History

Local News

Former Bessie G miner keeps history alive in La Plata County

‘I think about it almost every day, because it was a time that changed me,’ Bruce Gillen says

June 29, 2026

Local News

CO150 film festival screens in Cortez, Mancos

Colorado’s landscape and history are main features of films shown at the Sunflower Theatre, Mancos Opera House and more

June 15, 2026

Local News

Long-standing Cortez restaurant Once Upon A Sandwich sold

On Main Street, some things change and others remain the same

June 7, 2026

Local News

Beloved steam tractor – a staple of Durango parades – to be auctioned

‘Old Abe’ was built by Jack Newbold using an 1898 steam engine

June 5, 2026

Community

Heritage Days Festival to debut in Cortez during National Historic Preservation Month

The events will kick off on May 1

April 26, 2026

Secret societies and masquerade fever took over Colorado’s social scene in the 1870s

The soon-to-be Centennial State celebrated Washington’s Birthday with parades, pigeon shoots and decadent costume balls

February 23, 2026

Legendary actor made Western movie magic right here in Durango

Robert Redford and Paul Newman jumped for their lives near Baker’s Bridge – or so it appeared on the big…

September 19, 2025

Dutch ovens, cowboy hats and biscuits: Chuckwagon dinner returns to La Plata County

Cattlemen's association hosts 23rd annual community cookout

August 26, 2025

Fort Lewis College receives $1 million grant for reconciliation work

New campus center will further college’s goal of remediating damage from its history as an Indian boarding school

August 1, 2025

Visitors tour Fort Lewis College’s Old Fort Campus for history day

FLC’s reconciliation efforts wrapped into agriculture programs

July 5, 2025

Debuting film features Hopi man who traced his DNA back to Chaco Canyon

‘Room 33’ premieres at Fort Lewis College on Wednesday

May 10, 2025

Cortez to celebrate Historic Preservation Month with events, scavenger hunt

The events are being held to celebrate Cortez’s history

May 7, 2025

Local News

From archives to stage: Montezuma Heritage Museum will bring local history to life

‘Voices From the Past’ play is coming up at Cortez’s Sunflower Theatre

April 24, 2025

Forest Service to return Indigenous remains discovered near McPhee Reservoir

At least 10 individuals and 10 shards of pottery were unearthed in 2021 and 2022

April 1, 2025

Bayfield Middle School club raising historical, cultural awareness of Indigenous tribes

November is Native American Heritage Month

November 12, 2024

World’s longest track of dinosaur footprints near Ouray is now open to public

We go on a tour with the grown-up boy who discovered them

August 7, 2024

Leaders in Cortez area speak out about Trump shooting

‘This discontent on both sides has got to be idled back’

July 15, 2024

14th Annual Cortez Historic Preservation Day set for the first weekend in May

The weekend will be packed with events centered around historic preservation

April 25, 2024

Southern Ute archivist dives into boarding school history

A look into what the Southern Ute Dormitory was and its relation to other institutions during the time

April 23, 2024

Last coal-fired engine departs Durango train station, marking end of an era

Saturday was bittersweet for crews who sent No. 481 on its final ride before it’s converted for oil use

March 27, 2024

The Hermit Monk of New Mexico’s Organ Mountains

This group poses atop the summit of Hermits Peak near Las Vegas, N.M., in 1898. Across the Southwest and South…

December 10, 2023

Historic orchards of Montezuma, La Plata counties are a ‘living museum’

Restoration project aims to propagate rare apple cultivars that would be lost without human involvement

August 17, 2023

CDOT plans to dispose of land where famous train wreck happened

Right of first refusal will be given to entities who receive tax revenue for the land

August 9, 2023

Unearthing the mysteries of Animas City Cemetery

Advocates say fencing, controlled access needed to protect historic site

June 18, 2023