Museum of the West History Docent Guide 2017 Spanish Exhibit Gallery

Exploring the Northern Frontier The Rivera Expedition The “Kingdom and Province of New Mexico” and its northern frontiers was a huge geographical area. This kingdom included all or part of New Mexico, , , Arizona, Wyoming, Nebraska, , and Texas. In 1765 New Mexican Governor Tomas Velez Cachupin asked explorer Don Juan Maria Antonio de Rivera to lead an expedition to explore the northern frontier. Governor Cachupin was worried about encroachment by other European powers and wanted to find the legendary Rio del Tizon (Colorado River) and a place to ford it. The Governor was also interested in the legend that was on the other side of the Rio del Tizon River, was Lake Copala, home of an unknown wealthy civilization. Rivera had traveled north before in 1761 and had his own reasons for going that included searching for gold and silver deposits and evidence of native mining activity. Rivera and his men traveled as far north as the present-day City of Durango, Colorado and then returned home to Santa Fe with no news of European intrigue or finding a mysterious civilization. Governor Cachupin, although discouraged, sent Rivera north one more time to reach the Rio del Tizon and report on evidence of this much-rumored civilization. Rivera left Santa Fe in October of 1765 and headed north as far as present-day Delta, Colorado before returning home to Santa Fe. Although unsuccessful in their quest, the expedition had mapped and kept journals of the new lands and people they met. This information would be of great value to later expeditions Dominguez and Escalante Expedition 1776-1777 On July 29, 1776, Fathers Francisco V. Dominguez and Silvestre Velez de Escalante left Santa Fe on a mission to find a route to . The friars traveled north through New Mexico and past present-day Gateway, Colorado, across the rugged terrain of the Uncompahgre Plateau and skirted the east end of the . Their journey took them to the Colorado River which they crossed near present day Debeque, Colorado. The explorers headed through present day Utah and continued until snow started to fall on October 5, 1776. Dominguez and Escalante looked west and saw nothing but more peaks and mountain ranges so they decided to head home to Santa Fe. Their group traveled through northern Arizona and reached home on January 2, 1777. Like the Rivera expedition they had failed in their objective, but their 2,000-mile trip revealed much about the geography, resources, and cultures of this unknown northern frontier. Their journals and maps would open the area to many other new groups that were headed to the frontier. A Change of Armor

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This reproduction of a Spanish Cuirass (which means breast plate and back plate armor worn together) was typical body armor worn by the Spanish Conquistadors. This type of armor protected against spear and arrow attacks. However, the armor proved impractical in the hotter climates of the New World. The Conquistadors noticed that the Aztec wore a light armor made of cotton and maguey fibers called a ichahuipilli. This fiber armor was lightweight and stopped arrows. The conquistadors adopted a similar lightweight armor called an escaupilla. During the seventeenth century, Spanish soldiers of the northern frontier developed an even stronger lightweight vest called a cuera, made of arrow proof leather. The cuirass was not forgotten and still favored for years by many soldiers. During special occasions, Spanish officials still wore the armor as a sign of authority. Morion This helmet favored by the Conquistadors had a large ridge type design to deflect frontal sword attacks to the head. Inside the helmet was leather webbing that could be adjusted to individual soldiers. The small brass holder on front was designed to hold colored plumes designating rank or for special dress military occasions. In the desert region of the Southwest the helmet proved too hot and cumbersome to wear. By the seventeenth century soldiers adopted a lightweight wide brimmed hat more suitable to the climate. Queen Isabella’s 15th Century Spanish Cannon This ornate cannon with find detailing and a dolphin handle is evidence of the Spanish Empire’s sophistication and power. The cannon was originally recovered off the coast of Florida. Working with the Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Society in Key West, Florida, the Museum of the West’s history division identified the cannon as one used in the 15th or 16th century. A further clue to the actual age of the cannon came after the Spanish Inscription on the brass seal was translated. The seal, a royal tax stamp, read “Queen of the Spains- Five Centimos to the Crown.” The key word is the “Spains” referring to the time Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand jointly ruled separate kingdoms in Spain, thus dating the cannon to between 1474 and 1492. 18th Century Spanish Colonial Swivel Cannon This New World cannon was cast in Santa Fe in the 1750’s. Contrary to the smooth finish on Queen Isabella’s cannon this has a rough pitted bronze finish caused by the less sophisticated method of sand casting. The cannon was loaded from the front with gun powder and a cannon ball or grapeshot (a group of small lead balls.) The small hole in the back and on top of the barrel was lit to ignite the cannon. A wooden pole was stuck in the back of the cannon to swivel it back and forth, hence the name swivel cannon. Halberd- Deadly Weapon of the Southwest The halberd is a long-poled weapon used for centuries by Spanish Soldiers. It had an axe blade and spike at the top and a hook on the back of the ax blade to pull enemies off their horses. Expert halberdiers could swing the weapon with deadly force and attack opponents who were normally out of reach. The halberd began to lose its effectiveness with the modernization of firearms. It was a standard weapon of early Spanish explorers and latter Spanish infantrymen. This tradition of fighting with long poled

