Explorers

A man stands on a rock by the Gunnison River near Sapinero and the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Colorado. c. 1880-1886

Denver Public Library Special Collections, WHJ-1661

By the mid-1800s, exploration of the American West had captured the nation's attention. Early expeditions passed from Gunnison to Black Canyon in search of railroad passageways. Later on, the focus became a way to use the Gunnison River for irrigation in the Uncompahgre Valley. Eventually, visitors came to both the river valley and canyon for the recreation opportunities they offered.

Although all of these expeditions began within present-day Curecanti, some were focused on sections of the canyon within the national park.