The Moffat Road

Sunday, March 22 from 2-4pm

Coal Creek Canyon Community Hall

31528 CO-72 Golden, Colorado 80403

The Coal Creek Canyon Improvement Association  proudly hosts writer and historian, Mike Maio, and his presentation, “The Moffat Road”.  

From 1880 until his death in 1911, David Moffat served as a financier, board member and president of several railroads, including the Denver, Northwestern and Pacific Railroad and later, the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad. Mr. Maio’s presentation explains the role railroads have played in the development of Coal Creek Canyon’s history through an exciting presentation of images and artifacts.

Moffat was determined to build the first railroad across the Rocky Mountains. He and others began construction of a rail line to Salt Lake City named the Denver, Utah and Pacific Railroad, but it was a short-lived attempt that failed to get over the Rollins Pass in 1880. In 1902, Moffat reincorporated the project as the Denver, Northwestern and Pacific Railway (DN&P) and built the "Moffat Road" across Rollins Pass. The DN&P line eventually became part of the Denver and Salt Lake Railway, which was later acquired by the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad. Moffat also envisioned a tunnel through the Continental Divide and after his death, the Moffat Tunnel, a 6.2-mile tunnel connecting Rollinsville and Winter Park, was completed in 1927.

For more information, call 303-642-1540, email: cccia80403@gmail.com or visit https://www.coalcreekcanyon.org/