Grand Junction History: Rim Rock Drive Colorado National Monument

Here's a Grand Junction history lesson about Rim Rock Drive in the Colorado National Monument. The gorgeous 23-mile long road extends from Grand Junction to Fruita. Rim Rock Drive was designed in 1931, completed in 1950.

Rim Rock Drive inside the Colorado National Monument is a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places. It was designed for 'maximum scenic impact' -- they wanted to make sure you could see as much scenery as possible while driving.

The 23-mile long road was mostly built during the Great Depression from  1931 for 1942 by the National Park Service, Civilian Conservation Corps, and the Works Progress Administration, according to Historical Photos of Fruita & Western Colorado's Facebook.

Construction stopped when WWII happened and picked back up in 1948. Rim Rock Drive was completed in 1950. Serpents Trail was the only road into the Colorado National Monument until Rim Rock Drive was completed.

Below is a photo of Rim Rock Drive in No Thoroughfare Canyon from 1954.