The south central san luis valley is rich in culture and history from the ute indians and the spanish who called the valley home. The valley was once home to the ute indian tribe who followed herds and hunted throughout the region. Its no surprise that the region containing the oldest town in colorado is home to some colorful history. Alamosa county, named for the spanish word for cottonwood grove, is located in the high san luis valley of south central colorado. The valley is approximately 122 miles 196 km long and 74 miles 119 km wide, extending from the continental divide on the northwest rim into new mexico on the south. Alamosa news pueblo museum to host san luis valley day. Elder john morgan, the most prominent figure in the early missionary work in the. Colorado, rare books, old maps, old photographs, gold mining, colorado mining, silver mining, railroad books, western americana, colorado history. The san luis valley museum alamosa 2020 all you need. Teaching boulder county latino history is an extension of the boulder county latino history project. Acclaimed as the standard history for the southcentral region of colorado, the san luis valley. The fourthousandsquaremile, semiarid desert valley floor sits at an average elevation of 7,600 feet, over a mile and a.
A history of the spanish settlers in the san luis valley as want to read. Their uses of the land reflect both the traditions of those who moved to the valley and local adaptations. The issue continued to be debated as late as 1865, but the valley stayed in colorado. San luis valley historical society, alamosa, colorado. To learn more about the old spanish trail, rock art, valley history and other unique and interesting sites across the valley, visit the rio grande county museum in the town or del norte or the monte. The book outlines link lesson plans and primary sources to.
Adorable little museum full of local treasures along with the history of alamosa and the san luis valley. Christopher obrien moved to the san luis valley in 1989 and began his private. The county of san diego has embarked on an ambitious project to develop a regional park along the san luis rey river. The following summary of the prehistory and history of the valley provides an overview of some of the major themes and events that illustrate the human interaction with the land. San luis valley historian publication of the san luis valley historical society. No other region in north america features the variety and intensity of unusual phenomena found in the worlds largest alpine valley, the san luis valley of colorado and new mexico. The area eventually decided upon for the location of the southern converts was the san luis valley, in southern colorado. San luis is predominately hispanic, with strong ties to spains religious, cultural and artistic traditions. Mar 22, 2017 its no surprise that the region containing the oldest town in colorado is home to some colorful history. The san luis valley goodreads meet your next favorite book. Alamosa hospital 1927 1928 founded in 1927, the original hospital was located at 715 main street in alamosa and owned and operated by dr. As an intimate look at great sand dunes national park and preserve and the san luis valley, this book reveals a desert place as seductive and sobering as.
Here you will find valuable resources relating to the san luis valley of colorado, interesting colorado vacation destinations, and investment property locations, businesses in and around the slv, maps and historical information. Some history and reminiscences of the san luis valley, colorado. Her experiences as an educator and those of her early upbringing were synthesized to form the basis of her masters thesis on the heritage of the people of the san luis valley. The revolver was given to the society in 1943 as part of a trove, found inside a trunk, that included spanish spurs, moccasins, and a pair of chapellets, all of which were alleged to have belonged to the notorious san luis valley espinosa bandits of the 1860s, according to history colorados records. With an old church on the central plaza and a modern shrine on a mesa overlooking the town, san luis bristles. As an intimate look at great sand dunes national park and preserve and the san luis valley, this book reveals a desert place as seductive and sobering as existence itself. The secret jews of san luis valley science smithsonian. The san luis valley historical society is a nonprofit organization to help highlight, preserve, and. San luis valley, has been home to some of the most astounding occurrences in north american history. Deposits include the deeper alluvial strata, overlying precambrian basement rock, eocene alluvial deposits from a shallow laramide depression, the blanco basin formation. The san luis valley is one of the largest high desert valleys in the world, lying at an altitude of over 7,500 8100 feet. In her 1997 book on the san luis valley, olibama lopeztushar describes the first attempted settlement of the valley as that of george gold gould near the town of costilla in 1848 lopez tushar 1997.
Dec 12, 1984 consequently, the san luis valley has many ancient peoples lived there thousands of years ago, as did the utes, who claim the valley has been theirs forever. Humans have inhabited the san luis valley for over 12,000 years. Come ready to pull down on pockets, edges, and huecos, as well as sample some superb crack. Gold and silver discoveries near summitville in 1870 fueled the mining rush to the san luis valley. The san luis valley is located in southern colorado and is one of the largest high desert valleys in the world. This site provides resources for those interested in teaching boulder county latino history.
A history of the spanish colonials in the san luis valley paperback 1997 by olibama lopeztushar author 4. The san luis valley is brimming with history, beginning with native american paleoindian cultures that date back to 11,000 years ago. Known for its excellent aretes and stemming corners, the valley is one of the most popular sport climbing areas in colorado. Introducing the valleythis introductory itinerary features sites that capture the essence of the san luis valleys. The san luis valley slv, located in south central colorado and north central new mexico, is the largest alpine valley in the world.
