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Morrison Attractions:
The Morrison Formation
The Morrison formation takes its name from the Town of Morrison, Colorado, where varicolored shales are exposed along the west side of the Dakota Hogback. This hogback, known locally as Dinosaur Ridge, was formed when the region was tilted sharply by the uplift of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains to the west. Beneath the resistant sandstone caprock of the Dakota Group, the pastel-colored shales and sandstones of the Morrison Formation have been protected somewhat from erosion.
Along the west side of Dinosaur Ridge, the Morrison Formation is 280 to 320 feet thick. The lower parts consist of light gray, greenish gray, and red shales, thin gray limestones, and occasional sandstones. The upper third of the Morrison Formation is made up of interbedded layers of sandstone, siltstone, and red sandy shales. Some geologists consider these rocks part of the Lytle Formation, which they assign to the overlying Dakota Group.
The sediments that comprise the Morrison Formation are believed to have been deposited about 150 million years ago, during Late Jurassic time. They were carried by streams and rivers from ancient highlands (sometimes called the "Ancestral Rockies") far to the west and deposited here in swampy lowland environments.
Since its original discovery near Morrison in the late 1800's, the Morrison Formation has been found over a large area of the western states, from the Dakotas to Idaho and Arizona to the panhandles of Texas and Oklahoma (see map at left). Over most of that area, it has yielded a rich trove of dinosaur fossils, beginning with dinosaur discoveries made near Morrison in 1877. Some of the dinosaur bones found here in 1877 are on display at the Morrison Natural History Museum. The dinosaur bones occur in the middle green siltstone beds and in the lower sandstones of the Morrison Formation. The majority of Colorado's known dinosaurs come from the Morrison Formation.
The Dakota Group
The Dakota Group is the name assigned to the Lower Cretaceous rock units making up the crest of a 14-mile long hogback ridge west of the Denver metro area. Although the ridge known as the Dakota Hogback extends from Golden to Roxborough Park, the section of it from I-70 to Morrison has recently been officially renamed "Dinosaur Ridge." The hogback was formed about 66 million years ago when the region was tilted sharply by the uplift of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains to the west. The erosion-resistant white and buff sandstones of the Dakota Group remained in high relief as softer sedimentary rocks were eroded away, forming valleys on both sides of the Ridge. The Morrison Formation, which is Late Jurassic in age, underlies the rocks of the Dakota Group.
Although often spoken of as simply "The Dakota" or "Dakota Sandstone," the rocks of this unit are divided into two formations. The Lytle Formation, directly overlying the Morrison Formation (and considered part of it by some geologists), is about 80 feet thick and consists of yellowish-gray ironstained sandstone and conglomerate. In some places, it contains petrified wood and tree trunks.
Above the Lytle Fm., the South Platte Formation contains three sandstone members separated by two shale members. (In New Mexico, these prominent sandstone ledges are called "Tres Hermanos," the three brothers.) The sandstone is yellowish gray or buff, and quite porous. The intervening shales are dark gray, silty, and sometimes contain clay and porcellanite. This formation is about 220 feet thick, forms the crest of the hogback, and exhibits dinosaur tracks along West Alameda Parkway.
The sediments that comprise the Dakota Group were deposited beginning about 135 million years ago, as the sea began to move westward across Colorado. Ripple-marked sandstones near the dinosaur tracks bear witness to the beach environment that marks the upper layers. As the sea deepened, marine sediments were deposited, eventually becoming the shales and limestones of Late Cretaceous age that overlie the Dakota Group.
Rocks of the Dakota Group are found across several states around the Rocky Mountains, much as the Morrison Formation is. Although dinosaur bones are rare in the Dakota, thousands of dinosaur tracks have revealed much about the lives of dinosaurs along the Cretaceous seaway.
Historic Sites:
1. OLD STANDARD STATION
103 Bear Creek Avenue 1926 - This was Morrison's first fancy service station. The building now houses The Morrison Angler and Jeri K's Bakery.
2. MORRISON LIBRARY
113 Bear Creek Avenue 1946 - Built by Mr. Carl Peinze at no cost to the town, this is now The Garden Gate.
3. AMOS HOUSE
120 Bear Creek Avenue Ca. 1873 - This house was moved back when Hwy 8 came through Morrison in 1926. Now El Mercado, an antique store.
4. PEINZE HOUSE
117 Bear Creek Avenue Ca.1873 - Vinton Amos, a Morrison blacksmith, lived here ca. 1880. The Peinzes ran a grocery/market and real estate office here. Currently the Dream Café 5.
5. JAMIESON HOME
110 Market Street Ca. 1873 - The Jamiesons lived here from 1931 to 1980. Pete Morrison, grandson of the town founder, lived here as a young man railroading and rodeoing with Clyde Hocking.
