Camp le Grand was the name the French gave to a large meadow used by the Native Americans for seasonal hunting camps. Fur trading rendezvous were held in 1830s but it took the discovery of cooper in late 1800s for the town of Encampment to form. A thriving mine and smelter operation attracted settlers and the population grew to over 2,000 but the price of copper dropped in 1908 and a series of fires in the copper smelter bankrupted the company. The town’s population dropped to a few 100 people and there’s very little left of the original town. The museum has some interesting exhibits including a bathtub that folds up against the wall.
Historic buildings, furnished to represent common businesses of the time, have been relocated to form a town street. Guided tours are given if museum staff is available.
The second level of the outhouse is used during snowy winters.
The museum is accessible. The town street has a boardwalk sidewalk but some of the buildings have step at the entrance.
The parking lot is large enough for any RV.
We spent the night in a little city park at the north end of town. The park has restrooms and a dump station. There are about 10 full hookup sites lined up in a row with trees between most of them. Donations are requested and stays are limited to 3 days.
Museum 41.20375, -106.78941 Park 41.21132, -106.79208
No comments:
Post a Comment