March Centennial Events

Year-round Activities

RMNP Centennial Ranger Programs
Starting in Summer 2014, these FREE talks, walks, and evening programs with a ranger are offered throughout the year. Please consult our park newspaper when you arrive for ranger programs being offered during your visit.

Celebrate our Centennial with the Colorado Mountain Club (Starting September 2014)
The Colorado Mountain Club was instrumental in the formation of Rocky Mountain National Park 100 years ago. Original members participated in a 1914 pack trip organized to give Arapaho names to area peaks and features in an effort to help persuade Congree to establish Rocky Mountain National Park. James Grafton Rodgers, who began lobbying for designation as a national park in 1907, became the first president of the Colorado Mountain Club in 1912. Cut and paste this web address into your browser for details: http://www.cmc.org/About/YearoftheMountaineer/RMNPCentennial.aspx

• Climbs, Hikes, and Snowshoes of 100 of the 125 Named Peaks in the Park
• 100 Mile Hike Combo
• Wildflower Hikes led by Colorado Native Plant Masters

YMCA of the Rockies Centennial Hikes (Starting September 2014)
TheYMCA of the Rockies has been leading educational excursions into Rocky Mountain National Park since the park's creation in 1915. Come enjoy the beauty and backcountry of the park with one of their talented hike-leaders. Fees: Free for YMCA guests, $20 day pass required for non-YMCA guests. Cut and paste this web address into your browser for details: http://www.y-hikes.com/index.html.

Climb On! - an exhibit (September 26, 2014 - October 4, 2015)
Join us at the Estes Park Museum (200 Fourth Street, Estes Park) and experience the vertical side of Estes Park, home to some of the nation's most spectacular rock climbing. Granite boulders, sub-alpine crags, and high mountain walls make the Estes valley and surrounding high peaks a world class training ground for elite and amateur climbers alike. Learn about ascending rocky terrain and how individuals pioneered local routes that pushed the limits of gravity. 10am - 5pm daily. Free admission.

Grand Lake Chamber and Visitor Center 100th Anniversary Activities (Starting September 2014)
Starting in September 2014 and continuing through September 2015, the Grand Lake Chamber and Visitor Center will be offering activities for all ages.

• 100th Anniversary Children's Coloring Map (with Crayon Pack): Young visitors will enjoy this way to explore the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park and learn unique details of the park's history.
• Grand Lake "Then and Now" Walking Tour: This self-guided walking tour starts at the Grand Lake Chamber and Visitor Center and highlights many of the locations that RMNP visitors have enjoyed throughout the years. Visitors will find, in store fronts, photographic examples of Grand Lake's tourist destinations - then and now.

Across the Divide Geo-Tour, a Centennial GeoAdventure
Looking for a new, fun way to spend the day in Estes Park, Grand Lake, and Rocky Mountain National Park? Starting March 1, come experience this FREE Family Fun GPS treasure hunt! 50 Geocaches (EarthCaches, virtual caches, and traditional caches) in Estes Park, Grand Lake, and RMNP relating to the Wilderness, Wildlife, Wonder and RMNP's Centennial history take you from town to town and across the Continental Divide (when Trail Ridge Road is open). Whether you are new to geo-caching or are a geo-caching expert, this tour is a fun and challenging adventure for the whole family. Find 10, 35, or 50 geocaches and earn different souvenir commemorative coins. Find out more at the Grand Lake or Estes Park Visitor Centers, the Across the Divide GeoTour Facebook page, or cut and past the following website into your browser: www.geocaching.com/play/geotours/across-the-divide.

Centennial and RMNP Information at The Old Gallery (starting September 2014)
Visitors traveling into the RMNP area of the Peak to Peak Highway (Rt. 7) can stop at The Old Gallery (14862 Peak to Peak Highway, Allenspark, CO) for park information and promotional materials.

 

