Great Sand Dunes NP Timeline

By lincolnwhiting22

  • Spaniards First Arrive

    Spaniards First Arrive
    About 400 years ago, the Spaniards first arrived at the Great Sand Dunes.

  • First Known Writings of Great Sand Dunes

    First Known Writings of Great Sand Dunes
    Zebulon Pike's journal contains the first known writings of the Great Sand Dunes.

  • John C. Fremont passes through Dunes

    John C. Fremont passes through Dunes
    John C. Fremont was hired to find a railroad route, and it passed through the Sangre De Cristo mountain range.

  • Fort Garland was Built

    Fort Garland was Built
    Fort Massachusetts was built, and relocated to Fort Garland 20 miles from the dunes.

  • Mosca Pass Toll Road was developed

    Mosca Pass Toll Road was developed
    The Mosca Pass Toll Road was developed and regularly used by stages, and for a mail route.

  • Gold mill

    The Volcanic Mining Company established a gold mill the retrieve gold from the sand.

  • Sand Dunes become national monument

    Sand Dunes become national monument
    Herbert Hoover signed a bill into law to make the Great Sand Dunes a national monument.

  • Great Sand Dunes become a National Park and Preserve

    Great Sand Dunes become a National Park and Preserve
    Great Sand Dunes become a National Park and Preserve.

  • Most people to visit

    Most people to visit
    Over 6,000 vehicles are recorded to have been at the sand dunes during memorial day weekend of 2016.

  • Surge Flow at Great Sand Dunes

    A rare phenomenon happened at the sand dunes called a surge flow. Water from Medano Creek flows across the sand, and the sand forms a dam. The pressure becomes to great after about 20 seconds and the dam breaks. The process starts all over again forming a rhythmic flow.