Rim Rock Drive

{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox NRHP

| name = Rim Rock Drive Historic District

| nrhp_type = hd

| nocat = yes

| image = Rim Rock Drive view.jpg

| caption =

| nearest_city = Grand Junction, Colorado

| coordinates = {{coord|39|3|25|N|108|42|4|W|display=inline,title}}

| locmapin = Colorado#USA

| area =

| built = 1931

| architect =

| architecture =

| added = April 21, 1994{{NRISref|2008a}}

| mpsub = Colorado National Monument MPS

| refnum = 94000310

}}

Rim Rock Drive is a scenic road in Colorado National Monument. The {{Convert|23|mi|km|adj=on}} drive follows the upper rim of a series of canyons, extending from the vicinity of Fruita, Colorado, in the west to near Grand Junction, Colorado, in the east, connecting points only {{Convert|8|mi|km}} miles apart in a straight line. The entire road has been designated a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places.

File:Rim Rock Drive west lower tunnel.JPG

The routing of the road was determined in November 1931 by National Park Service Engineer Thomas W. Secrest during a visit to the monument.

The detailed design for the road was developed in 1932 by the National Park Service Branch of Engineering and Branch of Plans and Design for maximum scenic impact, using the National Park Service Rustic style. Most of the road was constructed with almost entirely manual labor by labor from the Works Progress Administration, Public Works Administration, and Civilian Conservation Corps, and represents one of the most significant Depression-era public projects. Extensive drilling and blasting was required, and three tunnels were bored.{{Cite web |url=http://www.hscl.cr.nps.gov/insidenps/report.asp?STATE=CO&PARK=COLM&STRUCTURE=&SORT=&RECORDNO=127 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120801170746/http://www.hscl.cr.nps.gov/insidenps/report.asp?STATE=CO&PARK=COLM&STRUCTURE=&SORT=&RECORDNO=127 |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 1, 2012 |date=2008-12-12 |work=List of Classified Structures |title=Rim Rock Drive |publisher=National Park Service}} Work was suspended by the Second World War from 1942 to 1948, and was finally completed in 1950.{{Cite web |url=http://www.coloradonma.org/rimrock-history.htm |date=2008-12-12 |title=From the Past Into the Future: Building Rim Rock Drive |publisher=Colorado National Monument Association}} At its height, the project employed more than 800 men.{{Cite journal |title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Rim Rock Drive |url={{NRHP url|id=94000310}} |format=pdf |date=January 1994 |last=Simmons |first=R. Laurie |last2=Simmons |first2=Thomas H. |last3=McKoy |first3=Kathy |publisher=National Park Service}}

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