Land's End Observatory facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Land's End Observatory
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Land's End Observatory, West side, July 2012
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 Location in Colorado
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Whitewater, Colorado |
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| Area | 3.7 acres (1.5 ha) |
| Architect | US Forest Service, et al; Anderson, Ivan |
| Architectural style | Late 19th And Early 20th Century American Movements, rustic |
| NRHP reference No. | 97000124 |
| Added to NRHP | February 28, 1997 |
The Land's End Observatory is a special building located on the edge of the Grand Mesa in Colorado. It's like a lookout point where you can see amazing views.
You can get to the observatory by driving on Land's End Road. This road is part of the Grand Mesa Scenic and Historic Byway. About half of Land's End Road is paved, and the other half is gravel. The observatory is about 10 miles west of Colorado State Highway 65. You can also reach it from U.S. Route 50 by taking the gravel part of Land's End Road that goes downhill from the observatory.
Contents
Building the Observatory
The Land's End Observatory was built a long time ago, between 1936 and 1937. It was a team effort by two important government groups: the United States Forest Service and the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Some help also came from two smaller groups of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).
What Were These Groups?
During the 1930s, America was going through a very tough time called the Great Depression. Many people didn't have jobs. The government created programs like the WPA and CCC to help. These programs gave people jobs building roads, parks, and buildings like the observatory.
Rustic Style Architecture
The observatory was built in a "rustic" style. This means it was designed to look natural and fit in with the landscape. Workers used basalt stones from the mesa itself to build the walls. They also hand-sawed wood shingles for the roof. This style made the building look like it grew right out of the earth. Even today, you can still see the original, handcrafted woodwork inside.
Amazing Views
Outside the observatory building, there's a large area where you can stand and look out. From here, you get a wide, amazing view of western Colorado and even parts of eastern Utah. It's a great spot to see how vast and beautiful the landscape is.
As of 2014, the observatory building itself is closed and boarded up. However, the viewing area outside is still open for visitors to enjoy the scenery.
The Story of Land's End Road
Land's End Road used to be known by another name: the Veterans' Road. This name tells an important story about how part of the road was built.
World War I Veterans at Work
After World War I, many veterans were unemployed during the Great Depression. To help them, President Roosevelt expanded the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) to include these veterans.
Between June 1933 and May 1934, about 200 veterans came to a camp at Land's End. They worked hard, clearing brush and building 9.2 miles of the road. They were paid one dollar a day for their work. These veterans were between 33 and 55 years old and were known for being very skilled in many different trades.
Building the Toughest Part
The veterans lived in army tents about eleven miles below the mesa rim while they worked. The hardest part of Land's End Road, from the Wild Road Picnic Area up to the rim, was finished over the next two summers. This part was completed by Civil Service machine operators and a few civilian workers hired by the United States Forest Service. The project engineer was proud to say that they built the entire road, including blasting, without anyone getting hurt.
For More Information
- National Register of Historic Places Registration Form
- National Register of Historic Places Photos
