Explore rich western history on a new ‘Talking Trail

Logan County • Crook, Fleming, Illiff, Merino, Peetz, Sterling Explore rich western history on a new ‘Talking Trail’

There are 31 stops on the Talking Trail, including landmarks and public art pieces

By Brittany Anas

Car ved from 30,000 pounds of marble, renowned ar tist Bradford Rhea’s Exordium sculpture depicting angels is an immaculate piece of ar twork. Now, those mar veling at the sculpture can learn fascinating context about Rhea’s ar tistic process thanks to the new Logan County Talking Trail that makes landmarks and ar twork more personable.

The Talking Trail, which is accessed with a free downloadable app, allows residents and visitors alike to tour Logan County at their own pace and hear interesting narratives about the area’s buildings, landmarks, points of interest and public art pieces. So far, there are 31 talking points throughout the county, including the Logan County Cour thouse, the Union Pacific Depot and a historic jail cell.

“The Talking Trail captures our rich Western history,” says Glenna Phelps-Aurich, executive director of the Logan County Chamber of Commerce.

Making stops along the Talking Trail, she says, is an ideal socially distanced activity for visitors who are in town exploring the area’s shops and restaurants.

Many of Rhea’s sculptures are featured on the Talking Trail as the famed ar tist launched his sculpting career on Colorado’s high plains, giving new life to dying cottonwood tree trunks that he car ved into whimsical creatures and heavenly angels. His work earned Sterling the nick-

The historic Logan County Courthouse in downtown Sterling is one of over two dozen points of interest on the Logan County Talking Trail. (Sara Waite/Journal-Advocate)

If you go

More information: Talking Trail: talkingtrail.com/ logancounty Logan County Chamber of Commerce: logancountychamber.com

name “City of Living Trees.” Rhea’s Skygrazers sculpture — a bronzed elm tree with giraf fes — in Sterling’s Columbine Park is a favorite photo stop.

As a sculptor, Rhea worked with not just trees but also clay, wax and bronze. The Exordium sculpture was his first marble piece.

Those who tune into the Talking Trail to hear about the sculpture will learn some lesser-known facts, like how Rhea found the marble block at a Glenwood Springs quarr y and that he was in the habit of listening to classical music as he chiseled away at his sculptures. As part of his process, Rhea star ts working on his pieces from the top. It took him five years to complete the Exordium sculpture, which depicts seven angels and is inspired by Revelation 8:6 about the seven angels with the seven trumpets prepared to sound.

Other interesting facts visitors will glean from the Logan County Talking Trail include how the Logan County Cour thouse was built in 1908 for $100,000 and how the Union Pacific Depot was visited by former Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Herbert Hoover.

Exordium, renowned Merino artist Bradford Rhea's first marble sculpture, is made from a 30,000 pound block of marble from a quarry in Glenwood Springs. (Photo courtesy of Logan County Chamber of Commerce)