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Josie Bassett's Cabin at the Dinosaur National Monument in Dinosaur, Colorado
Before my trip, I'd barely heard of Josie Bassett. I knew her cabin was situated in Dinosaur National Monument, but other than looking at an old, dilapidated cabin, what's so special about her?
Well, this woman was amazing! I purchased two books about her while at the Utah Field House and learned quite a bit about her. Rumour has it that she was once the sweetheart of outlaw Butch Cassidy. Josie was not famous. She was an ordinary person who did what was necessary to provide for herself, just as you do. She seems special now because her routine of living was harder than most of ours, and she continued to live a simple life, connected directly to the land, well into the twentieth century.
The cabin, unfortunately, is a mess. The parks department really dropped the ball on this one. Other than erecting a roof over the cabin, they've done nothing to save it from the elements. The tack shed, animal shed and two hole outhouses burned down in 1988. The spring house is gone and the roof to the root cellar collapsed years ago. Peeking through the slats, her rotting furniture is visible. It's a shame to see that such a great place has been let to rot.
Thankfully, restoration of Josie's cabin is underway. The parks department has recently begun Phase One of the Josie Bassett Morris Historic Cabin Restoration Project, which includes clearing overgrowth, removing non-native trees, and installing a new drainage system for the cabin.
If you'd like to read about Josie, click here: "Jensen's Remarkable Woman Rancher"
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