B. Travis Wright, MPS

Preserving the places and stories that shape Colorado.

As a Rollins Pass historian, Moffat Tunnel researcher, and published author, I’ve advocated for the soul of Rollins Pass by co-founding Preserve Rollins Pass. Our long-term initiative combines original research, public education, and advocacy to protect the cultural resources and historic character of the Continental Divide.

For close to two decades, I’ve worked with archaeologists, Tribal leaders, land managers, and specialists to champion the region’s preservation. This work has helped defeat a proposed billion-dollar land exchange. These efforts have shaped public understanding, influenced federal decision-making, and produced resources that make complex preservation processes more understandable and advocacy more actionable.

My historical research encompasses Colorado’s mountain communities, the Moffat Road railroad corridor, the East Portal Camp Cabins, and the transportation history of Boulder, Gilpin, and Grand counties. These places form part of a connected Rocky Mountain landscape whose cultural resources, engineering history, and surviving structures continue to inform my preservation work.

From Section 106 consultation and landmark designations to historical documentation and public advocacy, I combine field research, policy knowledge, and principles of alternative dispute resolution to build consensus across government, private and Tribal sectors.

I currently serve as President of the Grand County Historical Association, which operates four museums; Chair of the Gilpin County Historic Preservation Commission; and Vice Chair of the Grand County Historic Preservation Board. These responsibilities encompass museum stewardship, historical interpretation, preservation policy, and public decision-making throughout Colorado’s mountain communities.

Reconstructing lives that history left behind.

One of my continuing research efforts, undertaken with Kate Wright, involves reconstructing the identities, circumstances, and burial histories of individuals whose deaths were connected with the Moffat Tunnel’s construction era and subsequent operation.

As of October 2026, our research record documents 60 individuals: 55 associated with the 1923–1928 construction period and five whose deaths occurred after construction. The findings remain provisional where evidence is incomplete, and the research distinguishes occupational fatalities, construction community deaths, and unresolved cases rather than treating every death as having an identical cause or connection.

Working from death certificates, coroner’s records, contemporary newspapers, cemetery documentation, family histories, and other primary sources, our goal is to restore the individual stories behind the numbers. With the Moffat Tunnel’s centennial approaching in February 2028, historical accuracy and recognition of these lives are central to that work.

I’m also developing an illustrated book on the history of the Moffat Tunnel for its 2028 centennial, drawing on original research, rare photographs, archival discoveries, and the experiences of the people who built it. The project remains in development, with publication planned for 2028. Learn more about the forthcoming centennial book.

Responsible flight, informed decisions, and new perspectives.

As an FAA Part 107-certified remote pilot and volunteer DronePro Representative with the FAA Safety Team, I support safe and responsible drone operations through education on airspace regulations, liability, and risk mitigation. The DronePro program enables experienced pilots to help advance aviation safety through public outreach and education.

I regularly serve as a keynote presenter on topics ranging from historic preservation and land defense to drone compliance and operational safety. My aerial photography and video have supported national FAA campaigns, appeared in more than 80 video shorts, and helped share Colorado’s history through regional and international broadcasts.

Aligning technology, organizational priorities, and risk.

In my role as Enterprise vCIO, I advise publicly traded companies, billion-dollar enterprises, and tribally owned organizations on aligning information technology strategy with their missions and business objectives. My approach relies on clear communication, active listening, and strategic continuity—especially where competing priorities and technical risk can have material consequences.

As an experienced cybersecurity and technology leader and credentialed Cisco Meraki specialist, I bring more than 20 years of operational experience to work ranging from developing global procedures and departments to designing technical infrastructure and processes from conception through maturity.

Across private equity-backed companies, nonprofits, Silicon Valley startups, and Fortune 500 enterprises, I’ve worked to consolidate fragmented resources and develop secure, capable, and scalable solutions. Building teams with strong engagement, low turnover, and clear accountability is essential to this work— particularly when organizational continuity and successful exits depend on reliable execution.

Making complex subjects understandable—and decisions more informed.

As a Colorado history speaker, I deliver presentations on Rollins Pass, the Moffat Tunnel, Colorado railroad history, historic preservation, and the cultural landscapes of the Rocky Mountains. My presentations translate archival evidence, field research, and historical imagery into accessible interpretation for audiences across Colorado.

My work as a published historian, public speaker, museum association president, and preservation commissioner depends on communicating complex information accurately and helping different audiences understand what is at stake. From historical presentations to public policy discussions, the purpose is to make evidence accessible without sacrificing its context.

I draw on professional museum benchmarks and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Archaeology and Historic Preservation when working with historical resources. These standards help guide documentation, stewardship, interpretation, and the responsible preservation of places and artifacts for future generations.

I am a two-time graduate of the University of Denver. After graduating summa cum laude, I earned a master’s degree with concentrations in alternative dispute resolution and web-enabled information systems. That education helps me facilitate deliberative engagement, navigate competing interests, and support better decision-making among elected officials, volunteers, and organizations.