Asa Gray, John Evans, Zebulon Pike and Stephen Long - Denver, CO
Posted by: 
Outspoken1
N 39° 43.150 W 104° 56.082
13S E 505596 N 4396590
Four carved stones honoring John Evans, Asa Gray, Zebulon Pike and Stephen Long
Waymark Code: WM9H3Z
Location: Colorado, United States
Date Posted: 08/21/2010
Views: 2
These engraved stone are adjacent to the Mountain View Panorama in Cranmer Park. The engravings explain the naming of some of Colorado's peaks and the history of the state. The stones read as follows:
Grays Peak
14341' [4371 m]
Asa Gray (1810-1888) for whom Gray's Peak is named, was America's greatest botanist of his time. From 1842 to 1873, he held the Fisher Professorate of Natural History at Harvard University and developed the herbarium and garden into the largest and lost valuable of the country. His prolific pen produced ten major scientific works and a hundred or more monographs. His "Manuel of Botany for the Northern United States," first published in 1848 still withstands the test of passing years. Our Colorado Peak was named for him in 1861 by C.C> Parry, a pupil of Professor Torrey's and a friend of both elder botanists. Professor and Mrs. Gray visited Georgetown in August 1872, and with a party of friends, climbed the peak where ceremonies were held.
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Mt. Evans
14259' [4346 m]
Named in 1869 in honor of John Evans (1814-1897), appointed Territorial Governor of Colorado by Abraham Lincoln in 1862. The naming of the mountain was confirmed by Act of Colorado Legislature in 1895.
Evans was thus honored by the people and by the State of Colorado in recognition of his distinguished accomplishments as physician, editor, educator, builder of railroads, statesman and philanthropist.
Evans founded two great universities - Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois and Denver University in Denver, Colo and among other notable achievements built the first and later other railroads in Colorado.
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Pikes Peak
14110' [4300 m]
Colorado Springs lies at the mountain's base. Named for Zebulon Montgomery Pike (1779-1813), explorer and soldier. Born in Trenton, New Jersey, Pike entered the United States Army when 15 years old in 1805 as a First Lieutenant. With 20 men, he explored the headwaters of the Mississippi in 1806. Now a Captain with 22 men, starting from St. Louis undeterred by threatening Pawnees, he explored part of the recent Louisiana Purchase, then unknown to Americans, and scouted by a hostile force of 600 Spanish cavalry in November, Pike, with three men, left the present site of Pueblo to climb the peak. Three days later at the summit of Miller Mountain (to the left of Pikes Peak) clad in light overalls with no stockings, blankets or provisions, waist-deep in snow, they gave up. The full party proceeded through South Park to the Arkansas into the Royal Gorge, across the Sangre de Cristo, to the San Luis Valley, there, unwittingly deep in Spanish territory, they surrendered to the Spaniards. Escorted to Santa Fe and Chihuahua, and across Texas, they returned to the United States during the War of 1812. A Brigadier General at 34, Pike was killed while capturing York, now Toronto, Canada.
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Longs Peak
14255 [4344 m]
STEPHEN HARRIMAN LONG
EXPLORER - ENGINEER
Born December 30, 1784 at Hoplinton, N.H.
Died September 4, 1864 at Alton, Illinois
Graduate of Dartmouth College - Class of 1809
Ass't Prof of Mathematics - West Point 1814 1816
Chief of Topographical Dept Washington, D.C.
Led exploratory expedition from Pittsburg to
Rocky Mountains 1819 -- 1820 during which he
discovered the peak named after him.
Brevet-Major General, United States Army
"Vox Clamantis in deserto"
[the voice of one crying out/crying in the wilderness]
Group or Groups Responsible for Placement:
City and County of Denver
County or City: Denver
Date Dedicated: 1930s
Check here for Web link(s) for additional information: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
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