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Continental Summit
Denver Northwestern & Pacific
Moffat Road |
Courtesy, Denver Public Library,
Western History Collection
Photo by McClure
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MCC1617
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Peak to Peak
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Segment 2: The Great Divide
Standards-Based Themes: Economics, Preservation, Science and Technology
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Summary
The Moffat Tunnel, boring through the Continental Divide, provided an effective link between Colorado and the rest of the nation’s rail system. The Continental Divide is a rugged mountain barrier that runs north to south through Colorado. David Moffat saw the need to conquer the divide if Colorado was to continue to prosper. His vision led to the building of the Moffat Tunnel, although he did not live to see its construction and completion. His original attempt to lay railroad track over Rollins Pass was completed but proved to be impractical. In 1922, 11 years after his death, the Colorado legislature authorized the excavation of a tunnel, something Moffat had dreamed of but was not able to carry out. When the 6.2-mile tunnel opened in 1927, it took travelers only 12 minutes to cover what previously took two and one-half hours. |
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| David Moffat |
Courtesy, Denver Public Library,
Western History Collection
MCC4207
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Photo by McClure
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| Not far from the tunnel, tungsten was discovered in the iron ore. This valuable metal led to another mining boom. Among the people who came was Mary Wingate’s grandfather, who opened a mercantile store to serve the miners. Mary grew up with a tremendous appreciation for the woods and has donated some of the family land to the town of Nederland as open space so that future generations can enjoy it. Her donation follows an established tradition of preservation along the Peak to Peak. |
Vocabulary
Continental Divide
excavated
mercantile
preservation
timberline
tungsten
watershed
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Pre-Viewing Focus
- What is the Continental Divide?
- Why did Moffat want to find a way for trains to cross the Continental Divide?
- What were the two options for crossing the Continental Divide?
- Which option did Moffat choose and why did he choose it?
- Was the other option ever used?
- What was mined in Nederland?
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Post-Viewing Discussion
- How is the Continental Divide both a challenge and an opportunity?
- Why is the Moffat Tunnel as important today as it was when it opened in 1927?
- Why would it be a good idea to open a mercantile store in a mining area?
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Wayside Excursion: Building the Moffat Tunnel >
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