2 was passed down to Mexican soldiers who during a battle in 1846 killed sixteen armed Americans with firearms with lances.

The Wreck of El Mantancero On February 22, 1741, the Spanish merchant ship, El Mantancero, ran aground on a dangerous coral reef off the coast of Mexico. The ship sank and the cargo was lost, but entombed in the sea was a treasury of Spanish Colonial life in the 1700's. The ship carried 100 tons of pig iron, 25 tons of tempered steel, 750 barrels, 400 casks, 204 cases of goods and 21,200 bottles of brandy and wine. In the case are custom jewelry, cut glass gems, spoons, and an assortment of items from Spanish Colonial life. 1. Buckles in Matrix 2. Cross in Matrix 3. Button 4. Pocket Knife pieces 5. 2 firearm flints 6. 2 firearm lead balls 7. Cut glass gems 8. Cross, medallion, costume jewelry, and shirt fasteners 9. Cargo Seal 10. Spoon 11. Piece of Eight coin 12. Shoe Buckle How do we learn about Spanish Colonial Life in the Eighteenth Century? The Spanish kept extensive records of their explorations and colonization of the New World and many of their original records are kept in special libraries in Spain. Another good source for knowledge is the work done by archaeologists, examining early Spanish Colonial sites, such as towns and forts. One of the best sources of information is from marine archaeology, in which archaeologists/divers can excavate Spanish Colonial treasure and merchant ships on the bottom of the ocean and bring artifacts that reveal information about everyday life of citizens in the Spanish Empire. Diving on the El Mantancero Hans Schmoldt is a corrosion engineer and owner of Anode Systems Company in Grand Junction. Mr. Schmoldt is an avid scuba diver and has participated on several archaeological expeditions in Mexico to locate, chart, and identify historic shipwrecks off the Yucatan coast. He is a member of the Pensacola Historical Society and the National Association of Corrosion Engineers Public Affairs Subcommittee on Conservation of Artistic and Historic Works. Mr. Schmoldt is a member of CEDAM, an organization of

3 sport divers that are interested in preserving and protecting historic shipwreck sites. With his abilities as a corrosion engineer, Hans helps museums stabilize artifacts that have been subjected to hundreds of years of salt-water damage. Mr. Schmoldt recovered these artifacts on display from the wreck of the El Mantancero. Spanish Flintlock Miquilet - Circa 1750’s Soldiers who traveled the northern frontier carried a similar pistol. Often soldiers were required to carry their own weapon. The Spanish military did not standardize weapons until the late 1700’s. This pistol is inlaid with brass wire and has the remains of a medallion on its grip. The extremely long length of the pistol is unusual for flintlock . This long barrel pistol was called a Holster pistol and was carried in a saddle holster. Tools of the Spanish Colonial Horseman Spanish Colonial horsemen were dependent on good blacksmiths to keep their equestrian equipment in order. The explorers or soldiers needed good spurs and bridle bits to control their mounts. The black smith handcrafted each item to the horse owner’s specifications. Often equipment was decorated and inlaid with silver or gold with a design that had personal significance to the owner. In the center of the case is an eighteenth century ringed bridle bit with jingles that would make a pleasant sound as the rider trotted his horse. On the left side of the case is an eighteenth-century spur with a hand chiseled design on the heel-band. On the right side of the case is a very early Conquistador rowel that dates from the sixteenth century.

