Historical Sites

Colorado Historical Sites

Colorado is definitely not short in the history department, with significant historical sites from corner to corner of our square-shaped state.

Southeast Colorado has Bent’s Old Fort, the original built-in 1833 to trade with Plains Indians and trappers along the Santa Fe Trail. North of Denver is the Lindenmeier Site, an extensive Folsom culture campsite yet found with artifacts dating from approximately 11200 BC to 3000 BC. Southwest in the Four Corners is Mesa Verde National Park, which is a historical site full of ruins, ancient homes, and villages built by the ancient Pueblo people. Northwest is Dinosaur National Monument, with fossils from the Jurassic Period some 150 million years old. The mountains of course are a testament to the fabulous Gold and Silver Rushes – and Native Americans once inhabited every part of this great state.

No matter where you are at any given moment, you’re in a historically prominent spot. Rejoice!

Pagosa Springs

Things to Do in Pagosa Springs, Colorado

Nestled in Southwest Colorado at the base of the Continental Divide, Pagosa Springs is one of the state’s undiscovered gems. Known for its three natural hot springs facilities, “Pagosah” is the Southwestern Ute word for “healing waters”. With 300+days of sunshine, ancient archaeological areas, and pristine forests, Pagosa Springs offers plenty of opportunities to soak up the scenery and enliven your spirit.

Surrounded by the largest contiguous wilderness area in the country, the Weminuche Wilderness, visitors to Pagosa Springs enjoy more than 3 million acres of National Forest to hike, bike, climb, drive, run, fish, raft, float, ride or explore our endless trails.

Pagosa Springs also offers visitors a rich geological and cultural history with Chimney Rock Archeological Site, the farthest “outlier” of Chaco Canyon, offering a fascinating historical look into the ancient culture of the Ancestral Puebloan Indians and the Fred Harman and Historical Museums both giving and intriguing insight at the rich past.

Grand Junction

Visit Grand Junction, Colorado

Surrounded by some of the most fantastic – and fantastical – landscapes on the continent, Grand Junction is a study in contrasts. Here in far western Colorado, the Colorado River meets up with the Gunnison and flows onto the Gulf of California. Even with the two rivers’ confluence, much of the area is desert-like. But it also boasts abundant fruit tree orchards, vegetable farms and an increasingly fruitful wine industry.

Things to do Places to See – Grand Junction

Off to the west of the city, where the desert gets serious, visitors encounter jutting spires, enormous domes and yawning, mysterious canyons of the awesome Colorado Monument, but just a short drive to the southeastern hem of the city is the much cooler, much higher pine and aspen forested wilderness of Grand Mesa, the largest flattop mountain in the world.

Oh, and to the north is a moonscape of weathered rock known as the Book Cliffs.

You’ll find much in the way of water sports – there’s plenty of fishing both on the Mesa and the Gunnison; the Colorado is great for guided white water raft trips that can be expanded to include kayaking.

Mountain biking is unparalleled no matter which direction you go; hiking is likewise an adventure waiting while you to lace your boots; horseback riding can take you through lush forests atop the Mesa or into a shadow-filled canyon. Climbing enthusiasts will enjoy mountain climbing, bouldering, canyoneering – the challenges change with the topography.

And don’t forget you can get off the beaten path and go four-wheeling as well.

Grand Junction Business District

Downtown is a charming mix of old and new, Western and college town. There are enough restaurants to give you ample choices in cuisine and appointment; shopping is just as adventurous as you might expect in a town that continues to spread its wings culturally. It’s eclectic but, at the same time, reassuringly peaceful – a mix of culture and outdoor activity flare.

Music at Colorado Mesa University is a series of more than three dozen concerts; the Math & Science Center features more than 150 interactive exhibits geared for kids; Western Colorado Center for the Arts features exhibits and educational programs; and you can cheer on the boys of summer at a Grand Junction Rockies Minor League baseball game!

If that’s not enough, go fly a kite – or, better yet, go for a helicopter tour and get a bird’s eye view of the beautiful Grand Junction.

Gateway

Find Adventure in Gateway, Colorado

The breathtaking setting for unincorporated Gateway in far western Colorado is the rugged buttes and depths of John Brown and Unaweep canyons, and as its name implies, the town is a gateway from Colorado into bordering Utah.

Offering a great staging area for adventures in the La Sal Mountains and the Uncompahgre National Forest, Gateway gives access to spectacular rock formations and sweeping vistas, but the region is also replete with desert arroyos that can and do flood quickly during sudden rainstorms. Knowing the signs saves lives.

