Independence Day Tradition

Independence Monument is a 450-foot-tall monolith located in Monument Canyon which runs the width of the Colorado National Monument near Fruita. ... more

by Jon Burch Photography

Title

Independence Day Tradition

Artist

Jon Burch Photography

Medium

Photograph - Digital Capture/faa Watermark Will Not Appear On Your Finished Photograph.

Description

Independence Monument is a 450-foot-tall monolith located in Monument Canyon which runs the width of the Colorado National Monument near Fruita. Created by erosion, the sandstone around the monument was washed away, but this monolith remained because it has a hard cap of Kayenta rock. A large sandstone slab lies a few hundred feet from the base of Independence Monument onto which John Otto carved the words of the Declaration of Independence in the early 1900's.

Colorado National Monument is an international park. Visitors from across the world come for a once in a lifetime event that happens every year to see the raising of the stars and stripes on top of a 450-foot tall monolith named Independence Monument.

John Otto could think of nothing better than to advertise Monument Canyon from a flag waving on top of the 450-foot tall Independence Monument. He worked day after day for several weeks pounding iron pipes and carving out footsteps into solid rock to make it possible for any brave soul to get to the top. After successfully getting to the top of Independence Monument for the first time on June 8, 1911, John Otto started his tradition of raising an American flag on top of Independence Monument every year on the Fourth of July.

Today, the Mesa County Technical Rescue Team climbs and raises the American flag just like John Otto did years ago.

Some digital effects were applied to the original image after the photograph was made. No electrons were harmed during the transition. Your finished photograph will not contain the Fine Art America watermark.

Image copyright 2014 Jon Burch Photography

Uploaded

August 13th, 2014