History and heritage the official site for alamosa. The ute people inhabited the valley for much of its early history, and the spanish began exploration of the modernday san luis valley in the late 16th century. The valley is about the size of connecticut extending 125 miles long and 65 miles wide with an altitude of over 7,000 feet. The whole length of the valley from north to south is about 150 miles. The san luis valley contains an alluvial basin, the alamosa basin, which lies at the north end of the rio grande rift. Short, steep, and wellprotected is the name of the game on san luis valleys highquality volcanic cliffs. Learn more about the san luis valley 4h youth development program, which teaches kids life skills through handson learning activities and experiences. Since 1989, christopher obrien has documented thousands of highstrange accounts that report ufos, ghosts, cryptocreatures, cattle mutilations, skinwalkers and sorcerers, along with portal areas, secret.
Welcome to the home of the san luis valley 4h youth development program. The town of san luisthe oldest in coloradois the spanish heart of the valley. While other mining settlements quickly followed at creede and bonzana, the history of the san luis valleys settlement was greatly influenced by the railroad, farming, ranching, and timber. A history of the spanish colonials in the san luis valley olibama lopeztushar on. Parks development plans county of san diego parks and. The journal of san diego history san diego historical society quarterly winter 1988, volume 34, number 1 thomas l. Jeff wheelwright on the secret of san luis valley arts. Shes the perfect guide to this remote areas wonders, revealed in fine black and white photos and descriptions of natural wonders. Jose girard and his wife, maraa vitalia salazar and their infant son, emilio moved from ranchitos, nuevo mexico to the san luis valley early in 1870. The spaniards added potosi which means fortune to the name when they discovered gold and silver there. These books have set the national standard for geologic guidebooks and are an essential geologic.
The san luis valley, having an area comparable to the state of connecticut, lies in the southcentral part of colorado fig. Human habitation in colorados san luis valley stretches back to dista. The san luis valley has a cold desert climate but has substantial water resources from the rio grande and groundwater. Mystic san luis valley the valley offers yearround recreational activities, festivals, dark skies, open spaces, history and cool summertime temperature. The museum attendant was knowledgeable and shared stories about their collections.
It is approximately 125 miles long and over 65 miles wide. Consequently, the san luis valley has many ancient peoples lived there thousands of years ago, as did the utes, who claim the valley has been theirs forever. Genealogical, academia research of the san luis valley. It was a good, inexpensive stop to stretch the legs and learn about the local history. San luis, the oldest town in colorado, was established on april 5, 1851, with a present population of approximately 629. San luis valley statistical profile slvdrg san luis. Outline map of colorado, showing location of san luis valley. Route 160, and south 18 miles 29 km to the new mexico border. Virginia simmons knows the san luis valley and its peopleconclusions that are. Land of the sixarmed cross is a book for students, scholars, and others interested in the history of this fascinating and culturally rich corner of the state. Our organization has been serving the san luis valley since 1927. The san luis valley is a special place from the cultures of the past to the people of today, this valley is unlike anywhere else in colorado. The little communities of san luis and san pedro represented the first permanent agricultural settlements in southeast colorado and certainly in the san luis valley.
Since 1989, christopher obrien has documented thousands of highstrange accounts that report ufos, ghosts, cryptocreatures. Here you will find valuable resources relating to the san luis valley of colorado, interesting colorado vacation destinations, and investment property locations, businesses in and. The town of san luis lies within the san luis valley at 37. Search san luis valley, colorado co online yellow pages by names and numbers find local business listings, categories, phone numbers, and addresses in our online phone book. Mormon colonization of the san luis valley, colorado, 1878. The longforgotten vigilante murders of the san luis valley. San luis valley local area map colorado vacation directory. With more than 500,000 acres of public land, the mystic san luis valley offers towering mountain ranges, flat prairies, icy mountain streams, geothermal wells feeding hot springs and spas, rough and tumble rodeos, tranquil evenings in the parks, large expanses of dark skies, free concerts, eclectic music venues, roaring motocross and auto races. History museums in the san luis valley of southern colorado. The san luis valley a land of paradox new mexico geological. The valley is about the size of connecticut extending 125 miles long and 65 miles wide with an altitude of over 7,000. Mormon colonization of the san luis valley, colorado, 18781900. The cradle of colorado you will find six travel itineraries as featured on the slv museum association website designed to lead you on a journey to distinct sites throughout the san luis valley. Cultural history of the san luis valley upper rio grande.
These places were based on a spanish classic plaza concept, where homes were built around a central square with spaces reserved for governmental buildings and churches. San luis, colorado images of america series by dana maestas. Mexico, then known as new spain, claimed the valley in the 1600s. These are the questions that inspired nash to write this book. Secrets of the mysterious valley no other region in north america features the variety and intensity of unusual phenomena found in the worlds largest alpine valley, the san luis valley of colorado and new mexico. A history of the spanish colonials in the san luis valley. The san luis valley museum association is here to support the efforts of each of its 20 museum members in their goal to preserve the history and heritage of the valley. Learn more about our program, which teaches kids life skills through handson learning activities. Finding aids library catalog, san luis valley index shelved with the historian in the colville room covers 19692006. The san luis valley of colorado is an amazingly unspoiled and sparsely populated place. In the late 1870s, missionary successes in the southern states prompted the search for a location to which the new converts could migrate and establish their homes among the saints in zion. Secrets of the mysterious valley our strange planet. The proposed 1700acre park would be approximately nine miles in length, parallel to state route 76, and would begin in oceanside in the westernmost portion and end in an area near interstate 15 in the easternmost portion.
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