Lost History of Rollins Pass
Lost History of Rollins Pass: unsolved mysteries, missing artifacts, and the stories still waiting to be told
Rollins Pass and the Moffat Tunnel region echo with countless stories—but some remain unfinished, scattered like pages torn from a history still being written: the lost history of Rollins Pass. This page highlights a growing list of unresolved mysteries uncovered through archival research, fieldwork, and conversations with the community. These are the gaps in the record—missing artifacts, unconfirmed accounts, and forgotten details waiting to be rediscovered.
The lost history of Rollins Pass isn’t limited to the roadbed winding over the Continental Divide—it includes the surrounding high-altitude corridor, the engineering triumph of the Moffat Tunnel beneath it, and the far-reaching legacy of those who shaped both. The artifacts, documents, and unsolved stories we’re tracking range from mountaintop discoveries to vanished items tied to key figures like David H. Moffat himself. Whether it’s a tunnel innovation that stabilized collapsing ground, an object likely collected by Rollins himself in the 1870s, or a missing Tiffany window from Moffat’s Denver mansion, these mysteries share one common thread: they are pieces of a larger story that deserve to be remembered, reconnected, and protected.
Rollins Pass is not only a landscape of ridgelines and switchbacks—it’s a layered archive, stretching from the alpine tundra to the tunnel floor. What’s above and what’s below both deserve to be fully seen and understood.
We invite you to help us connect the dots: whether it’s a family photograph tucked in an old album, an heirloom in a dusty attic, or a memory passed down around a dinner table. Even a single overlooked detail could help clarify a long-standing question or correct the historical record. Solving these mysteries doesn’t just fill in the past—it protects it. By crowd-sourcing answers and stories, we ensure that future generations inherit a more complete, accurate, and enduring narrative.
THE LOST HISTORY OF ROLLINS PASS LIST
The list below is by no means comprehensive—just the most pressing puzzles we’re actively working to solve.
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS ROLLINS’ HEMLOCK BOW DISCOVERY (1873)
In 1873, while improving upon his wagon road across what would later be known as Rollins Pass, John Quincy Adams Rollins reported finding a bow made of hemlock wood, approximately three feet in length. He described it as showing signs of great antiquity—its surface worn a quarter inch deep along the grain, with protruding knobs. The craftsmanship and weathering suggest a possible Indigenous origin, though no further analysis was recorded. The current location of the bow is unknown. If preserved, it may rest—misidentified or uncatalogued—in a family collection, private archive, or regional museum. Its rediscovery could offer rare insight into Indigenous activity on the pass and contribute to understanding early human presence at high elevation.
THE TIFFANY WINDOW – 800 GRANT STREET, DENVER (1973+)
An ornate stained-glass window, believed to be the work of Louis Comfort Tiffany, was originally housed in the Denver mansion of financier and railroad tycoon David H. Moffat. (Here are two photographs from the Denver Public Library: this one shows its placement on the stairway landing, and this one is oriented upside down.) When the mansion was demolished in 1972, the window was reportedly salvaged and reinstalled in the new structure built at 800 Grant Street. Photographic evidence confirms this three-panel window was installed in the new, extant structure. However, the window quietly vanished.
While we understand that the window might be part of a private collection, its long-term future is less certain. What happens when stewardship passes to the next generation? Will its provenance and cultural importance be known—or quietly forgotten?
We’re not seeking to reclaim or relocate the window. Our concern is preservation, not possession. This is a significant artifact tied to one of Colorado’s most influential figures, and its story deserves not to fade. If you have knowledge of its history, current condition, or future plans, we welcome respectful dialogue. The goal is simple: to ensure this window, and its place in Colorado’s legacy, is not lost forever.
MOFFAT TUNNEL FATALITIES – THE FULL COUNT (1923-1928)
The most commonly cited number of lives lost during the construction of the Moffat Tunnel is 28. But through years of research—cross-referencing historic newspapers, cemetery records, and personal accounts—we know the true number is higher. Some deaths were misreported or unacknowledged, leaving gaps in the official record.
If your family has a relative who died while working on the tunnel but was never formally recognized, we welcome your insight. Names, photos, letters, or memories could help us honor those whose stories were lost along the way. We’re working to correct the record with dignity and historical accuracy—especially as the 100th anniversary of the tunnel’s opening approaches on February 26, 2028.
Work in Progress: Moffat Tunnel Deaths; no plaque, no list—until now. This evolving memorial honors the men who died building Colorado’s Moffat Tunnel, ahead of its 2028 centennial.
THE LEWIS TRAVELING CANTILEVER GIRDER – MODEL (1925-1928)
In 1925, facing unstable ground conditions inside the Moffat Tunnel, George Lewis introduced a groundbreaking device known as the Traveling Cantilever Girder, or “needle bar.” This 65-foot steel structure served a dual purpose: it supported arch timbers during excavation and incorporated an endless belt conveyor to carry rock spoil beyond the work zone for dumping. The girder was engineered to cantilever 20 feet behind the bench, with roof loads transferred through cross-arms, stirrup hangers, and 15-ton screw jacks. It was adaptable to multiple tunneling methods and included electric hoists, lighting, and piping—all of which increased its operational efficiency.
To explain this highly technical solution to the Moffat Tunnel Commission, Lewis constructed a working model of the girder. While photographs of the model survive, the physical model itself has not been located. If it still exists—perhaps in an archive, institutional collection, or family estate—its rediscovery would bring overdue recognition to one of Colorado’s most overlooked feats of engineering ingenuity. The model represents more than a machine; it reflects a moment when innovation under pressure helped complete one of the West’s most ambitious infrastructure projects.
HAVE A LEAD?
If you have photographs, documents, family stories, or artifacts related to any of these mysteries—or others you believe deserve attention—we’d love to hear from you. Even the smallest detail could help close a gap in the historical record or bring long-overdue clarity to an overlooked story. Please email us at authors@preserverollinspass.org with as much information as you’re comfortable sharing. If you’re unsure whether something is relevant, reach out anyway. All inquiries are treated with care and confidentiality, and nothing will ever be published or shared without your express permission.
And just to be clear—we’re not asking for your artifacts. Our intent is not to remove items from your home or collection, but to understand them better, document their significance, and ensure their stories aren’t lost to time. Uncovering these histories isn’t just about solving mysteries—it’s about honoring those who came before and protecting the truth for those still to come. History leaves clues—maybe yours is one of them.
And while you’re here reading this—a gentle reminder: what’s old should stay put. Historical artifacts, even the smallest ones, belong to the landscape—not to our backpacks. If you come across something of potential significance on or near the pass, please leave it in place and use our contact form to report your find. We’ll ensure your message reaches an archaeologist specializing in the Rollins Pass area.
The primary purpose of our work is to inform the public.
