About the Western Investigation Team

What is the Western Investigations Team?

The Western Investigation team is composed of Museum of Western Colorado staff, scientists, consultants, and college interns. The group works as a team to solve enduring mysteries of the West through historical research and by using the latest in scientific technology. The group started as a result of the success of the Alferd Packer Lost Camp Expedition, which discovered Packer's cannibal camp in Lake City. Museum of Western Colorado's Curator of History David Bailey serves as Director of the Western Investigations Team (WIT) and Dr. Rick Dujay, Director of the Electron Microscopy Lab at Mesa State, serves as WIT Scientific Coordinator.

Kannah Creek Case

The case began on April 1, 1961, when Keith and Anita Clark, accompanied by Mrs. Melvin Beye, found an unusual bronze relic with religious depictions during an afternoon hike. The artifact was found near the Ute Trail in the Kannah Creek area, southeast of Grand Junction, Colorado...

To read more, click here

Kimball Creek Mystery Floor

In the spring of 1937, Tom Kenney was doing some excavation work on his ranch and uncovered a perfectly laid flag stone pavement. He then cleared out a five foot by ten feet area to examine the floor more carefully. He assumed the floor was built by an unknown ancient civilization...

To read more, click here 

Alferd Packer Lost Camp Expedition 2004

During the first week of September 2004, a fifteen-member museum expedition conducted an archaeological trip to the Alferd Packer site. The team consisting of scientists, archaeologists, anthropologists, and historians conducted thorough examinations of the area with metal detectors and usual inspection devices.

To read more, click here

Alferd Packer Murder Site Re-investigation

On June 30, 2005 the Western Investigations Team conducted their first field expedition to the Alferd Packer Murder Site. The team included Museum Director Mike Perry, Archaeologist John Lindstrom, WIT Director David Bailey, Mesa State Professor Dr. Rick Dujay, and WIT intern Tina Smith who examined...

To read more, click here