Fred M. Blackburn

Fred Blackburn is a fourth-generation Colorado native. Born in the Miners’ Hospital in Telluride, Colorado, Fred continues to explore and enjoy the Colorado Plateau. He graduated from Fort Lewis College with a degree in Natural History.

Fred was a ranger for the National Park Service at Natural Bridges National Monument and one of the first two Bureau of Land Management rangers hired for the infant Grand Gulch Ranger Program in southeastern Utah. Fred left Grand Gulch to help establish Crow Canyon Archaeological Center. Fred returned to southern Utah to help create the White Mesa Institute for the College of Eastern Utah -- a venture which evolved into the Wetherill/Grand Gulch Project. He remains an entrepreneur of many careers: independent guide, historian, author, and farmer/rancher in Montezuma County.

Fred’s publications include "Cowboys and Cave Dwellers" and "The Wetherills - Friends of Mesa Verde." He also wrote the text for "Sacred Places of the Southwest" in collaboration with photographer Claus Mrocynski. With the help of Jefferson County Open School children and staff, he has completed research for a future publication entitled "Prayer Rock: In The Shadow of the Bear."

Fred’s educational involvement with students is long and varied based on nearly 30 years of knowledge concerning cultural and natural sciences as experiential education. Fred continues his interest in expeditionary learning, documentation, and exploration of historical fact through historic inscription documentation that thus far includes the expeditionary history of Inscription House, Marsh Pass, Betatakin, Keet Seel, and Bubbling Springs.

Fred is also involved with nonprofit boards including Children's Kiva, Cortez

Sanitation District, McElmo Canyon Institute, and Canyonlands Natural History

Association. He is the Executive Director for Partners of Montezuma County.