Dave Lively | Home | Certified Interpretive Guide

What people are saying about Dave...

“This was the best historic tour I have ever attended. RMNP is lucky to have Dave Lively as a volunteer, and we hope the program continues for many years.”

– T. Pickett, Texas

“A true lover of Rocky and the many wonderful stories of the park and it’s people!”

– Mary Taylor Young, author,

“Rocky Mountain National Park-The First 100 Years”

“Dave Lively’s presentation “People of the Kawuneeche Valley” is superb. Probably no one knows more or tells the story of the valley so well. Dave’s own family has deep roots in that gorgeous mountain valley on the headwaters of the Colorado River, known by the Arapaho as Kawuneeche or Coyote Creek. Dave provides a unique mix of family history, hos own scholarship and his experience leading tours of that fabled valley noted for its dude ranches, spectacular scenery, trout fishing and moose galore.”

- Tom “Dr. Colorado” Noel,

Professor of History and Director of Public History,

Preservation and Colorado Studies at University of Colorado Denver.

"An engaging and informative storyteller, Mr. Lively shared a great deal of intriguing information about the Native Americans and early settlers in the valley.”

- Christopher R.

Overland Park, Kansas

"The Denver Westerners express appreciation to Dave Lively for an important contribution to western history."

“Dave Lively knows his stuff. He's a consummate storyteller who has done deep and admirable research to bring tangible life to true stories surrounding Colorado landscapes that we all love. His words and images create enlightening history lessons, engaging stories and a memorable experience.”

- Jennie Lay

Bud Werner Memorial Library

“The wonderful stories you tell give all of us so much appreciation for this wonderful valley in which we live.

Thank you ever so much, Dave.”

- Donna L.

Very Interesting – very fluid – very knowledgeable

Diane B.

Dave is a good, enthusiastic speaker & spoke w/o notes. He’s very entertaining and he has wonderful photos which he showed on the large screen.

Robin M.

Wonderful presentation! Great story, great photos, great history. You have inspired me to work more on our family history.

Jane W.

Wonderful, informative and entertaining presentation. Thank you!

Jamie T.

Dave’s passionate presentation had me sitting on the edge of my seat! He brought Colorado history to life.

Rhonda E.

The program given last night by Dave Lively on the Harbison family was excellent! We thoroughly enjoyed it.

Ken and Carol S.

I just want to comment on how much I enjoyed your Sisters of Courage program again yesterday. Your delivery was spot on and really stayed with me – even when I already knew the story!

Sara S.

…we immensely enjoyed your lecture. It was absolutely delightful, thorough and informative. I enjoyed the story so much and want to share it with others.

Heather L.

Dave Lively gives the best rendition of any I have heard in any of the National Parks. Thank You.

Margery C.

Media Kit

D.S. 2014

Website by Creative Bearings, Inc.
Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

970-870-8008

Welcome to Lively Tours and Talks

You have been asked to schedule a presentation for your group or you need a local guide for your motor coach tour of Rocky Mountain National Park.

You have come to the right place.

I partner with you to offer your group historical programs at your location or I will be your Step-On tour guide. You and your group will be entertained while discovering the ordinary people from the past who lived extraordinary lives. I'm easy to reach through the contact tab. Let's work together to meet your schedule.

About

Dave Lively is a dynamic speaker with the power to make his audience laugh and cry by shining light on hidden narratives. As you absorb the splendor of “Rocky” you will be captivated by his stories of Rocky Mountain National Park and Grand Lake. You will be provided with accurate information that you may not discover otherwise while enjoying fast paced stories of the area’s people.

Dave is a resident and well-known historian in Grand Lake, Colorado, and the only Certified Tour Guide in Grand County. His family homesteaded what is now the Grand Lake entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park, allowing him the opportunity to have a unique, detailed knowledge that no one else does. He appears in “The Living Dream: 100 Years of Rocky Mountain National Park”, a documentary appearing on PBS stations nationwide. He is a speaker for the Rocky Mountain National Park Centennial Speakers Series and conducts historic tours and seminars for Rocky Mountain National Park, Rocky Mountain Conservancy, Trail River Ranch education center, and is a Step-On guide for History Colorado.

If you are seeking an engaging speaker for your group, a guide for your short hike or outing, or a Step-On tour guide for your motor coach, Dave will provide you with his unique insights into an area that is much more than a beautiful landscape. Whether indoors or out you will be charmed and educated by Dave’s enthusiasm and passion for his topics. His tours, programs and walks offer any gathering enchanting glimpses of local history with emphasis on his philosophy,

“It’s about the people.”

Subscribe to Dave Lively's YouTube channel to stay informed of new programs and excerpts from presentations.

