

Alpine Explorers! Following in Their Footprints
Picture this: July 19, 1887. Two of the world’s most famous botanists are hiking up Grays Peak together, collecting alpine plants and making discoveries that would influence science for generations.
One was Alice Eastwood – the fearless female botanist who would later save thousands of plant specimens by carrying them down 17 flights of stairs during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.
The other was Alfred Russel Wallace – the man who co-discovered the theory of evolution alongside Charles Darwin.
But what brought these scientific legends to Colorado? How did they meet? And what did they discover on our 14,270-foot peak?
This incredible story was recently brought back to life when Denver Botanic Gardens curator Amy Schneider and Betty Ford Alpine Gardens recreated their exact journey – following their footsteps, collecting the same species, and uncovering new details about this historic expedition.
Join us for “ALPINE EXPLORERS! FOLLOWING IN THEIR FOOTPRINTS” to hear:
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The fascinating backstory of how these scientific giants met
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Details of their Colorado alpine adventure
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What plants they collected and why it mattered
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How modern botanists recreated their 135-year-old journey
Speaker: Amy Schneider, Assistant Curator in Horticulture at Denver Botanic Gardens
Wednesday, July 30 @ 5:30PM
Education Center in Ford Park
Tickets: $15, Member Discount Available
This is more than a history lesson – it’s an adventure story that connects Colorado’s alpine treasures to world-changing scientific discoveries.
Reserve your spot today!
Parking: Vail Village Parking Structure -Free
Ford Park Parking Lot -$2/hour, first hour free
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