Water enthusiasts find thrills in whitewater rapids of class III and IV that sweep through the five-mile stretch of the Dolores River through Paradox Canyon, and for pure exploration exhilaration, the Unaweep/Taberguache Scenic and Historic Byway can’t be beat. The 133-mile byway takes you through the red sandstone formations of Unaweep, where prehistoric fossils are visible in the many layers of the Uncompahgre Plateau.

Gateway Canyons Resort, Discovery Channel founder John S. Hendricks, provides a wide array of outdoor activity with mountain biking, horseback riding, hiking and climbing, fishing and rafting, kayaking, off-road tours, air tours, several foot races, a large bike race and even an auto museum.

Dolores

Explore Dolores, Colorado

Outside Magazine calls the town of Dolores “adventure base camp for the whole family,” and we couldn’t agree more. With the Dolores River running south, and beautiful sandstone cliffs to the north, this charming town is only three blocks wide. Surrounded by the San Juan National Forest and McPhee Reservoir, you’ll feel like a local with mountain biking and hiking, paddle boarding or kayaking, snowshoe or cross country skiing opportunities straight from town or head up the mesa to the Boggy Draw trail system to start your adventure.

“Rio de Nuestra Senora de las Dolores” or The River of Our Lady of Sorrows, was named by Dominquez and Escalante, Spanish Catholic priests who came through the area seeking routes from the missions of Santa Fe, NM to California in 1776. In 1891, the railhead was established at the present site of Dolores, and became a major stop on the rail line between Ridgway, Telluride and Durango. A half rail car on the Rio Grande Southern Railroad, nicknamed the Galloping Goose, ran the mail and passenger routes and it lives on today at the Railroad Museum in Flanders Park.

Walk or float from Riverside Park to the east all the way to Joe Rowell Park to the west with access all along the public trail for some of the best fly fishing waters in Southwest Colorado. Dolores is your headquarters for local history and outdoor fun, with fascinating shops and boutiques, excellent restaurants including a local brewery, and river front and in-town lodging options to fit every traveler.

Mancos

Experience Mancos, Colorado

When Louis L’Amour wrote about the West, more often than not, he was talking about the Mancos River Valley. Nestled below the Mesa Verde Mountains, this riverside town still holds much of the same western charm contained within his many, beloved novels which featured the area. Historic buildings filled with art, quaint shops and a family owned bakery line the streets of downtown where modern day travelers and locals alike navigate amongst stagecoaches, cattle drives and cowboys.

In Mancos, you’ll find farm to table restaurants, farmers markets, natural food markets, coffee roasters and home town burger joints as well as one of the oldest continuously operating bars in Colorado. Stay at a bed and breakfast, historic hotel, guest ranch or a motel in the heart of town. With hot air balloon festivals, main street parades, gallery tours and street fairs, the opportunities to become part of this friendly community present themselves at every turn.

Creativity abounds in this small town. The artisans of Mancos craft beer and rum, leather goods and jewelry as well as world renowned bronze sculpture. Hand made western hats are designed to sit atop famous, hollywood heads along with the local, working cowboys who appreciate this time honored tradition of creating quality goods. This blend of the old and new, in art and in life, makes Mancos, where the west still lives, a must experience location within the communities of Mesa Verde Country.

Cortez

Explore Cortez, Colorado

Located just eight miles from the entrance to Mesa Verde National Park, Cortez features over 600 acres of parks, trails, and open space. To the North, you’ll find Carpenter Natural Area, with 176 acres and easy access to trails for biking and hiking. To the South, enjoy the 122-acre Hawkins Preserve with the opportunity for hiking, biking, rock climbing, and star-gazing from the slick rock trails to the canyon edge, overlooking McElmo Creek. There are even excavated archaeological sites contained within the preserve, which the Cortez Cultural Center owns.

Parque de Vida

At the heart of it all you’ll find beautiful Parque de Vida with ponds for fishing and feeding ducks, as miles of sidewalks wind through the park systems and bring this community together with outdoor amphitheaters for summer festivals. The Rec Center has something for every age group with pools, a climbing wall, racquetball courts, indoor basketball courts, BMX track, a performance stage, skate park, a playground, fitness area, and more. A 50 meter outdoor pool with a 125 foot double loop water slide, a splash pad with spraying jets and play features including a 60 gallon dumping bucket. All of these amenities are just one block north of Main Street near the Colorado Welcome Center where you can also purchase your tickets for ranger-guided tours at Mesa Verde. The ideal jumping-off point for many adventures, Cortez has a wide variety of lodging, shopping and dining opportunities including local breweries and wineries. A weekly Farmer’s Market features the agricultural heritage and commitment to local, organic foods which are featured at many restaurants in the region. Several exceptional galleries, museums and trading posts reflect the culture and creativity of the Southwest. Cortez remains the trading center of the Four Corners as it has for over 2,000 years with artistry passed down through generations to create a community which celebrates the traditions of the past and a collective vision for the future.

