Posts Tagged ‘history’

Take a Trip Back in Time at the Montrose Museums, a Trifecta of Culture and Heritage

Friday, August 6th, 2010


-Three magnificent museums, three educational experiences, one great location…Montrose!-

 

Montrose, Colo. – According to Heritage Travel, Inc., 78 percent of U.S. leisure travelers participate in cultural and/or heritage activities when vacationing.  Montrose, located in historic southwest Colorado, offers a cultural treasure chest in the city’s three fantastic museums.  The rich history and depictions of yesteryear are on full display at the Ute Indian Museum, the Museum of the Mountain West and the Montrose County Historical Museum. 

Ute Indian Museum (www.coloradohistory.org/hist_sites/UteIndian/Ute_indian.htm/970-249-3098)

Located on the original 8.65-acre homestead site of Chief Ouray (the leader of the Ute people) and his wife, Chipeta, the Ute Indian Museum is one of the most complete collections of the Utes in the nation. The museum complex includes the Chief Ouray Memorial Park, Chipeta’s Crypt, a native plants garden, shady picnic areas, walking paths (with a link to the larger city-wide trail system), teepees, and a memorial to the Spanish conquistadors who traveled through the area in 1776. 

Museum of the Mountain West (www.mountainwestmuseum.com/970-249-4162)
More than 500,000 artifacts of the Mountain West from 1880 to 1930 are displayed in store and office settings at the Museum of the Mountain West. All tours take about two hours and are guided by a knowledgeable docent, offering an experiential taste of what it was like to live in Western Colorado in the early days. The Museum of the Mountain West is also available for weddings and special event rental, as well as conference space.

Montrose County Historical Museum (www.montrose-colo.com/virtual/museum.htm/970-249-2085)

Housed in the original railroad depot, the Montrose County Historical Museum focuses on all facets of early-day pioneer life including, a life-size homesteader’s cabin (the highlight of the experience), horse-drawn farm machinery, and even a Children’s Corner with a delightful display of dolls, toys and baby furniture. 

Visitors may also delight in Montrose’s “outdoor museum” and continue with the history lesson on foot by following the self-guided Historic Montrose Downtown Walking Tour.  This trek includes 12 interpretive signs and a map from the Montrose Association of Commerce and Tourism (www.visitmontrose.com), Visitor’s Center or City Hall.

About Montrose (www.visitmontrose.com)

Montrose is a uniquely-authentic town that has carved out a place for itself in the landscape and culture of Colorado.  Montrose was recently named to Outdoor Life magazine’s annual list of the 200 best towns in America for outdoorsmen.  Seventy-three percent of the land surrounding the city is public land, making Montrose a Mecca for all kinds of outdoor activities, including: hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, road biking and mountain biking.  A multi-faceted community, Montrose serves up layer upon layer of discoveries, each more unique than the last.  Whether visitors are looking for adventure, agritourism, history, culture, shopping, fine dining or anything in between, Montrose has a little something for everyone. 

Contacts:

Gaylene Ore, Ore Communications, 970.887.2536, gaylene@orecommunications.com

Jenni Sopsic, Montrose Association of Commerce and Tourism, 970.708.1182, jenni@montroseact.com

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Ouray County Historical Society Offers Evenings of History in June & July

Thursday, June 3rd, 2010

-Lectures delve into history of Ouray County’s mining, railroading, architecture and geology-

Ouray, Colo. (June 3, 2010) — Just because school is out does not mean one has to stop learning. The Ouray County Historical Society is helping local residents and visitors alike keep their minds sharp during summer vacation by offering its Evenings of History program. The lecture series, which kicks off on June 14, has been in existence for more than 20 years. The first six talks take place at the Ouray Community Center, while the final discussion will be held at the Ridgway Town Hall. The lectures begin at 7:30 p.m. and are free to attend.

June 14 – “Restoration of Red Mountain Mining Camps” by Chris George, (Community Center in Ouray) – The Red Mountain Mining District in the San Juan Mountains was one of the most prosperous mining sites in Colorado, generating more than thirty million dollars in silver, lead, zinc, copper and gold. Chris George, owner of a Silverton-based business that restores and stabilizes mining sites and historic buildings, will explain the process behind restoration efforts at the Red Mountain mining camps located just outside of Ouray.

June 22 – “The Marlow Brothers” by Jim Pettengill (Community Center in Ouray) – The Marlow brothers were part of a ranching family that was charged with crimes in Texas that they did not commit. Every member of the family was eventually killed, save two of the brothers who escaped and settled in Ridgway. Jim Pettengill will unravel the details of the family’s saga, which is also chronicled in the movie “The Sons of Katie Elder,” starring John Wayne and filmed in Ridgway.

