Montrose. Independence Day 2019 trip, part 5.

We enjoyed the sunset (click here to see - Sunset on the Black Canyon of Gunnison. Independence Day 2019 trip, part 4) and drove to Montrose, where we spent the night. And in the morning, we woke up, had breakfast and... just walked down the streets of Montrose ;)

 

Montrose is a fairly large town, with over 19,000 people calling it home in 2010. It was incorporated on May 2, 1882 and named after Sir Walter Scott's novel A Legend of Montrose. But before this name settled it was known by the names Pomona, Dad’s Town, Uncompahgre Town, and several others.

 

The Denver & Rio Grande railroad was built west toward Grand Junction and reached Montrose later in 1882, and the town became an important regional shipping center. A branch railroad line served the mineral-rich San Juan Mountains to the south. In 1909 the U.S. government completed construction of the Gunnison Tunnel, which provided irrigation water from the Gunnison River in the Black Canyon to the Uncompahgre Valley, helping turn Montrose into an agricultural hub. The Uncompahgre Project is one of the oldest of those in the area by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

Tourist and recreation opportunities are important to the regional economy. Montrose is a gateway to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park to the east of town. In the winter, it is a transportation hub for ski areas of the San Juan Mountains to the south. Montrose is known as a manufacturing hub for outdoor products, with fly-fishing companies Ross Reels and Scott Fly Rods both located in Montrose since 1983 and 1993, respectively. In addition, Gordon Composites, maker of nearly 90 percent of the high-performance laminate material used in the bow-hunting industry, is located in Montrose. Colorado Yurt Company, maker of handcrafted yurts, tipis and rugged canvas wall tents, is also located in Montrose.

It is always a pleasure to walk the streets when the town is still sleeping. We were able to enjoy the small and large sculptures that can be found on all four corners of every intersection in the downtown.

 

We found some beautiful murals and many old buildings that give you the feeling of walking in the past. But in the end, we jumped in the car and drove on... for new adventures that we are always longing for ;)

Click here to continue and see Black Canyon - the most beautiful canyon... part 6

Pictures were taken on July 05, 2019.