Throwback Thursday

Independence Monument in western Colorado received its name from John Otto, the first white man to explore the canyon. After pounding iron pipes and carving out footsteps into solid rock for several weeks, Otto became the first person to stand atop the monolith on June 8, 1911. On the Fourth of July of that same year, Otto placed the American flag at the top of Independence Monument, thus starting a tradition that continues to this day.

After Colorado National Monument was established, Otto was hired as the first park ranger. For the next 16 years he continued building and maintaining trails while living in a tent in the park. Eventually Otto would try to settle down. On June 20, 1911, at the base of Independence Monument, he married an artist by the name of Beatrice Farnham. Only a few weeks after the wedding, however, she left him and never returned. It’s not entirely clear as to whether Independence Monument received its name as a result of Otto placing a flag atop of it on the Fourth of July, or because his bride left him there….

Here’s some additional info on hiking to the base of the monument.




Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies