September 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 for ranger programs being offered right now.

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.
• Grand Lake Geo-cache Adventure: Come experience this FREE Family Fun GPS treasure hunt using the Grand Lake Geocaching Challenge Passport that is available at the Grand Lake Visitors Center. Caches are located throughout the Grand Lake area and highlight many of the historical sights and attractions which have existed during the past 100 years of the park. Complete the Challenge and receive a Commemorative Coin (Wooden Nickel). Additionally, more than 35 Earth and Virtual Caches located in Rocky Mountain National Park are listed in the Passport.

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.

 

	September 2014 Events
September 1 - November 30, 2014	One Book, One Valley Location: Estes Valley Library, Estes Park, CO The Estes Valley Library hosts this annual event to celebrate reading and civic dialogue through the shared community experience of a single book - the Big Burn by Timothy Egan. The year's event is designed to tie-in with Rocky's 100th Anniversary. The Big Burn builds its narrative around the dramatic events of a ferocious wildfire battering through the forests in Washington, Idaho, and Montana in August of 1910. This book's larger story encompasses the backdrop of the burgeoning American conservation movement. As you read this book, reflect on its story of conservation and how it relates to subsequent events in the creation of Rocky Mountain National Park. What was the mood of the nation in the 1910s? How was someone like Enos Mills different from Gifford Pinchot - and how was he similar? Would RMNP have come about without these earlier events? From September 1 through November 30, the Library will host discussions, lectures, storytelling, films, and more - all inspired by the Big Burn and its connection to the 100th anniversary of RMNP. Please visit www.estesvalleylibrary.org for details. For Kids and Adults: Design a Postcard to Celebrate Rocky Mountain National Park's 100th Birthday: This is your opportunity to create a colorful postcard to promote Rocky Mountain National Park. Take the postcard pattern on a hike and draw a scene: mountains, meadows, wildflowers, and more. Or maybe add your favorite animal. Once designed, write at least three sentences describing your picture. Then bring it to the Estes Valley Library to share in the community display. Entries due by Wednesday, October 1. For Kids and Teens: Rocky Mountain National Park Photo Contest: For young people ages 5-18. Photos submitted must have been taken in Rocky Mountain National Park. Up to two submissions per person. Winners to be chosen in 4 different age categories. Stop by the Estes Valley Library for full guidelines and details. Entries due by Wednesday, October 1.
September 3, 2014	Kick-off Ceremony Time: 1 pm - 3 pm Location: Hidden Valley, RMNP Details: Join us in the park as we kick off our Centennial Celebration with special speakers and family activities! Buses will run from the Fairgrounds Park and Ride (1209 Manford Ave.) to Hidden Valley from noon until 5pm. Kick-off ceremony will begin at 2 pm. Please plan to catch the bus as close to noon as possible to ensure timely arrival at the event. All attendees must ride the shuttle to attend this free event.
September 3, 2014	Wonder of the Wild Time: 4pm-8pm Location: Images of RMNP Gallery, 203 Park Lane, Estes Park, CO Details: Take a night-time hike in the park simply by walking into the Images of RMNP Gallery! The interior of the gallery will be transformed into a small forest under a night sky and will showcase the diversity and beauty of Rocky Mountain National Park. In conjunction with this event, Erik Stensland will officially launch his new hardcover book, "Wild Light: A Celebration of Rocky Mountain National Park", and will be on hand to sign books. There will also be plein air painters at work, live music, and great food! For more information, call Images of RMNP Gallery at 970-586-4352.
September 4 - 7, 2014	Longs Peak Scottish-Irish Highland Festival Time and Location: Estes Park, CO Details: Many of the early 1900s settlers and promoters of Rocky Mountain National Park were of Scottish and Irish descent. Come celebrate the Centennial at this popular festival! Visit www.scotfest.com for details.
September 4, 2014	Kick-off Ice Cream Social Time: 1 - 3 pm Location: Holzwarth Historic Site, RMNP Details: Come celebrate the kick-off of the park Centennial with ice cream and trip back in time at the Holzwarth Historic Site! Special speakers, family activities and free ice-cream while it lasts will be provided. Buses will run from the Grand Lake Town Hall parking lot and Kawuneeche Visitor Center to the Holzwarth Historic Site from noon until 5pm. Kick-off ceremony will begin at 2pm. Please plan to catch the bus as close to noon as possible to ensure timely arrival at the event. All attendees must ride the shuttle to attend this free event.
