I am the founder behind TheCuriousOnlooker.com (TCO)—a blog dedicated to uncovering interesting people, places, and things in the Intermountain West of America.
Have you ever wondered: Why is the Grand Canyon so breathtaking? Was Butch Cassidy real and was he really an outlaw with the Sundance Kid? Who are today’s descendants of the ancient Anasazi people? What drew so many settlers to the mountains of Colorado? If so, then you’re in the right place. TheCuriousOnlooker (TCO) explores these questions and many more in a straightforward, informative style. TCO’s goal is to make our topics accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
My Roots and Love for the American West
I was born in Southern California. My parents immigrated from Holland (The Netherlands…wooden shoes, windmills, good chocolate) in the early 1950s. My parents were curious about their new homeland and explored as much and as often as they could. They instilled in me that same curiosity and love for exploration. We camped and went on field trips often. We discovered the wonders of the West together—from Yosemite to Zion National Park to Bryce Canyon, the Grand Canyon, and more.
My passion for the Intermountain West came to me early. When I was 12 years old, I spent a summer working on a cattle ranch in Cokeville, Wyoming. There I learned to milk cows, saddle horses, herd cattle, change sprinkler pipe, avoid badger holes, drive a massive tractor with a hay baler running behind it, fish for trout in icy streams, build huge haystacks, and yes—even clean out stinky barns! Those hands-on experiences in the mountains of Wyoming left a lasting impression.
Later, as a teenager, I gained another invaluable perspective when a Navajo foster brother from the reservation near Page, Arizona, joined our family. He opened my eyes to Navajo culture, history, and traditions. He deepened my appreciation for the many different people who have called the Intermountain West home.
From College Adventures to Family Explorations
I attended Brigham Young University in the heart of Utah’s Wasatch Mountains. Robert Redford’s Sundance ski resort was just minutes away. After the stress of final exams, I explored old mines, ghost towns, and the backroads of Central Utah. The mountains, forests, lakes, and streams helped me get ready for the next semester.
Photo – F R Lambrechtsen
When I started my own family, we settled in the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains. We continued the tradition of camping whenever possible. When my oldest daughter was still small, I remember taking her with me to fish for Brown trout on the Logan River in Utah’s Cache Valley.
Over the years, our family adventures took us across the region. We lived for a time in Littleton, Colorado. We camped once in the Medicine Bow National Forest between Fort Collins and Laramie, Wyoming. It was an experience that left an indelible mark. We also spent time with family in Southeastern Idaho, exploring West Yellowstone, Island Park, the Grand Tetons, Lava Hot Springs, and more.
Photo – F R Lambrechtsen
As empty-nesters in the 2010s, my wife and I explored even deeper into the Intermountain West. We visited Santa Fe (New Mexico), Mesa Verde (Colorado), Devils Tower (Wyoming), Canyon de Chelly (Arizona), City of Rocks (Idaho), Spiral Jetty (Utah), Winnemucca (Nevada), and Bozeman (Montana). Each trip added new layers of understanding and appreciation for these vast, beautiful parts of the country.
Photo – F R Lambrechtsen
How TheCuriousOnlooker Was Born
I’ve always loved to write. As a teenager I started keeping a journal. In elementary school, the books I looked for in the library were biographies. Those early camping trips sparked my curiosity about different places, cultures, and things.
In the early 2000s, I read a book titled – The Celebrated Pedestrian and Other Historical Curiosities: A Miscellany. That collection of historical facts and trivia inspired the name “The Curious Onlooker” and the website thecuriousonlooker.com.
As my professional career began to wind down, I decided it was time to do more of what I truly enjoy: researching and writing about the interesting people, places, and things in the part of America where I have deep roots and have grown to love—the American West.
What You’ll Find Here
On TheCuriousOnlooker site, you’ll find approachable articles about:
- The dramatic landscapes and natural wonders of Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and beyond.
- Colorful historical figures like Butch Cassidy, Geronimo, and the “Unsinkable Molly Brown”.
- Ancient cultures, including the Anasazi (Ancestral Puebloans) and their descendants.
- Pioneer stories, ghost towns, old mines, and the waves of settlers who shaped the region.
- Curious facts and lesser-known stories that bring history to life.
Our goal is simple: Share the stories and places we’ve been curious about and share them in a way that sparks your own curiosity—simply and enjoyably.
Join Us on the Journey
Whether you’re a history buff, an armchair traveler, or someone who simply enjoys learning something new, we invite you to pull up a chair and stay awhile. Explore the latest posts, dive into the archives, or reach out with your own questions about the people, places, and curious things that make the Intermountain West so special.
Thank you for visiting. We’re glad you’re here and—let’s keep the curiosity alive together.