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Distant Treasures in the Mist

The Mystery of the Redoubt Site On December 3, 2011, The WIT team returned to the Kannah Creek site for one last attempt at finding answers about the four-sided stone structure. The new search was a result of an interesting iron artifact found in July of that year, and tentatively identified as a wrought iron guard from a wheellock pistol, used chiefly in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. This was an exciting find that could possibly answer questions about the mysterious Spaniards that had been sought after for centuries. When the stone structure was first discovered, Dr. Dujay thought it looked like a pit, a defensive bunker used to protect riflemen. I began to think that Dujay was probably right and the structure was a hastily built early defensive fortification known as a Redoubt. On December 3, 2011, WIT Director David Bailey, WIT Scientific Coordinator Dr. Rick Dujay, CMU Professor Dr. Susan Longest, accompanied by five Colorado Mesa University students set out to explore the site. The team set up a grid system around the stone structure, renamed it The Redoubt site, and used metal detectors to find more fragments of the wheellock pistol or any other diagnostic artifacts. Amazingly, two WIT student interns, Marryssa Russell and Greg Johnson, uncovered curved metal armor- like fragments on a slope below the Redoubt site. Later Johnson also found an L- shaped Spanish Colonial nail and a mysterious iron billet (iron ingot) used by Spanish Colonial blacksmiths for ironwork. The team was excited by the finds but tempered their enthusiasm until the artifacts could be tested. Another interesting find at the Redoubt site was the discovery of evidence of five campfires in a straight row, indicative of a military-style encampment. I wondered if this was an unknown Spanish Colonial military encampment that had slipped through the cracks of history. Another important question was what era did the camp represent? After the expedition, Dr. Dujay and his student interns returned to Colorado Mesa University Microscopy Laboratory. They used the Leica 3D microscope to examine the metallurgic properties of the artifacts. under extreme magnification to create micrographs to determine what era the metal had been manufactured and the efficiency of the casting methods. The micrographs indicated large deposits of carbon slag and other impurities found typically in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century casting. On March 7, 2012, WIT Scientific Coordinator Dr. Rick Dujay and I held a press conference at the Colorado Mesa University Electron Microscopy Lab to discuss our findings on the artifacts discovered at the Redoubt Site. The WIT team announced that the metal armor fragments, wheellock trigger guard, and iron billet were all consistent with metallurgy from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. In May and June of 2012, Dr. Ken Kosanke, a research scientist and WIT consultant, did additional testing on the armor material found at the Redoubt Site. Kosanke used an X-Ray Florescence machine at the CMU lab to determine the metallurgic makeup of the artifacts. The artifacts were compared to previously published metallurgy tests of sixteenth- and seventeenth-century armor and proved consistent with their findings. The iron billet had one final surprise, a faint Spanish Colonial quinto tax stamp. Spanish Colonial metals were stamped at the time to show that the quinto or "fifth" tax had been paid to the King of Spain. The design of the crown in the tax stamp matched others from the sixteenth century.