September 4, 2014	Wonder of the Wild Time: 1 - 5 pm Location: Grand Lake Art Gallery, 1117 Grand Ave, Grand Lake, CO Details: Join photographer Erik Stensland for the launch his new hardcover book, "Wild Light: A Celebration of Rocky Mountain National Park". Erik will be on hand to sign books. This beautiful book is full of images of remote and beautiful places in the park. Artists will also be painting on site.
September 5, 2014	Rocky Mountain Conservancy Centennial Celebration Seminar: Hike the Ute Trail with a Naturalist Details- call the Conservancy at [phone].
September 6, 2014	A Celebration of Rocky Mountain National Park Time: 7pm Location: Kawuneeche Visitor Center Auditorium Details: As we celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Rocky Mountain National Park, photographer Erik Strensland takes us on a journey through this amazing national treasure. He'll also be available to sign copies of his new book that has been nearly 10 years in the making.
September 6-7, 2014	Oil Painters of America Annual Great Paint Out Time: 8:30am - 5:30pm Location: Trail River Ranch, RMNP Details: Professionals and novices alike are encouraged to join the Oil Painters of America for a plein air painting session at this historic location to capture the wilderness, wildlife, and wonder of Rocky Mountain National Park during this celebratory time. Limited to 30 people. Please contact Laura Kratz (816-352-8696, [e-mail]) to participate.
September 7, 2014	Music, Munchies, and Maybe a Moose Time: 3-5pm Location: Trail River Ranch, RMNP Details: An afternoon of classical favorites and "A Little Moose Music" in celebration of the 100th Anniversary of RMNP. $50 entry fee. Limited to 50 people. Please contact Suzan Mitchell (303-478-0671, [e-mail]) to participate.
September 8, 2014	Rocky Mountain Conservancy Centennial Celebration Seminar: The First 100 Years Details - call the Conservancy at [phone].
September 13, 2014	Rocky Mountain Conservancy Centennial Celebration Seminar: Bighorn Sheep Ecology and Management Details - call the Conservancy at [phone].
September 15, 2014	The Women of Wind Research in RMNP Time: 7 pm Location: Beaver Meadows Visitor Center Auditorium, RMNP Details: Dave Glidden is a Field Specialist in Wind and Mountain Climatology, and has conducted studies for the NPS in RMNP where winds regularly gust to well over 100 mph on Trail Ridge Road in the winter. A strong advocate of women in the sciences, he has been fortunate to have many share in the excitement and rewards of field work. Come hear his story of working with the 4 Women of Wind Research that changed the way we look at wind and climate in Rocky Mountain National Park.
September 17- 28, 2014	Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters Paint Out & Show Location: Fall River Visitor Center, RMNP Details: The Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters will be out painting all over the park September 17-24. Stop by and watch or ask them questions about their painting. Then stop by the Fall River Visitor Center the night of September 25 - 28 to view and/or purchase your favorite paintings you saw in the field. The Gala Opening of the show will be Thursday night, September 25.
September 20, 2014	Rocky Mountain Conservancy Centennial Celebration Seminar: Photographing the Wildlife and Wonder of Autumn with John Fielder Details - call the Conservancy at [phone] or click here.
September 20, 2014	Constitution Week Concert featuring Peggy Mann Time: 3:00pm Location: Grand Escape Cottages, 1204 Grand Ave., Grand Lake, CO Details: Come join local artist Peggy Man for her beautiful renditions of songs written about Rocky Mountain National Park including Never Summer, Forever Home by Steve Cormey and her own original tribute to the park - Rocky Mountain National Park Song.
September 21 - 30, 2014	Paint Something Grand! Location: Grand Lake, CO Details: An event for artists and art afficianados! During this week, art workshops and plein air painters working with the theme "Wilderness, Wildlife, Wonder" will paint in and around Grand Lake. For information on how to participate in painting workshops, please contact Donna Lyons - 970-531-0299.
September 25, 2014	Design a Postcard for Rocky Time: 3-5pm Location: Estes Valley Library, Estes Park, CO Details: Stop in for a blank card or drop in for the session time above - decorate a scene or draw your favorite animal to celebrate Rocky's birthday. Postcards will be on display during the One Book One Valley season.