6. ANDREW JOHNSON HOME
118 Market Street 1873 - It was the Methodist church's first parsonage. Andy was a Morrison Post Office employee from 1910 to 1950.
7. PILLAR OF FIRE CHURCH
111 Market Street Ca.1885. The Pillar of Fire bought the church and the house next door from the Town in 1932 as a memorial to Alma White. The nondenominational Morrison Community Church holds services here.
8. CHARLY PIKE HOME
105 Market Street Ca.1880 - Pike was a nephew of Zebulon Pike (of Pike's Peak Fame). The Pikes were merchants in Morrison.
9. MORRISON MARKET
201 Bear Creek Avenue Ca.1880 - First occupied by Judge Babcock, this was later a meat market run by Tom Morrison. After the 1916 fire, it became the Post Office. It now houses the Morrison Country Store.
10. TOM LEWIS HOME
205 Bear Creek Avenue Built ca. 1879 of native brick. Lewis ran a livery stable in Morrison.
11. JOHN ROSS HARDWARE AND LUMBER CO.
209 and 211 Bear Creek Avenue Ca.1876 - Built of native stone, this building was once owned by Ross' daughter, Mary Quaintance.
12. DEAN'S GROCERY STORE
215 Bear Creek Avenue Built ca. 1890 by John Ross. A dance ball upstairs became the Episcopal Sunday School on Sundays. Later it was Peinze's Grocery Store. Currently, Tony Rigatoni's Restaurant is here.
13. JOHN ROSS HOME
106 Stone Street Ca.1878 - It was a restaurant and passenger pick-up for the stage coach. After Mr. Ross' home burned he lived in this building, now a business.
14. TOWN HALL
110 Stone Street Built ca. 1896 by Woodman of the World. Later acquired by the Woodcraft ladies and finally donated to the Town by the Booster Club in the 1950s. Renovated by the Town with help from the Colorado Historical Society in 1995.
15. MELISSA PEARSON HOUSE
112 Stone Street Built ca.1879 as a rental, which it still is. Private residence.
16. NEWLAND HOUSE
116 Stone Street Ca.1875 - Mrs. Newland ran a boarding house, and many railroad workers ate here. The Morrison Historical Museum (now at #71) began here in 1981. Private residence.
17. DURHAM HOUSE
307 Mt. Vernon Avenue Ca.1880 - Fillmore Durham was the railroad station master, and his wife was the telegraph operator. In 1936, at age 84, he was killed on Bear Creek Avenue by a car. Private residence.
18. ED FLEMING HOUSE
311 Mt. Vernon Avenue Ca.1890 - Ed was a fine rock mason and worked on many vacation homes in the mountains. He also rodeoed with "the gang" and served on the Morrison Town Board many years. Private residence.
19. LOG CABIN
313 Mt. Vernon Avenue Built ca. 1918 by Ted and Joe Schrock for Olinger (mortuary) as a real estate office. It was moved from Bear Creek Avenue to its present location. Private residence.
20. JAKE SCHNEIDER HOME
107 Stone Street Ca.1875 - Thomas C. Bergen, founder of Bergen Park in 1859, occupied this dwelling in 1887. This was the home of Jake and Nellie Schneider from 1904 to 1948. Private residence.
21. PIKE & PERRY MERCANTILE CO.
301 Bear Creek Avenue Ca.1880 - Burnt out in 1919, it had to be repaired and became a dance hall. After the 1938 flood, the Schneiders continued the drug store business here until 1973. Now part of the Morrison Inn.
22. HENRY F. WOLF'S POOL HALL, TOBACCO & BARBER SHOP
303 and 305 Bear Creek Avenue Ca.1880 - A mercantile owned by Levi H. McGill in 1892 and Pike & Perry in 1906. Now part of the Morrison Inn.
23. PETE CHRISTENSON'S SHOP
307 Bear Creek Avenue Built in 1876 by Pete Christenson, whose name and building date are still on the building. This building now houses Morrison Antiques.
24. SCHNEIDER'S GROCERIES, RESTAURANT ROOMS
311 Bear Creek Avenue (site) This was a 2-story frame building with stairs outside like you see in all western movies. It burned down in the 1931 fire and was replaced by the present brick building, which is now the Morrison Grocery.
25. BAKER & SMITH GARAGE
317 Bear Creek Avenue
(site) Rebuilt in 1931 (after same fire as above). James Abbo built the first building, which was called Mt. Morrison Garage "Auto, Stage, and Livery." Morrison Carworks now occupies the site.
26. RAILROAD STATION
315 Bear Creek Avenue
(site) Built in 1873, this was the station for the Denver, South Park & Pacific Railroad. The train made its last scheduled run in 1925 and was abandoned after the 1933 flood.
