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“Some of the ladies here who were very civic-minded, one of them happened to be married to the lieutenant governor and that didn’t hurt, thought that would be a shame to have the things just destroyed for not that much,” Peg Schall, a current member of the Monte Vista Chapter, said.įounded in 1869 at Iowa Wesleyan University, the P.E.O. This connection led a group of women, primarily members of the Monte Vista Chapter of the Philanthropic Educational Organization (P.E.O.), to take action to protect the land. In addition to their own recreational enjoyment, locals recognized the benefits of tourism and the importance of preserving the natural environment. During the summer, residents of the valley often picnicked at the dunes and cooled off in Medano Creek. The presence of gold, though small, sparked fear that the land would be exploited and excavated by mining companies. In the 1920s, the threat of mining in the dunes began to worry locals in the San Luis Valley. However, the lesser-known history of the park, and the activism of local women, is also worthy of recognition. Its dunes, the largest in North America, reflect the unique geological history of the area. The park includes almost 150,000 acres of protected land and hosts around half a million visitors each year. The Great Sand Dunes National Park is a familiar site for residents of the San Luis Valley. By Sierra Romero & Sabrina Brewer, Colorado College Journalism Interns