Background & Affiliations:

Certified Interpretive Guide, National Association for Interpretation
Certified Tour Guide, International Guide Academy
First Aid, CPR/AED Qualified
Volunteer for 10 seasons at Rocky Mountain National Park conducting Ranger-Led interpretive programs
Fully Insured
Past President at Grand Lake Area Historical Society, Historic Fraser and Grand County Historical Association
Past Vice Chair & West Slope Rep at Colorado Preservation, Inc.
Past Chairman at Grand County Historic Preservation Board
Grand Lake Area Historical Society
Colorado Preservation, Inc.
Grand County Historical Association
American Association of State and Local History
National Association for Interpretation
Rollins Pass Restoration Association
Denver Posse of Westerners

Gallery

Ice saws may have been used in the Grand Lake area as early as the mid 1880’s when the founder of Grand Lake Village, James Cairns, had a small icehouse near his first home. Rob Harbison with his father, Andrew, cut blocks of ice sometimes measuring 2 feet x 2 feet from the winter waters of Grand Lake as early as the winter of 1898-1899. They built an icehouse at the Harbison Dairy Ranch to store the ice and sell with their milk deliveries the following summers. The ice was covered with up to 18 inches of sawdust to insulate if from melting over the summer. Often Rob Harbison would deliver ice into September.

The ice saw is just over 7 feet long and weighs about 14 pounds. Unlike most “2 man” wood saws the blade tapers from 7 inches across to 4 inches across. The “set” of the teeth differs from a wood saw in that the teeth do not have to have a wide separation of angle to cut and clean the debris from the teeth.

In 1911 GE introduced a household refrigeration unit that was powered by gas. In 1927 GE released the Monitor Top, the first electric refrigerator.

A Railroad lantern with red lens usually hung on rear of the caboose to indicate the train was stopping or already stopped. Andrew Harbison was an Engineer on the Pennsylvania Railroad before joining the Union Army in 1864 during the Civil War. This kerosene lantern is a Harbison family heirloom. The lantern signifies my desire to shine light on hidden narratives.

Andrew Harbison kept this diary between January 1 and October 2, 1893. Nothing was written until he began again January 16, 1897. It was kept intermittently through April 22, 1900. He wrote primarily in the evenings and rarely in the busy summer time.

Sunday January 16 1897 “I arrived at Grand Lake July 15th 1896. Annie and Katie (daughter Kittie sometimes written as Katie) arrived here Sep 11th Mary and Robert arrived Nov 1st Since coming here we have done considerable work on the girls homesteads. Built a cabin and moved into it on January 8th 1897. The first snow fell the 28th of October and we have snow frequently since. The snow at present is about twenty inches deep. We have all had good health since coming here. The winter so far has been moderate. Harry’s lake closed about November 10th.”

This 5-gallon milk can was used at the Harbison Dairy Ranch in Grand Lake by Rob Harbison to deliver milk to homes and hotels. After delivering to his customers in town, he would load two of these cans in a boat and row ¾ miles across Grand Lake to deliver to homes on the south shore. Milk would be poured from this into a smaller container to be sold for 10 cents per quart. After you purchased 10 quarts the 11th quart was free. These cans were stored in the Harbison ditch to keep the milk cool until delivered.

Calendar

-2017-

PROGRAM:

COST:

Mondays

June 19 - September 4 - 1:00 PM

ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK

Free - Public welcome!

Kawuneeche Valley Visitor Center

16018 US-34, Grand Lake, CO 80447

“SISTERS OF COURAGE”

In 1896 Annie and Kittie Harbison homesteaded in the Kawuneeche Valley near Grand Lake.

Enjoy a journey into the past sharing the pioneer experience of the Harbison sisters and their family’s extraordinary life.

The Harbisons - An ordinary family who led an extraordinary life.

Sisters of Courage

PROGRAM:

COST:

Tuesdays

June 20 - August 29 - 11:00 AM

ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK

Free - Public welcome (RMNP entrance fees required)

Bowen/Baker trailhead parking lot

Rocky's West Side Stories

PROGRAM:

COST:

Wednesday

June 28th - 5:30 PM

Vail Public Library

Free - Public welcome!

Vail Public Library

292 W Meadow Dr. Vail, CO

Rocky's West Side Stories

PROGRAM:

COST:

Saturday

July 1st - 7:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Emily Warner Aviation Museum

Free - Public welcome!

Granby Airport

1023 County Road 610, Granby, CO 80446

“SISTERS OF COURAGE”

In 1896 Annie and Kittie Harbison homesteaded in the Kawuneeche Valley near Grand Lake.

Enjoy a journey into the past sharing the pioneer experience of the Harbison sisters and their family’s extraordinary life.

The Harbisons - An ordinary family who led an extraordinary life.

History of Aviation in Grand County

“KAWUNEECHE VALLEY HERITAGE”

Do you ever wish you had lived in the pioneer days? You would have the inspiration to cross the Ute trails over the mountains to camp on the side of Colorado’s largest lake. You would discover the courage, and adaptability to live in a cave on the side of the mountain while digging a ditch to divert water out of the Grand River. Or you could work at the Hotel DeHardscrabble.