ARTHUR LAKES: COLORADO GEOLOGIST, PALEONTOLOGIST, AND ARTIST

Arthur Lakes (1844–1917) was one of Colorado’s most notable early geologists. First an early professor of geology at the Colorado School of Mines, later with the USGS, Lakes’ research included many aspects of geology, paleontology, mineral exploration, and mining engineering. His prolific research, publications, and field trips were a significant contribution to Colorado geology. He was invited to be Colorado’s first State Geologist, however as it came with no real position or salary, he declined the offer. Lakes was an early member of the Colorado Scientific Society from 1883 to 1903, joining in the first year of the Society’s existence.

In addition to Lakes’ scientific contributions, he was also an amateur artist and a clergyman. His sketches, drawings, and watercolors of his work captured the attention and imagination of the country and helped to spark additional research into saurian species.

Arthur Lakes is perhaps best known for and considered by many to be the father of dinosaur research in the Morrison area. Lakes’ contributions through his discoveries and mapping of the Dakota Hogback in the late 1800’s inadvertently spurred escalation of the so-called “Bone Wars” between Cope and Marsh, thereby putting the town of Morrison’s name on the paleontological map. Of the many paleontological discoveries at Lakes’ quarries, perhaps the best known are Stegosaurus, Apatosaurus, and Allosaurus. The mapping of Morrison area geology and records kept by Lakes are still used today by the Friends of Dinosaur Ridge and the Morrison Natural History Museum in their attempts to rediscover and reopen several of Lakes’ original 1877 dinosaur bone quarries, though they have found some of the notes to be somewhat inaccurate or intentionally misleading with regards to modern geologic records.