June 29 – “The First Five years of the Solid Muldoon” by Duane Smith (Community Center in Ouray) – Duane Smith is a history professor who has written a number of books on the history of southwest Colorado. During this lecture he will discuss the founding of the often controversial, yet never dull, “Solid Muldoon” mining era daily newspaper in Ouray. It was so popular that Queen Victoria even subscribed!

July 6 – “Geology of Ouray County” by Bob Larson (Community Center in Ouray) – Led by Bob Larson, a mining engineer and geologist, this program will unearth the geology of Ouray County. Larson will also explain the science behind why there was so much silver and gold in the mountains of Ouray County.

July 13 – “Ouray County’s Historic Hotels” by Carolyne Kelly (Community Center in Ouray) – During the mining boom Ouray County’s hospitality industry thrived. Carolyne Kelly, one of the Ouray County Historical Society Archivists, will illustrate the historic hotels of Ouray County. Three of them are operating in Ouray and are good options for an overnight stay. Those include The Beaumont Hotel, Historic Western Hotel and St. Elmo Hotel.

July 20 – “19th Century Mills and Smelters of Ouray County” by Don Paulson (Community Center in Ouray) – At one point there were 30 smelters (ore processers) and hundreds of mills in Ouray County that processed the rich gold and silver ore of the area. Don Paulson, Ouray County Museum Curator, will give an overview of the various mills and smelters.

July 28 – “Ridgway, Always a Railroad Town” by Keith Koch (Ridgway Town Hall) – All aboard for the final lecture in the series, taking place in Ridgway, the birthplace of the Rio Grande Southern Railroad. Keith Koch of the Ridgway Railroad Museum will discuss the railways of Ridgway and the impact of railroading on Ouray County.

Historic Walking Tours – When in Ouray or Ridgway, be sure to leave time for the historic walking tour through one or both of the towns. Visit http://www.ouraycountyhistoricalsociety.org/WalkingTour.pdf to download the map for the walking tour through the National Historic District of Ouray. The Ridgway tour can be found at http://www.ouraycountyhistoricalsociety.org/RidgwayWalkingTour.pdf.

About Ouray (www.ouraycolorado.com)
Located at 7,700 feet above sea level in southwest Colorado, the National Historic District of Ouray is surrounded on three sides by 13,000-foot peaks, earning it the nickname “The Switzerland of America.” Ouray is home to several hot springs pools and tubs, including the largest, the million-gallon Ouray Hot Springs Pool, which is open year-round. Ouray is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise, offering rock climbing, hiking, four-wheeling and mountain biking in the summer and ice climbing, backcountry skiing, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter.

About the Ouray County Historical Society Museum (www.ouraycountyhistoricalsociety.org)
The Ouray County Historical Society Museum is housed in the original St. Joseph’s Miners’ Hospital that was built in 1886 and functioned as a hospital until 1964. The museum consists of three floors containing 38 exhibits in 27 rooms. The museum features mining, ranching and railroading, the three main means of employment in Ouray’s early history. It houses many artifacts dating back to Ouray’s earliest days, as well as large displays of minerals and Native American artifacts. The Museum also features a research center containing much written information, thousands of photographs, and a large library titled “The W. Ross Moore Mining History Library of the American West.”

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Contacts: Gaylene Ore, Ore Communications, 970-887-2536, gaylene@orecommunications.com Karen Avery, Ouray Chamber Resort Association, 970-316-1443, boxcanyonlodge@gmail.com

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Mesa Verde Country(R) Agritourism Gets Boost from U.S. Dept. of Agriculture

Wednesday, January 13th, 2010

– Grant helps Bureau tie together agriculture, archaeology –

In southwest Colorado’s Mesa Verde Country(R), agriculture has historically been a key piece of the cultural and economic fabric. Now, thanks to a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the area is making that history its present and future.

Mesa Verde Country will use the $50,000 grant for its “Agricultural Adventures” program, designed to communicate the benefits and details of local producers to regional and national audiences.

“Agritourism is a popular term, and a fast-growing industry, but making it tangible and accessible to the public can be challenging,” explains Lynn Dyer, director of the Mesa Verde Country Visitor Information Bureau. “Our intent is to help people learn and experience agriculture through real, hands-on experiences. That’s agritourism.”

Key elements of the program include a new brochure and expansion of the Mesa Verde Country Web site (www.mesaverdecountry.com) to tie together the archaeology, agriculture and scenic attractions of the area. For example, how to incorporate the relationships between Mesa Verde National Park, a Navajo-Churro sheep ranch, a brewery and a ranch in the area’s historic McElmo Canyon. The site will expand to offer podcasts with local farmers and ranchers, real-time information on farmers markets and special events, as well as “how-to” presentations for aspiring farmers and gardeners.”

