Western Heritage

Though recreation and tourism are important aspects of the economies in Southwest Colorado today, the region’s history is fascinating. In the canyons carved by glaciers, archeologists uncovered artifacts and dwellings from an ancient people that mysteriously disappeared from the area before the Native American Ute tribe settled in the Animas Valley in the 1500s.

Shortly after, Spanish explorers made their way to the area. By the 1600s, Spanish explorers had a complicated relationship with the regional tribes. The explorers raided Native American settlements and also traded with tribes, eventually introducing them to horses. In 1821, Mexico won independence from Spain, and the Southwest Colorado and Northern New Mexico region became part of the U.S. territories in 1848.

During this era, the Wild West remained a lawless frontier, where cowboys settled disputes with duels. Hundreds of miners set up temporary camps along the banks of the Animas River in the 1860s.

By the 1870s, dozens of mining towns like Silverton were scattered throughout the San Juan forest and mountains. In 1880, The Denver and Rio Grande Railroad Company founded Durango along the banks of the Animas River to serve the San Juan mining district. There, they built the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, and then the Cumbres & Toltec Railroad as an extension to the south. When other railroads began to convert to standard gauge, this section of the narrow gauge track was mostly dismantled during its conversion to standard gauge following the mining bust in 1893. Little by little, mining towns were abandoned.

In 1905, Teddy Roosevelt dedicated 1.8 million acres of forest to public use and recreation. A year later, Roosevelt established Mesa Verde National Park to “preserve the works of man,” making it the first national park of its kind. The region became a popular destination for tourists, and the rest is history.

Today, locals love to celebrate our heritage, sometimes with costumes and festivals. To get the true western experience while visiting, you should explore the ghost towns like Graysill Mines near Durango or Animas Forks near Silverton. Learn more about the customs and cultures here at regional museums. Tour mines in Silverton and Ouray, and pan for gold. And finally, take a relaxing, scenic train ride on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad or the Cumbres & Toltec Railroad.