September 25, 2014	Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters Show and Opening Reception Time: Show begins at noon, Opening Reception 6-8pm Location: Fall River Visitor Center, RMNP Details: Come view and purchase artwork from the park painted earlier in the week out in the park! 40% of the proceeds from the sale benefit the Rocky Mountain Conservancy and the education and interpretive programs in RMNP. A ranger talk about the link between the arts and our national parks will be given at 10:30am, followed by a demonstration by one of the plein air painters at 11am. For more information, cut as paste the following webaddress into your browser: http://rmpap.org/events/national-show-info/rmnp-centennial-celebration/
September 26-28, 2014	Rocky Mountain Plein Air Art Show and Sale Time:9-5 pm Friday and Saturday, 9-3pm Sunday Location: Fall River Visitor Center, RMNP Details: Come view and purchase artwork from the park painted earlier in the week out in the park! 40% of the proceeds from the sale benefit the Rocky Mountain Conservancy and the education and interpretive programs in RMNP. On September 26 and 28, ranger talks about the link between the arts and our national parks will be given at Fall River Visitor Center at 10:30 followed by an art demonstration by one of the plein air painters at 11am. For more information, cut as paste the following webaddress into your browser: http://rmpap.org/events/national-show-info/rmnp-centennial-celebration/
September 26, 2014	Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters Group Paint Out Time:9am - 12pm Location: The Historic Stanley Hotel Details: Come enjoy watching participants work as the paint on the grounds of the beautiful Stanley Hotel. Get a glimpse of the plein air painting process, and interact with the artists as they work. For more information, cut as paste the following webaddress into your browser: http://rmpap.org/events/national-show-info/rmnp-centennial-celebration/
September 26, 2014	Centennial Speaker Series: Mary Taylor Young Time: 7pm Location: Kawuneeche Visitor Center, RMNP (West Side) Details: A century has passed since Rocky Mountain National Park was established in 1915. But the story of any park with "Rocky Mountain" is its name begins not just a hundred years but a billion years ago. Award winning writer, Mary Taylor Young, tells the story of her new book, "Rocky Mountain National Park: The First 100 Years."
September 26-27, 2014	Trappers' Wild Game Culinary Affair Time:Friday, September 26: 6 - 9pm ($15), Saturday, September 27: 1-7pm ($22) Location: Grand Lake Town Square: Community House and Heckert Pavilion Details: The culinary event of the year! This tantalizing affair will introduce a variety of foods consumed over the past 100 years, including appetizing samples of indigenous plants and herbs, birds, fish, and animals found commonly in the surrounding Rocky Mountain area and prepared using a variety of historic and modern cooking techniques! Includes educational talks by culinary and forestry subject matter experts and additional activies such as a Ute tribal blessing ceremony and food and beverage based events representative of the past 100 years. Tickets are $15 for Friday and $22 for Saturday. For more information click here.
September 26, 2014	Climb On! - Exhibit Opening: Centennial Exhibit and Legendary Climbers Time: 6pm- 8pm Location: Estes Park Museum, 200 Fourth Street, Estes Park, CO Details: Free admission. The Estes Park Museum and Estes Valley Library joined forces to help record oral histories of the adventurous climbers who made first ascents in Rocky. This is one part of the centennial exhibit on display through June 30, 2015. Visit www.estes.org/museum for more details.
September 27, 2014	Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters Quick Draw and Sale Time: 9am - 12pm Location: Moraine Park Discovery Center Details: The Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters will be painting what they see from the Moraine Park Discovery Center. Come watch the art appear from a blank canvas and take home a hand-painted reminder of your experience during the Centennial! Quick draw paintings will be offered for sale from 11am - 12pm. For more information, cut as paste the following webaddress into your browser: http://rmpap.org/events/national-show-info/rmnp-centennial-celebration/
September 27, 2014	Centennial Speaker Series: Mary Taylor Young Time: 7 pm Location: Beaver Meadows Visitor Center Auditorium, RMNP (East Side) Details: A century has passed since Rocky Mountain National Park was established in 1915. But the story of any park with "Rocky Mountain" in its name begins not just a hundred years but a billion years ago. Award winning writer, Mary Taylor Young, tells the story of her new book, "Rocky Mountain National Park: The First 100 Years."