*** FORMER OFFICIAL VISIT UTAH GEOTOUR GEOCACHE THE UTAH GEOTOUR HAS ENDED***
THIS IS A MULTI-STAGE GEOCACHE PUZZLE AND LETTERBOX. SO, ALONG WITH A LOG-SHEET, IT INCLUDES 3 ORIGINAL INK STAMPS FOR YOUR STAMP BOOK. BRING YOUR OWN INK PAD. THE CACHE IS NOT AT THE POSTED COORDINATES, YOU WILL HAVE TO FIND ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS THAT ARE ON SIGNS IN THE AREA TO DISCOVER THE ACTUAL LOCATION OF THE CACHE CONTAINER. HAVE FUN!!
This cache is designed to let you use your imagination and step back in time to a landmark location in Ogden, Utah called Historic 25thStreet. You will be taking a walking tour of a 2-block area known as the "Gold Medal Mile."
The tour of 25thStreet can be completed, if you rush, in a half hour. Our hope is that you will decide to take much longer and enjoy the many delightful stores and places of interest along the way, which is the main goal of this Utah GeoTour experience.
During the early 20th century, 25thStreet was a center of activity in Ogden. Home to retail shops, restaurants, ice cream parlors, hotels, and laundries, the street was also a common site for illicit activities such as gambling, prostitution and narcotic sales. Popularly known as ‘’Two-Bit Street’’, the area obtained such a seedy reputation that Al Capone is rumored to have said that Ogden was too wild a town for him. An urban legend tells of a system of underground tunnels that bootleggers created during prohibition to move alcohol from Union Station to the Bigelow-Ben Lomond Hotel located on the east end of the neighborhood. One newspaper editor wrote, "Beware citizens and visitors to our fair city disembarking at the 25thStreet train station! That so-called "Golden Mile" is packed with so much vice, wickedness, and mayhem, the Devil himself has to watch his back!"
Today, Historic 25th street is a much calmer place. However, we like to remember the past and enjoy our heritage, even if it is a bit seedy. As you stroll down the modern day Two-bit Street, you can enjoy restaurants, art galleries, and retail shops. The street hosts outdoor community events such as a farmers' market (July through September) and car shows. The rebuilt Union Station houses the Utah State Railroad Museums, the John M. Browning Arms Museum, and the Browning-Kimball Classic Car Museum. The street is also the location for the Ogden City Municipal Building and the Federal Courthouse.
Every summer, 55 full-size, beautifully and uniquely-painted horse statues are placed along the sidewalk to celebrate Ogden’s Pioneer Days. Look for them if you are here in the summer. They are painted by local artists.
You're in for much more on this tour than just finding the geocache. If you have a good imagination, allow yourself to step into the past and conjure up an idea of what 25thStreet was like in its heyday. Each stop on your tour will give you a brief history of that particular spot. Keep your eyes open and notice how the architecture of the buildings has been so delightfully preserved and restored. Notice the details in brickwork, moldings and bright colors as you walk by and stick your nose in a store or two. If you do, the charm of 25thStreet will come alive again, just for you.
Please trade fairly and help us to keep the cache well stocked. Once you have found the cache, feel free to stay a while, relax and enjoy yourself. After signing the log and taking a photo (By the way, PLEASE DO NOT SHOW ANYTHING IN THE PHOTO THAT WILL GIVE AWAY THE LOCATION!!!!), go back and further explore those shops, eateries and museums you missed first time around, or check out some of the other sites to see around Ogden.
PARKING:
You can park in the parking lots just north of 25thstreet, behind the shops and south of the Marriott Hotel. Parking on 25thstreet is also free, and free parking is also available at the Union Station Museum. Other areas may have fees during the day, so please pay attention to all signage before you park.
GEOCACHE HUNT DIRECTIONS:
To find this Geocache, you must walk up and down 25th street, between Wall Ave and Washington Avenue, and locate the billboard informational signs placed by the Historic 25th Street association. They are located along the sidewalk, and resemble old newspaper front pages. The answers to the questions below can be found on the signs. Somewhere along the way, take a photo of yourself at an interesting landmark. We request you do NOT take your photo at the final location as this could give it away to future seekers and spoil the fun. SPOILER PHOTOS WILL BE DELETED!!!
Locate the Billboard Signs and answer the questions below:
#1 The Vices of 25th Street
How many slot machines are in the picture?
Answer = A
#2 A History Rich with Legends
The address of the White Elephant Club was 3__0 25th Street.
Answer = B
#3 The Development of 25th Street
The first time 25th Street was paved it took ___ carloads of gravel. Divide this number by 5.
Answer = C
Lunchtime hours on 25th Street were 11 to ___.
Answer = D
#5 The Cultural Heart of the City
How many porters are in the picture at the top of the sign?
Answer = E
#6 World War II on 25th Street
As many as 1__0 trains moved through Ogden Union Station Each Day.
Answer = F
#7 Welcome to Historic 25th Street
In the early 1900’s on 25th Street there were…
How many saloons and pool halls?
Answer = VW
How many hotels?
Answer = XY
Now, plug in your answers to the following coordinates to find the final location of the geocache:
N 41° 13. ABC W 111° 58. DEF
I have removed the combination to the box at the final location. So you no longer need the answers to question 7:
But it was finding them, right?
Special Thanks to the Historic 25thstreet association, Ogden City, and the State of Utah DFCM for their help getting this all accomplished!!