"Agricultural Town on the Upper Colorado... " a Grand Junction Travel Page by atufft

Until the House of Representatives officially changed its name in 1921, what is now known as the upper Colorado River had been refered to as the Grand River. Until that time, the Colorado River began at the confluence of the Green (see Green River, WY) and Grand Rivers. However, the name Grand Junction was not for this confluence, but for the confluence of the Grand and Gunnison Rivers. In any case, Grand Junction is the largest town on the western slope of the the Colorado Rockies, and is set within a wide agricultural region also known as the Grand Valley. The town is set along the river, and on the opposite bank from the town, there is a back drop of flat topped mountains or mesas. While the city is mostly engaged in agricultural commerce, it is also a center for mountaineering because it is very close to Mesa Verde and Arches National Parks. The once trashed and polluted Colorado River bank and quiet business district have been cleaned up and revitalized with an orientation toward cycling and pedestrian pleasures. At the time I arrived recently, a farmers market was the excitement of the city, with live music and local vendors selling their crafts.

Downtown Grand Junction is gifted by some venerable old brick buildings similar to that of any self-respecting town in the west, but in recent years the town has boasted having the largest collection of street art. My tips include images of many of these.