Ute Indian Village. Diorama in Fort Museum.
Ute Indian Village. Diorama in Fort Museum.
Interior of One of the Reconstructed Fort Buildings.
Interior of One of the Reconstructed Fort Buildings.
The Fort Garland Museum is an attempt to preserve in all its many aspects, military life at a frontier post in the 1860’s-70’s. The museum is also a store-house for the history of the southern portion of the State of Colorado. Many methods have been utilized to depict and present the colorful and exciting history of this area. In the west barrack, several dioramas illustrate in miniature scenes of: the Spanish Conquest, a Ute Indian camp, fur trading, a Mexican village, an Army escort wagon, a mule pack train and ambulance, and a stage coach robbery. Glass cases house a large collection of both military and pioneer materials. Period rooms, using life size manikins dressed in authentic costumes, will be placed in appropriate room settings, i.e., Kit Carson in conference with his aides and Chief Ouray.
In September of 1950 the reconstructed Fort Garland was dedicated with an impressive ceremony. Dr. James Grafton Rogers, president of the Society, gave the dedicatory address. Hundreds of persons from the surrounding area were on hand to see a long time dream of the region come to fruition.
The State of Colorado is indebted to a great number of people in the San Luis Valley, in particular, for their aid in bringing Fort Garland into being as a State monument, but the list would be too long to enter here. The State Historical Society is especially appreciative of the aid given and interest show by members of the Fort Garland Historical Fair Association, the Territorial Daughters and the Regional Committee on Fort Garland.
Mrs. Rosamund Slack assumed curatorship of Fort Garland in 1950, after the death of her husband, James Slack, who had been the curator.
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Bugler
The exhibits for the Fort Garland buildings were prepared by members of the State Historical Society’s staff, which included: Roy Hunt, H. R. Antle, Paul Rossi, Juan Menchaca, Mervin King, the late Curator Edgar C. McMechen and James T. Forrest, who became Deputy Curator in charge of the Colorado State Museums in 1953.
[1]Chief Ouray’s name was often spelled Uray or Ulay.[2]Willians, Ellen,History of the Second Colorados, 1885.[3]Tobin, Thomas T., “The Capture of the Espinosas,”Colorado Magazine, Vol. IX, pp. 59-66.[4]Chief Ouray of the Tabequache tribe of the Utes.[5]This is Chief Kaneache of the Muache tribe of the Utes.
[1]Chief Ouray’s name was often spelled Uray or Ulay.
[2]Willians, Ellen,History of the Second Colorados, 1885.
[3]Tobin, Thomas T., “The Capture of the Espinosas,”Colorado Magazine, Vol. IX, pp. 59-66.
[4]Chief Ouray of the Tabequache tribe of the Utes.
[5]This is Chief Kaneache of the Muache tribe of the Utes.