26a. RAILROAD TURNTABLE The old turntable that rotated the engines for the return trip to Denver occupied this area that is now a large parking lot.
27. CLIFF HOUSE
115 Stone Street Built in 1873 by George P. Morrison, who died here in 1895. The John Swansons bought the house and ran it as a hotel called The Cliff House. It is now operated as a bed and breakfast of the same name. 28. WILLIAM SAWYER HOME
109 Mill Street Ca.1880 - Sawyer was a Justice of the Peace, drove a stage coach and worked in the Rooney coal mine.
29. MORRISON BANK
401 Bear Creek Avenue Built ca. 1880 of native brick and served as a bank until 1920. A beauty shop occupied the east side from 1945 to 1980. Guiseppe's Deli is now doing business here.
30. WILLIAM BECKETT HOME
116 Beckett Lane. Ca.1882 - William and Lucy came from London with their two daughters. He was a cobbler and a carpenter, she, a trained nurse. Private residence.
31. DODE REEDY HOUSE
120 Beckett Lane. Ca.1883 - Built by Wm. Beckett, rented to families of workers for the rock quarries, the railroad, and construction jobs. Private residence.
32. HELEN HANSON HOUSE
140 Beckett Lane. Built ca. 1884 by Wm. Beckett for local workers. It became known as the Hanson House during this century. Private residence.
33. JAIL HOUSE
119 Beckett Lane Ca.1884 - Built by Wm. Beckett and Mr. Crosser. The jail is now completely enclosed and is just a room in this house. Private residence.
34. SITE OF MORRISON'S NEWSPAPERS
408 Bear Creek Avenue From 1889 to 1917, this was the home of four newspapers: "The Bud", "The Jefferson", "Morrison Independent", and "Morrison Monitor". A former Conoco station on this site is the new home of the TNT Restaurant.
35. GOTCHALK BAKERY
(also Quarry Site)
503 & 505 Bear Creek Avenue Built ca. 1885. The Site of Morrison Stone, Lime, and Town Co., the kiln (ca. 1878) made the mortar used in many of the houses that still stand today. The Morrison Liquor Store now uses this building.
36. STAGECOACH BUILDING
101 S. Park Avenue Built ca. 1870 of native sandstone by Geo. Morrison, the Town's founder. The stage ran from Morrison to Leadville and Fairplay. Now part of the Horton House property (see #39).
37. ABBO'S LIVERY & CARRIAGE HOUSE
105 Canon Street Ca.1870 - Abbo & Lewis were partners. Tom Lewis was Abbo's father-in-law. Now part of the Horton House property (see #39).
38. AMOS' BLACKSMITH SHOP
105 Canon Street Ca.1880 - Vinton Amos ran a blacksmith shop here until the advent of the automobile. This building became Pete Foster's Garage, ca.1920. Private residence.
39. ABBO'S DWELLING
105 Canon Street Ca.1870 - A home and blacksmith shop until 1875. Dr. Frank Luce lived here in about 1922. From 1945 to 1973 it was a Mexican Restaurant, El Gallo Tuerto. The property is now the Horton House Bed & Breakfast.
40. WILLIAM SCHNEIDER HOUSE
207 S. Park Avenue Built in 1926. Dan and Bill Schneider were sons of Jake, a pioneer. Private residence.
41. ROBERT SMITH HOUSE
211 S. Park Avenue Built ca.1915 by Dr. Frank Luce from lumber taken when part of Abbo's livery stables was torn down. Private residence.
42. KNOLL'S HOUSE
215 S. Park Avenue Ca.1888 - Dr. Luce lived here when he first came from Denver in 1890. Private residence.
43. PEARL PEARMAN HOUSE
212 S. Park Avenue Ca.1888 - The Pearmans lived here from 1919 until about 1939. Pearl was the daughter of Jonas Schrock, a pioneer of Morrison who homesteaded at Mt. Falcon. Private residence.
44. COCKRAN HOUSE
109 Spring Street Lizzy C. Kirby was the first owner on record. Charles Cockran, ca. 1919, followed. Private residence. 45. FLORENCE BECKETT MCLAIN HOUSE
115 Spring Street Ca.1889 - Florence Beckett came to Morrison from London with her sister and parents. Private residence.
46. RAILROAD CREW HOUSE
127 Spring Street Ca.1872 - Built for the men building the railroad. It was moved from 315 Spring Street -- close to the tracks -- in 1926 by Mr. Peinze who sold it for a residence. Private residence.
47. SWISS COTTAGE
150 Spring Street
(site) Built in 1874 for Governor Evans of native sandstone by George Morrison, a Quebec stone mason who came to Colorado in 1850 with his family and moved to Morrison in 1873. This building stood until the 1980s when it was razed and replaced by the current Nursing Center.
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