Silverton

Experience Silverton, Colorado

The Warmer Days

The most frequent question Silvertonians field each summer is, “So, when does your town close?”. It’s true that the bulk of our tourist traffic flows in the summer. The scenic train is in full swing bringing thousands of visitors up that majestic canyon. And Silverton’s 4th of July Festival is not to be rivaled with its exquisite fireworks display, Rhubarb Festival, and brass band concert in the park. The Hardrock 100 running race and the Iron Horse Classic bicycle race brings thousands of athletes for each event, and August’s Hardrock Holidays honor the mining tradition that built the town.

But what is little understood by our summer guests is that Silverton doesn’t close. It simply changes pace. As the frenzy of June through August passes, the mountains quiet while everyone and everything takes a breath.

September chill tells the Aspens it’s time for their show, and hills of brilliant green turn yellow, gold, and fire red. There is no better place in the San Juans to test your photography skills during our high mountain fall. Trails are quieter, and that peaceful walk in nature that you might have missed earlier can easily be enjoyed in later seasons.

Winter in Silverton

Winter, brings its own brand of recreation and fun. Take those snowshoes and head up into the woods or along the river. In the crystalline silence, you may see a fox, hare, or even a lynx padding through the snow. Cross-country skiers access groomed trails right from town. Kendall Mountain Recreation Center offers a family-friendly ski hill, and if you have the skill and nerve, nothing beats Silverton Ski Mountain for the ultimate extreme ski experience.

February brings a heckuva good time every President’s Day weekend when Silverton Skijoring hits Blair Street. Imagine the cultural cross-over of epic ski-racing and the finest horse and rider teams in the southwest matching skills to bring a purse race to this tiny community. While hundreds of spectators ring cowbells and cheer their favorite teams, horse and riders race along the course pulling a low-flying skier over jumps and through gates. It’s a popular two-day event, so if you plan to come, it’s best to book your hotel room early.

And no winter outing would be complete without a warm beverage at day’s end, available at any of Silverton’s restaurants or bars, many of which remain open in winter.
Our “off” seasons are November and April, so call ahead for the availability of services during those months.

Gunnison

Explore Gunnison, Colorado

Gunnison is a place that harkens back to the Old West. The community retains its ties to a century of ranching with its wide open spaces, friendly folks and Cattlemen’s Days, one of the oldest rodeos in Colorado. Its location offers easy access to the largest body of water in the state at Blue Mesa Reservoir. Whether it is waterskiing, sailing, fly fishing, or camping with the family, Gunnison provides the perfect recreational and western getaway.

Gunnison History

Named after John W. Gunnison, a US Army officer who surveyed for the transcontinental railroad in 1853. With the mining boom in the 1870s along with an increase of ranchers, there was a population increase during this time. The D&RGW was the main railroad serving this area for about 70 years for townspeople and ore. It was a major producer of hay and other various grains most of which shipped to Crested Butte.

Home to Western Colorado University.

Gunnison CO Fall

Pueblo

Activities in Pueblo, Colorado

Find out for yourself why this flavorful southwest city was named one of the nation’s four “most livable cities” by Partners for Livable Communities, a Washington D.C. non-profit organization.

Perhaps one of the state’s most faithful chronicles of life in this area is the Colorado Historical Society’s El Pueblo History Museum. Located on the actual site of the El Pueblo trading post built in 1842, the museum is now in the heart of downtown Pueblo. Take a stroll in the Union Avenue Historic District along a mile of painstakingly restored buildings. Shop the outdoor exhibits of southwestern art and pottery. Be sure to walk through the grand old Pueblo Union Depot with its mosaic tile flooring, polished wood wainscoting and stunning, stained glass windows.

History aside, the people of Pueblo spend the summer outdoors-as well as the fall, winter and spring! The mild climate of southern Colorado means bicycles and golf clubs stand at the ready year-round.

The 35-mile River Trail System is a paved ribbon that stretches from Colorado State University-Pueblo on the city’s northeastern fringe clear down to Lake Pueblo to the west, where surreal limestone cliffs rim the 60-mile shoreline of the reservoir. Bicyclists, in-line skaters, joggers and power-walkers populate this recreational roadway.

Along the Arkansas River is Pueblo’s new urban kayak course. Located between the 4th Street Bridge and Union Bridge at Corona Street in downtown Pueblo, the course features seven fun and challenging holes, with easy access and parking at either end.