Geology

Frederick J. H. Merrill is sorry to have missed paying his respects to Theodore Roosevelt in person, but he was held up by fieldwork. Merrill mentions that he sent Roosevelt a telegram recently, and explains that he is a candidate for State Mineralogist of California and would appreciate a good word in this regard. Since leaving Albany, Merrill has been doing consulting geology work in Mexico, Arizona, and California.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-27

An image of some of the igneous formations found in the Wheeler Geologic Area.

Collection

Rio Grande National Forest

Creation Date

Unknown

Creator(s)

Simmons, Virginia McConnell

A description of how to access Wheeler Geologic Area, as well as recommendations of how best to traverse it. The road leading there is “roundabout, rough, and slow,” and requires four wheel drive after a certain point.

Collection

Rio Grande National Forest

Creation Date

1981-05

Creator(s)

Creede Ranger District

A brief description of how the Wheeler Geologic Area was formed, how to get there, and how it came to be protected by the United States government.

Collection

Rio Grande National Forest

Creation Date

Unknown

The Creede-Mineral County Chamber of Commerce describes the Wheeler Geological Area as being “now at its prime in developing a truly singular panorama,” and describes how people can visit.  The area consists of volcanic tuft that has been eroded in a variety of striking ways, and was originally designated as a National Monument by Theodore Roosevelt, although it was later transferred to the National Forest System and returned to the Forest Service.

Collection

Rio Grande National Forest

Creation Date

Unknown

Thomas Curry describes how Wheeler Geologic Area formed through volcanic eruptions and erosion, which produced the striking formations seen today. The area was declared a national monument by Theodore Roosevelt, but later was made part of the Rio Grande National Forest and returned to the Forest Service. Curry encourages his readers to visit the site, but admits that the route to get there is rather difficult, as he describes.

Collection

Rio Grande National Forest

Creation Date

1997

Greg Baneck describes the history and geology of the Wheeler National Geologic Area, as well as how to access the site.

Collection

Rio Grande National Forest

Creation Date

Unknown

The Wheeler Geologic Area contains a variety of rock formations formed from volcanic tuff. The area was designated a National Monument by Theodore Roosevelt in 1908, and remained so until 1950 when it was abolished and returned to the Rio Grande National Forest. It was expanded and protected in the 1960s, and in 1993 it was designated as a wilderness area. Reaching the area is difficult, but can be done via a long, 4-wheel drive road.

Collection

Rio Grande National Forest

Creation Date

Unknown

Thomas O. Murphy previously wrote to Theodore Roosevelt, but Roosevelt was unable to respond due to the demands of being in office. Now that Roosevelt has left the presidency, Murphy sends another copy of his theories on geological matters, and hopes that he will now have more time to take it under his consideration. Murphy believes his theory “would create as wide a departure from received notions as did the Copernican system of astronomy from the Ptolemaic.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-28

Stanford University President Jordan offers Chief Forester Pinchot his assessment of the Pinnacles region. In his opinion the Pinnacles have no value other than scenic purposes. There are a variety of rare plants, and the formations are somewhat peculiar, but not many fossils. Were the area to fall into private hands, there would not be much that they would be able to do to it. Possible injuries resulting from such an outcome might be restricted access to the region, and the possible destruction of timber, flowers, and deer in the region.

Collection

Pinnacles National Park

Creation Date

1905-02-22

Chief of the United States Forest Service Gifford Pinchot writes to Stanford University President Jordan, to follow up on a letter that Jordan wrote to Congressman James Carson Needham. In the letter, Jordan sent a petition from citizens of San Benito County, California, asking that the Pinnacles area be set aside as a National Park. While Pinchot has received reports that this area should be preserved, “its picturesque qualities alone would not warrant the Government in spending money to protect and administer it.” If it is of scientific interest, however, the government would be more justified in doing this, and Pinchot therefore asks Jordan to judge the area’s value to geological science.

Collection

Pinnacles National Park

Creation Date

1905-02-09

This draft of the Environmental Statement for the proposed Theodore Roosevelt National Memorial Park includes four parts: a summary and description of the proposal for Congress to designate 28,335 acres as wilderness, a description of the environment including geology and plant and animal life, an outline of environmental impact, and an outline of mitigating measures.

Collection

Denver Public Library

Creation Date

1972-09-10

This master plan summary for Theodore Roosevelt National Park outlines the National Park Service’s plans for the Park. It outlines the historical, geological, and natural significance of the Park as the former site of Theodore Roosevelt’s Elkhorn Ranch and the home to wildlife and unique geology. The proposed changes to the Park include a boundary change in the North Unit, the acquisition of the remaining privately-owned lands, provisions for additional facilities for employees and visitors, and accessibility improvements and updates.

Collection

Denver Public Library

Creation Date

1970

Photograph of a petrified tree stump in the badlands north of the Civilian Conservation Corps camp in the North Unit (SP-7) of the Roosevelt Recreation Demonstration Area. The photograph is part of a three binder set of pictures taken by Chandler D. Fairbank, a North Unit (SP-7) Civilian Conservation Corps foreman, in 1936 and 1937.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

1936-1937

Photograph of (left to right) superintendent Robert Horton, foreman Hugh “Bill” Hempel, foreman Art Aizile, and foreman Bill Ende standing on a butte in the northern unit of the Roosevelt Recreational Demonstration Area (SP-7) in western North Dakota. Picture is part of a photograph collection in a binder kept by Chandler D. Fairbank, a foreman at the northern unit of the Roosevelt Recreational Demonstration Area in western North Dakota.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

1936-1937

Photograph of a juniper tree on top of a clay hill with a caprock on the east side of the park entrance of the northern unit in the Roosevelt Recreational Demonstration Area in western North Dakota. Picture is part of a photograph collection in a binder kept by Chandler D. Fairbank, a foreman at the northern unit of the Roosevelt Recreational Demonstration Area in western North Dakota.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

1937

Photograph of petrified tree stumps north of the Civilian Conservation Corps. camp in the northern unit of the Roosevelt Recreational Demonstration Area in western North Dakota. Picture is part of a photograph collection in a binder kept by Chandler D. Fairbank, a foreman at the northern unit of the Roosevelt Recreational Demonstration Area in western North Dakota.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

1937