	March 2015 Centennial Events
January 24 - March 29, 2015	History as Art: In Three Parts Part Three: Rocky Mountain National Park Location: Loveland Museum, Loveland, CO Details: Interpreting historical objects through the use of art can promote engagement with creative and critical thinking. Using objects from the Rocky Mountain National Park museum collection, artists will interpret the objects through their artwork and the park's rich 100 year past.
January 24 - May 2, 2015	Harold Dunning's World View Location: Loveland Museum, Loveland, CO Details: Harold Dunning was a collector and the founder of the Loveland History Museum, which is now the Loveland Museum/Gallery. Dunning was also an avid outdoorsman who climbed Longs Peak over 100 times! Recently, Dunning's family donated many of his personal items and photos, several of them reflecting the time he spent in Rocky Mountain National Park. This exhibit will also feature accompanying programs about Dunning and also about climbing and hiking in the park.
March 4-5, 2015	Continental Divide Research Learning Center Research Conference Time: 8am - 5pm Location: Estes Park Municipal Building, 170 MacGregor Ave., Estes Park, CO Details: This fascinating conference celebrates 100 years of research at Rocky Mountain National Park! Over 50 researchers, partners, park staff, and students will be presenting 20 minute seminars on a variety of topics including visitor use management, the history of fisheries in the park, new diatom species, Rocky Mountain geology, and forest recovery from bark beetles. There will also be poster presentations and discussions on emerging issues. These sessions provide a forum for researchers and park staff to share their discoveries and engage in dialogue about past, present, and future issues relevant to park management. If you are interested in the science behind the scenery in Rocky Mountain National Park, then this event is for you. Click here for more details. Seating may be limited for this event.
March 5, 2015	One Park, Many Perspectives: An Exploration of Rocky Mountain National Park at its Centenary Time: Reception at 4:00pm. Event 4:30pm-6:30pm Location: Norlin Library, University of Colorado Boulder Details: Researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder in the fields of history, geological sciences, environmental studies, and linguistics, as well as representatives from the Libraries will speak as panelists about how their research relates to the history, environment, and ecology of RMNP, while also highlighting related library collections and services. Audience members will have the opportunity to ask questions of the researchers at the end of the session. Knowledge gained from a wide range of topics will inspire attendees to explore Rocky with a great appreciation of its historical, environmental, and cultural importance.Participating panelists include: Dr. Thomas Andrews, Associate Professor in the Dept. of History;Dr. Andrew Cowell, a Professor in the Dept. of Linguistics;Dr. Phoebe Young, an Associate Professor in the Dept. of History;and Dr. Jim White, a Fellow and Director of the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR), as well as a Professor in the Department of Geological Sciences. Dr. Sharon Collinge, a Professor and Director of the Environmental Studies Program, will moderate.
March 7, 2015	Centennial Saturday Night: an Evening of Wilderness, Wildlife, and Wonder Bob Flame: Rocky Mountain Ranger Time: 7pm Location: Beaver Meadows Visitor Center Auditorium Details: In the early 1930s, RMNP's first Ranger Naturalist was also an author. Many of his true adventures were creatively captured through a mythical character in his book, "Bob Flame - Rocky Mountain Ranger". Come relive these tales of adventure in a lively presentation by his daughter and, who knows, maybe Bob Flame himself will make an appearance.
March 6-8, 2015	4th Annual Grand Lake Catch and Release Ice Fishing Contest Time: 7am - 1pm Location: Grand Lake, CO Details: Come try your hand at ice fishing and learn about the fisheries of Rocky Mountain National Park by participating in this fun contest! To celebrate the Centennial, there will be a $100 prize for the 100th fish caught in addition to prizes in Divisions for Lake Trout, Rainbow Trout, and Brown Trout. The Welcome Party when you get your bib and Signal Flag is Friday night. Win door prizes and brag to your friends at the Fisherman's Feast on Saturday night. Prizes and Trophies are handed out on Sunday. Bring the kids along to help build Centennial wildlife snow sculptures on the ice. Fun for the whole family! Please visit www.grandlakeicefishingcontest.com for more information.
March 14, 2015	Centennial Saturday Night: an Evening of Wilderness, Wildlife, and Wonder The Call of the Coyote Time: 7pm Location: Beaver Meadows Visitor Center Auditorium Details: Join a ranger for a fun 45 minute program that highlights wilderness, wildlife, and wonder found in the park year round! This weeks program features a discussion of one of North America's most divisive wild animals, the coyote, and how living with wildlife will change in the next 100 years.
March 21, 2015	Centennial Saturday Night: an Evening of Wilderness, Wildlife, and Wonder Time: 7pm Location: Beaver Meadows Visitor Center Auditorium Details: Join a ranger for a fun 45 minute program that highlights wilderness, wildlife, and wonder found in the park year round!
March 21 - September 4, 2015	RMNP Centennial Exhibit Location: History Colorado, Denver, CO Details: This exhibit explores the many ways that people have connected with the landscape of Rocky Mountain National Park over time. Come see how your experiences fit into history of people in the park!
March 24, 2015	Centennial Speaker Series: John Fielder Time: 7-8:30pm Location: Denver Museum of Nature and Science (2001 Colorado Blvd. Denver CO 80205) Details: Limited Tickets available - $15 John Fielder camped 50 nights in the park during the summers of 19931994. With a special park permit he photographed almost every alpine lake at sunset and sunrise. Effectively, he hiked on trail and off the entire 400 square miles of the park. John will share these and other photographs of the park, backed by beautiful music, and tell stories funny, sad, dramatic of his life exploring Rocky Mountain National Park. To buy tickets click here.
March 28, 2015	Centennial Saturday Night: an Evening of Wilderness, Wildlife, and Wonder Keepers of This Treasure: Inspirational Ranger Stories Time: 7pm Location: Beaver Meadows Visitor Center Auditorium Details: Join a ranger for a fun 45 minute program that highlights wilderness, wildlife, and wonder found in the park year round! This week's program features inspirations stories from the rangers that have spent their lives protecting Rocky Mountain National Park and its visitors.
March 30, 2015	Pioneers of the Peaks: Local Climbers Who Made History Training in Rocky Mountain National Park with Harry Kent Time: 7pm Location: Estes Park Museum, 200 Fourth Street, Estes Park, CO Details: For several decades, a small group of men and women made history exploring and ascending the summits surrounding the Estes Valley. This hardy group paved the way for others to pursue the challenges of our alluring landscapes. In 2013 and 2014, the Estes Park Museum and the Estes Valley Library gathered their inspiring stories. This January through June, a monthly series will feature special guests from among the 18 local climbers and mountaineers who were interviewed for the Climbers' Oral History Project. These monthly talks will be held at the Estes Park Museum in conjunction with the museum's "Climb On!" exhibition celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Rocky Mountain National Park.