The phrase “hard rock” conjured minerals, not music, for the men who inspired this statue in front of a museum that chronicles their work. Name the statue and the associated museum photographed by Denver Newspaper Agency state circulation manager Rick Charbonneau. Send your anecdotal answer via e-mail to ColoradoSunday@ . Include a digital photo of yourself and remember to include your hometown in the message. Our favorite response wins a $50 gas card.
How’d you know?
The winner: Barry Allison, Monument: I grew up in Wray. Every September, my dad would take our family to Beecher Island to participate in the two-day celebration. We had turtle races, gunny sack races and three-legged races. In 1968, they had the special 100th anniversary celebration. I got to stay overnight in an old pick-up camper and get up early to help serve the outdoor breakfast.
Red Rideout, Conifer: Western historian and author Mark Gardner and I stopped at the site this summer to perform Independence Day concerts for the Stuhr museum and veteran’s home.
Chuck Davis, Lakewood: It is worth the 3-mile side trip to visit the site of Beecher Island. Before you go, read John H. Monnett’s “The Battle of Beecher Island and the Indian War of 1867-1869.” He describes the battleground from both the Indian and settler points of view, and explains how the incident set the stage for the Battle of Summit Springs, and the end of the Cheyenne Dog Soldiers.
Chris Fast, Fort Collins: I have been to the annual fall Beecher Island festival many times and participated in events there, including bubblegum blowing, cow-chip throwing, muzzle-loading rifle shooting and the only turtle race with a starting gate.
Gary Smith, Centennial: If (a visitor) were to go canoeing on the Arikara River, he would not find an island at the Beecher Island site. The river is obviously too low and narrow today to give a clear picture of the site in 1868.
P. Plum, Edgewater: My high school class of 22 juniors went on a field trip (to Beecher Island) over 30 years ago. When we were there, the island had long ago been washed away by the river, but the landscape is lovely.