The “Agricultural Adventures” section of the Web site already makes it easy and fun to explore the region’s bounty. Newly added pages contain information on every form of local agriculture, says Dyer, ranging from an antique tractor museum and historic agricultural sites to a state-of-the-art biofuel production facility. Visitors will find detailed information on:

-Ranches: Yak, alpaca, camel and reindeer ranches; tours and stays at working ranches

-Farms, orchards and mills: Tours; pick-your-own opportunities for apples, peaches, pears, pumpkins and other produce.

-Livestock: Auctions and processors of locally-produced cattle, sheep and hogs.

-Produce: Farm stands, farmers markets featuring locally-grown produce and related products.

-Food, wine, beer: Local distilleries, restaurants, wineries, and microbreweries, as well as local coffee brewers..

-Greenhouses and nurseries: Native plants, heirloom seeds, and other locally grown products.

For information on Mesa Verde Country® agricultural destinations and events, call 800-530-2998 or visit www.mesaverdecountry.com.

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Contacts: Lynn Dyer, Mesa Verde Country® Visitor Information Bureau, 800-530-2998, lynnd@mesaverdecountry.com

Gaylene Ore, Ore Communications, 970-887-2536, gaylene@orecommunications.com

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Montrose Museums

Tuesday, October 13th, 2009

NEWS RELEASE

 

Contacts:

Gaylene Ore, Ore Communications, 970.887.2536, gaylene@orecommunications.com

Jenni Sopsic, Montrose Visitors and Convention Bureau, 970.708.1182, jenni@visitmontrose.net

 

Montrose Museums Give Visitors a Glimpse Back in Time

 

When planning your trip to Montrose, Colo., be sure to carve out some time to enjoy the cultural treasure chests that are the city’s three fantastic museums.  The rich history and depictions of the ways of life from the past and present in the Montrose area are on full display at the Montrose Historical Museum, Ute Indian Museum and the Museum of the Mountain West. 

 

Montrose Historical Museum (www.montrose-colo.com/virtual/museum.htm) – housed in the original railroad depot, the Montrose Historical Museum focuses on all facets of early-day pioneer life from horse-drawn farm machinery, a life-size homesteader’s cabin and even a Children’s Corner with a delightful display of dolls, toys and baby furniture.

 

            Location: 21 N Rio Grande Ave

            Phone: 970.249.2085

Hours: May thru October: Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.

Admission:

Adults: $4

Seniors over 55: $3

Students age 12-21: $

Children age 11 and younger: 50¢

 

Ute Indian Museum (www.coloradohistory.org/hist_sites/UteIndian/Ute_indian.htm) – located on the original 8.65-acre homestead site of Chief Ouray, leader of the Ute People and his wife, Chipeta, is one of the most complete collections of the Ute People in the nation. The museum complex includes shady picnic areas, walking paths (with a link to the larger city-wide trail system), and a memorial to the Spanish conquistadors who traveled through the area in 1776.

 

Location: 17253 Chipeta Dr.

Phone: 970.249.3098

Hours: Mon. – Sat. 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. (Closed Sundays and Oct. 9, Nov. 26, Nov. 27, Dec. 25, Dec. 31)

Admission:
Adults: $4.50
Seniors (over 65): $4.00
Students/Youth (6-16): $2.00
Children (under 6): Free
Colorado Historical Society members: Free
Friends of the Ute Indian Museum: Free

 

Museum of the Mountain West (www.mountainwestmuseum.com/) – More than 500,000 artifacts from the Mountain West from 1880 to 1930 are displayed in store and office settings at the Museum of the Mountain West. Guided tours are available if scheduled ahead of time. The Museum of the Mountain West is also available for weddings and special event rental and conference space. Annual passes and historical building sponsorship can be obtained by contacting the museum.

 

Location: 68169 East Miami Road

Phone: 970.240.3400

Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Admission:

Adults in groups of 5 or more – $5/person
Adults in groups of less than 5 -$6/person
Children under 18 – $3/person

 

Also, visitors may enjoy Montrose’s “outdoor museum” and continue with the history lesson on foot by following the self-guided Historic Montrose Downtown Walking Tour.  This trek includes 12 interpretive signs and a map from the Chamber of Commerce (www.montrosechamber.com/), Visitor’s Center or City Hall.

 

About Montrose:

Montrose, located in southwest Colorado, is a uniquely-authentic town that has carved out a place for itself in the landscape and culture of Colorado.  A multi-faceted town, Montrose serves up layer upon layer of discoveries, each more unique than the last.  Whether you are looking for adventure, agritourism, history, culture, shopping, fine dining or anything in between, Montrose has a little something for everyone.  To learn more, visit www.visitmontrose.net or contact Gaylene Ore at 970.887.2536 / gaylene@orecommunications.com.

