I. L. Avery

Location of Name

On the northeast end of North Gateway Rock.

Condition of Name

The letter cavities are darkened by a form of lichen. The middle three letters of the name Avery are not very clear; the other letters and numbers seem certain. Both name and date appear more legible at a distance of a few yards. Of special interest is the word Iowa, which appears up and to the right of the name.

Biography of I.L. Avery

A gold seeker named Avery was with one of the early parties, which left the Missouri River when reports of the gold finds at Cherry Creek began to reach the midwest in the early fall of 1858. The Crescent City, Iowa, Oracle of 24 September 1858 carried an article on just such a party:

"Our place has been for ten days in a state of excitemnt, caused by the news from the west, and preparation for emigrating to the new El Dorado.

"Yesterday C..H. Blake and A.J. Williams, Esqs, two of our most energetic and prominent citizens, with four well laden wagons and 14 yoke of cattle and two ponies, started for 'South Platte,' with merchandise to trade with the diggers and mountaineers.

"From this place also went in same company, Messrs. McGlashea, Avery, Willoughby, Gordon, Clark, Conant, and others."

Blake and Williams set up one of the first stores on the banks of Cherry Creek; in the spring of 1859 they built the Denver House, the first large hotel in the area. As for Avery, he may have left his name in the Garden of the Gods on his way to winter over in Fountain City, the present Pueblo area, as did perhaps as many as 200 of the gold seekers who stayed during the winter of 1858-59.