Enos Mills, then a 14-year-old boy, moved to Estes Park [Colorado] in 1884. He explored the mountains of the area and wrote many books and articles describing the region. He later supported the creation of Rocky Mountain National Park, and he split his time between the mountains he loved and the cities of the eastern United States, where he lobbied for the legislation to create the park. The legislation was drafted by James Grafton Rogers, a Denver lawyer and avid outdoorsman. Mills’ original proposal for park boundaries went from Wyoming all the way down to the Mount Evans area [west of Denver], including areas such as the Indian Peaks Wilderness. Much of the land was favored for mining, logging, and other operations, however, so the proposed park was reduced to an area approximating the current park borders. The bill passed Congress and was signed by President Woodrow Wilson on January 26, 1915.
Happy Birthday, Rocky!
Categories: Rocky Mtn Natl Park