, north of Central & Orchard in Cañon City.
BBC Provides International Exposure
BBC Provides International Exposure for the Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience MuseumFremont County Stones ‘n Bones, was delighted to be part of a British Broadcasting Company (BBC) filming experience on August 7, 2016 at Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience, the new dinosaur...
Cañon City welcomed seven year old Sola
Cañon City welcomed a seven-year-old visitor from Japan last week. Her name is Sola; she is completely bilingual and she is quite the naturalist.
Fossil Boot Camp 2016
Fremont Stones ‘n Bones presented Fossil Boot Camp to seniors at the mini-college at the Pueblo Community College – Fremont Campus (PCC) on March 22, 2016.
The1992 Stegosaurus Airlift
In early June of 1992 Bryan Small with the Denver Museum of Nature and Science was looking for fossils in the Garden Park Fossil Area when he found a neck bone of a Stegosaurus.
Dall DeWeese and the Diplodocus
Dall DeWeese first became familiar with dinosaur excavation in the late 1880’s. He was interested in the outdoors and in 1915 he found dinosaur bones.
Marsh Felch Dinosaur Quarry
Contact Dan Grenard at [email protected] to schedule this program. The program requires a screen and projector. Dan provides powerpoint and other materials.
Fossil Boot Camp Program
FCSnB has developed the fossil box program to tie in with Colorado curriculum standards. We hope to include field trips in the future. Younger students in Pueblo and Cañon City are treated to scaled down versions of Boot Camp
Dino Digger Tools
This is a powerpoint type presentation with some supportive hands on materials and is geared toward the 4th or 5th grade level utilizing document camera type equipment available in most Fremont County classrooms.
Bones & Beasts
This presentation geared for 4th graders will use modern skulls and bones to help us understand fossil bones. A wide range of modern skulls and bones will provide a basic understanding
Long Necks – Long Tails
This program is under the direction of Dr. Mildred Wintz and it is both fun and very lively. Dan Grenard, Mary Chamberlain, and Cindy Smith may assist with this presentation.
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