Wagon Wheel Gap Route

and the

Denver & Rio Grande Railway

The Rio Grande Museum

Documenting the history of the Denver & Rio Grande Railway, the Rio Grande Southern Railroad

and the People of the Southern Rocky Mountains during it's historic era.

Our new location for the Foundation Offices and the Rio Grande Museum

These two railroads were the central part of the development of the southern part of Colorado and northern part of New Mexico.  With 14,000 foot mountains to cross, rivers to forge and canyons of over 2,000 feet, the founders utilized narrow gauge track ( 3 foot ) and light weight engines and cars to supply the miners, farmers and business of the Rocky Mountains.   We hope to document and display items of interest that will stimulate memories of these great people and the necessary tools they used to develop the Mountain Mining Towns and Farming Valleys.

Without the families that supplied the mines, railroads, farms and businesses the necessary labor, the railroads would not have been necessary. Their lives are an integral part of this historic era.

Items from the 100 year Period of 1850 to 1950 will be displayed in a realistic manor, as well as making a collection of Photographs, Movies & Books available.

Our needs for items will include:

    Railroad items

    Telegraph and Telephone items

    Civil War, WWI and WWII items

    Early Aviation Items

    Household and Furniture items

    Clothing items

    Books, Photographs, Movies ( Copies can be made and original items returned )

    Plus ????? Send us your suggestions.....

Your loan or donation of historic items will be appreciated and carefully displayed.   

The Museum will support historic preservation by supplying information and documentation to individuals and organizations.

Examples of this support:

Members are now restoring two privately owned historic homes in the San Luis Valley area.  

1880's Photo

One is an 1883 Victorian Home that was the center piece of business and social life in Monte Vista. The Capt. C. S. Aldrich Home was also known as the Big House. This home is within eyesight of the Museum.  This home had been left deserted for many years and would have been lost without this last minute reprieve. 

Another house in the valley being saved is an early 1900's Business-mans Victorian styled home that had been used as a rental for decades and probably would have meet with the wreckers ball in the future.

Along with preserving the history of the Railroads, we are highly interested in all aspects of life of this historic era.

Ghosts of the past are still with us......

Web Site E-Mail Address is Wagon-Wheel-Gap@hotmail.com

Also see our History of San Luis Valley & it's Railroads web site:

Wagon-Wheel-Gap.freehomepage.com

It's still under construction but you may find it interesting.

This is not an official web site of the D&RG Ry. Historical Foundation. 

It is a private informational site by Richard Cutter who is solely responsible for content and

content is not submitted to, approved nor controlled by the D&RG Historical Foundation.

Unless otherwise Noted

Historical Photographs 1800's to 1940's from the National Archives

Photos, Videos and Text are Copyrighted by Richard Cutter

   - Photos can be used for non-commercial use if plainly identified as to copyright holder and location, such as "at Wagon-Wheel-Gap-Route, Colorado"

The name "Wagon Wheel Gap Route" refers to the section of the Creede Branch of the Old "Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad" that extends from South Fork to Creede Colorado, the name was developed and used for this website and is considered as our trademark.

Last updated: July 03, 2005

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