Wayne N. Aspinall Federal Building - Grand Junction, CO - People-Named Places on Waymarking.com

I originally came to this location to complete a Picture Perfect Postcard Waymark which became an adventure in architecture. I was trying to decide which corner of the building was featured in the postcard. So I counted windows. Hmmm... too many windows. I discovered that and extension was added by the WPA in 1939-1940. You can see the 'zig-zag zipper' of stone in the middle of the building. Notice how the entrance was moved east from the photo on the postcard to the current structure.

WAYNE N. ASPINALL FEDERAL BUILDING AND U.S. COURTHOUSE--

"The three-story Italian Renaissance Revival style building was constructed as a post office in 1918. James A. Wetmore served as the supervisory architect. The walls are of Indiana limestone, and the tall first floor windows are set in rounded arches. A 1940 addition, funded by the WPA, extends from the rear of the building. In 1972, Congress renamed the building in honor of Wayne N. Aspinall (visit link) who had a distinguished career as a U.S. Representative from Colorado from 1949 to 1973." (from (visit link) )

"The United States Post Office and Courthouse in Grand Junction was renamed the Wayne N. Aspinall Federal Building in 1972." (from (visit link) )

This building is undergoing a renovation to make it a zero-energy use Federal Building. More information may be found at (visit link) .

U. S. REPRESENTATIVE WAYNE N. ASPINALL--

"Wayne Norviel Aspinall (April 3, 1896 – October 9, 1983) was a lawyer and politician from Colorado. He is largely known for his tenure in the United States House of Representatives, serving as a Democrat from 1949-1973 from Colorado’s Fourth District. Aspinall became known for his direction of the House Interior and Insular Affairs Committee, of which he was the chairman from 1959-1973. Aspinall focused the majority of his efforts on western land and water issues.

His actions supporting resource development often drew the ire of the increasingly powerful environmental lobby in the 1960s. David Brower, a prominent executive director of the Sierra Club, said that the environmental movement had seen “dream after dream dashed on the stony continents of Wayne Aspinall.” The congressman returned the animosity, calling environmentalists “over-indulged zealots” and “aristocrats” to whom “balance means nothing.” This battle shaped Aspinall’s congressional career." (from (visit link) )


As with the ebb and flow of history, while Aspinall was a Democrat, he was a very conservative, pre-1965 Democrat. His views on the environment, economics and social issues would today put him comfortably in a conservative party such as the Republican or Libertarian. I do remember Aspinall's tenure and the great ire that arose from his view of environmental (or lack of!) protection and water issues--so crucial in the arid west.

Year it was dedicated: 1972 Location of Coordinates: Front steps Type of place/structure you are waymarking: Building Related Web address (if available): Not listed

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