At least a thousand years ago many Indians passed through the park
region. Evidences of their presence are few but conclusive. Arrow
points, hand hammers, and even crude pottery fragments have been
collected, and some are on display in the Moraine Park Visitor Center.
In the past 200 years or so, the park was the haunt of the Utes (whose
main territory was west of the Continental Divide) and, latterly, of the
Arapahoes who ranged the plains east of the park. Many old Indian trails
have been logged in the park; Trail Ridge was named for its Indian
trail.
After the United States acquired the region through the Louisiana
Purchase, a number of explorers and adventurers passed near the park in
their travels: Stephen Long in 1820, William Ashley in 1825, Richard
Dodge in 1835, Eliza Farnham in 1839, Frederick Wislizenus in 1839,
Rufus Sage in 1840, John C. Fremont in 1843 and 1844, Francis Parkman in
1846, and Frederick Ruxton in 1847. From his narrative, there is reason
to think that Sage might have been in Wild Basin; if so, this would mean
that he was the first explorer to set foot in what is now Rocky Mountain
National Park.
[Illustration: Both Ute and Arapaho Indians hunted in these
mountains.]
On October 15, 1859, Joel Estes and his son topped Park Hill and saw
what is now Estes Park. The next year, Estes settled his family in the
grassy meadow--a "park" in Colorado terminology. It soon became known as
Estes Park, a name in use to this day. By 1867, the Estes family claim
was acquired by Griff Evans, who later transferred his rights to a
British nobleman, the Earl of Dunraven.
Dunraven's influence on the region was, perhaps, more beneficial than
his antagonists would have admitted. Many enterprises that would have
seriously marred the matchless landscape were kept out of his feudal
regime, saving (although quite accidentally) many beauty spots for later
generations. He also did much to publicize the region; one of his guests
was the artist Albert Bierstadt.
During the 1880's a mining boom occurred in what is now the west side of
the park, leading to the establishment of Lulu City, Dutchtown, and
Teller. Grand Lake had already been discovered, and a small but rather
exciting community grew up on its shore, serving the needs of the new
mining camps. You can see the crumbling cabins of Lulu City by taking a
3-mile hike up the Colorado River valley.
By 1910, many people began thinking of a National Park here, as that new
invention, the automobile, was finally proving practicable as a means of
travel. Although there were many supporters of the National Park idea
throughout the land, one man--Enos Mills, naturalist, philosopher,
writer--is credited with carrying the idea to a tangible result. He was
rewarded for his years of hard work and innumerable frustrations when he
participated in the dedication ceremonies for Rocky Mountain National
Park on September 4, 1915.
[Illustration: Tassel-eared squirrel.]