Palmer Divide Ranches & Homesteads

The Divide provided settlers with many opportunities to make a living to include Farming, Ranching, Mining and Timbering in the Black Forest as well as providing the Services needed to support the population and trades.

The Higby ranches were in total, over 16,000 acres. John Higby, Gene’s father, bought mercantile in the area since 1902 to include Greenland to our north and in Monument. Gene Higby was granted a patent for a Jet Powered Aircraft in 1929 and was elected Lt. Governor in 1948. The Higby family sold the Greenland ranch in 1977.

The museum has carbide lamps, used by miners, branding irons, a western saddle, a six-foot, double handle crosscut saw and other farm/ranch tools and implements. The Barbed wire collection displays only the earliest wire that was used in our Palmer Divide area. Open Range ranching soon ceased.

Potato and Grain crops were common in the area from the 1870’s. Water was provided by winter/spring snowmelt and rainfall. This is called “dryland farming.” Gradually, harsh winters, a short growing season and increased lifestyle desires led some farmers to turn to cattle ranching or other business opportunities.