Estes Park History is connected with the famous Stanley Steamer and F.O. Stanley, who with his twin brother F.E. Stanley developed not only the Stanley Steamer, but the first XRay machine and the dry plate photo process. Estes Park is home to the Stanley Hotel, built by F.O. Stanley, who with his wife, spent their summers in the beautiful Estes Valley. The Stanley Hotel was the first all electric hotel in the United States and is still in operation today. Much of the early development of Estes Park is owed to F.O. Stanley, who provided electricity, sewage, medical care and banking. In addition, Estes Park was one of the earliest western vacation destinations for people of the Northeast, who traveled to either Lyons or Loveland Colorado by train, and then to Estes Park by Stanley Steamer.

The Stanley Museum in Kingfield, Maine also maintains the Stanley Museum at the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park. In addition, local club member Frank Hix is a collector and historian of the Stanley steam cars. It is not unusual to see one of the various Stanley Steamer models cruising the streets of Estes Park. 

Whenever Sue Davis, CEO of the Stanley Museum, visits Estes Park, she is always welcome as a guest to our Rotary meetings. Recently, she showed up to the meeting driving the pictured Stanley Steamer. After the photo session, many club members were treated to a ride in this truly extraordinary automobile, a 1909 Model R Stanley Steamer (by coincidence, 1909 is the year that the Stanley Hotel opened). Later in the day, Sue showed up at the Public Library were many of the staff members of the Library were also treated to a ride. For a photo of the Stanley Steamer at the Public Library, go to http://estes.lib.co.us.

For more information about both the Stanley Museum in Kingfield, Maine, and the Stanley Museum in Estes Park, Click Here.

This official Rotary web site is hosted gratis as a service to the Rotary Club of Estes Park by estes.on-line.com of Estes Park, Colorado. The Rotary name and logo are the exclusive property of Rotary International and are used here under Rotary International Guidelines for Club, District and Affiliated Publications. This web site was designed by Bjorn Sallarp (sonic web).