 

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Ghost Towns of Southwest Colorado

Tuesday, October 13th, 2009

Ghost Towns of Southwest Colorado

–A treat any time of year, Southwest Colorado ghost towns offer a glimpse into Colorado’s past –

 

Southwest Colorado (October 2009) – Step into the shadows of the past with a visit to one of southwest Colorado’s ghost towns.  The mining demands that created these communities fizzled, leaving behind a shell of life as it once was.  Today, some ghost towns showcase abandoned buildings, while others have been restored, and still others serve as modern-day outposts for exploring this region that is so rich in history. 

 

1.      Red Mountain Town, outside of Ouray
The site of the National Bell Mine, Red Mountain Town is located off Hwy 550 near the crest of Red Mountain Pass. During its peak, as many as 10,000 residents lived in Red Mountain Town. Booming with over 100 businesses, a post office, jail, schools, newspapers, saloons and gambling halls, Red Mountain Town became one of the most prosperous of its time. Hard winters proved to be the biggest obstacle of survival and several tragic fires between the 1892 and 1937 nearly leveled the town. An estimated thirty million dollars in gold, silver, lead, zinc and copper has been taken out of this area. To explore what’s left of this once booming mine town, park your car at the Red Mountain Pass and hike into the town site.  Or, check out the overlook from Hwy 550 at the Idarado Mine turnoff.

 

2.      Gothic, north of Crested Butte
Gothic is located approximately nine miles north of Crested Butte on County Road 317. It was founded as a stop on the East Maroon Trail that connected the new communities of Aspen and Crested Butte and at one time boasted a population of 8,000. Once a hot spot for silver mining, Gothic’s downfall came during the Silver Panic of 1893.  It is now an abandoned mining ghost town, but new life was breathed into the area when it became the site of the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in 1928. Four-wheel-drive vehicles may continue another nine miles past Gothic over Schofield Pass to the famous Crystal Mill, one of the most photographed sites in Colorado.

 

3.      Tin Cup, Gunnison County
Founded as Virginia City in 1880, Tin Cup was renamed in honor of an early minor, Jim Taylor, who used an old tin cup to sift through the gravel in search of gold. During the 1870s the rough mining town of Tin Cup, with a peak population of 6,000 inhabitants was home to a lively red-light district, housed amongst the usual cast of saloons, dance halls, shops and churches. Today, however, Tin Cup is home to a few quiet and peaceful, mostly summer residents as well as Colorado’s most unusual cemetery. Tin Cup can be found at the foot of Cumberland Pass on County Road 765.

 

4.      Animas Forks, near Silverton
Established in 1875, the short-lived boom of Animas Forks ended by the 1920s.  Plagued by the frequent avalanches that kept travelers from entering and residents from leaving, Animas Forks quickly went from a thriving hub for local mines to a deserted ghost town. Thousands of people visit the remaining building and town ruins located about thirteen miles southeast of Ouray, Colorado.  A jeep or other four-wheel drive vehicle is suggested for exploring this ghost town. 

 

5.      Not all Ghost Towns are necessarily abandoned and left frozen in time.  Lake City, Silverton, Ouray and Telluride are examples of historic mining settlements that were once  booming mining populations of their peak, are still alive and breathing among their well preserved buildings and streetscape. While many other western frontier towns were abandoned or destroyed by fire, Lake City (www.lakecity.com) and Silverton (www.silvertoncolorado.com) remain small thriving communities with an open door for those travelers looking for a break from their busy pace lives. Take a stroll through the historic main streets, tour old mines, or use them as a home base for the abundant outdoor activities in the area.

 

In Ouray (www.ouraycolorado.com), which is aptly nicknamed “Switzerland of America,” visitors make explore the historic downtown region, which has been designated a National Historic District.  A mule-drawn carriage ride gives visitors the lay of the land, as well as some interesting historic facts.  And, the Ouray County Museum, housed in an old miners hospital, has lots of exhibits displaying life as it once was in this quintessential mountain town.

 

Telluride (www.visittelluride.com) was named after the composition of ores in the area, which mostly consisted of telluride, a compound containing tellurium, a non-metallic element.  Today, visitors may not only catch a glimpse of Telluride’s historic past, with walking tours and fireside chats sponsored by the Telluride Historical Museum, but they may also take part in world-class skiing, festivals and other outdoor activities. 

The Southwest Colorado Travel Region boasts eight scenic byways, five national forests, five hot springs, five wilderness areas, two national parks, and two national monuments.    For more information about this unique region, contact Gaylene Ore at 970.887.2536 or gaylene@orecommunications.com or log on to www.swcolotravel.org for information and to request a map of the area.

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