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The Western Investigations Team seemed to have found proof of an unknown early Spanish expedition that dated to the sixteenth or seventeenth century and their travel to present day western Colorado. Had the Western Investigations Team finally solve the mysteries of early Spaniards in the northern Southwest that eluded seekers for centuries? We had fragments of armor, a wheellock pistol trigger guard, .75 stone shot ball, and a stamped Spanish colonial billet. But historical quests are never easy to solve even with substantial evidence. The Kannah Creek area has been used for thousands of years of human history. Kannah Creek has overflowed its banks and devastated the landscape around the Redoubt Site. The artifacts in the flooded areas have been brought to the surface or buried under tons of debris. The continually changing landscape offered many different explanations for what the Western Investigations Team discovered. What the team discovered could have been an old Ute trading site. The Utes could have gathered old armor fragments and iron remnants after the Pueblo Revolt in 1680 and then traded the iron at a campsite that may have predated the Redoubt stone structure. The campfires, washed clean of their charcoal remnants by flooding, may have been from a later military exploration. The design of the Redoubt stacked stone structure, shaped like a truncated pyramid, and near the Masonic relic could have been evidence of a mid-nineteenth century outdoor Masonic lodge. We would still need further proof to unravel this ancient mystery. Perhaps the solution to the Kannah Creek mystery could be solved by the discovery of a new artifact, by finding crucial Spanish Colonial documents, or within the elusive Ute Cave of Legend. The answer could be very close, at an obscure research library, or over the next hill, like a distant treasure in the mist. The Search for Lost Kingdoms This exhibit examines the Spanish and Aztec empires pursuit of myths, legends, and ancient records to find their lost history, treasures, and colonies. For five centuries, Spanish explorers and adventurers led nautical and land-based expeditions in fruitless attempts to discover the fabulous treasures, cities, and colonies described by the native tribes they encountered. In the fifteenth century, the Aztec Emperor Montezuma the First sent an expedition to find their original homeland to the north. He sent the best Aztec scholars, aided by historical codices and maps, to find their ancient kingdom. The culmination of the Spanish quests and a possible Aztec expedition leads to present day western Colorado. Spanish Tools of Discovery The Spanish sailed west in small, unseaworthy ships aided by primitive navigation tools and were often forced to guess at their approximate location. Spanish mapmakers, scholars, and navigators knew the world was round but imagined it was much smaller and land masses were closer to each other. Navigators were without precise time keeping mechanisms to determine longitude. They did have astrolabes and quadrants to read the position of the sun or North Star in relation to the horizon. Navigators could compare their readings to angle of the sun tables to determine distance from the equator. The magnetic compass was of great service to navigators that could not use the stars to determine direction. During the Spanish Age of Discovery mapmaking became more sophisticated as new lands were discovered and coasts charted. Portolan maps, navigator’s globes, world maps, and coastal charts allowed explorers to plot their journey with more accuracy. The Role of Myth in History

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When civilizations disappear often the only remnants left are their myths and legends. King Arthur and the Grail Quest, the Greek gods, and Atlantis are still widely remembered while the cultures that created these myths have vanished. The danger to explorers and adventurers is when these myths become reality to them. As evidenced by the history of the Southwest the power of myth can destroy life and bring ruin to those that pursue the unattainable. Coronado ruined his life after chasing after the Seven Cities of Gold; Spanish explorers were lost looking for Sierra Azul, the mythical mountain of silver, and ships vanished looking for the Strait of Anian, a mythical river that ran through North America from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean. The positive byproduct of these impossible pursuits was new knowledge of the cultures, places, and waterways of the New World. Destruction of the Aztec Records After the Spanish Conquest of the Aztec Empire thousands of Aztec Codices were burned by Catholic priests who believed the works were all native superstition. The books contained knowledge on astronomy, history, medicine, botany, and genealogy. The new Spanish government also destroyed most of the Aztec art, architectural monuments, and statues in an effort to reeducate the native population and suppress their old beliefs. The Aztec Homeland On the verge of the collapse of the Aztec Empire Montezuma the Younger gave a strange greeting to his enemy the Spanish Conqueror Hernan Cortes, "For a long time we have known from the writing of our ancestors that neither I, not any of those who dwell in this land, are natives of it, but foreigners who came from very distant parts.” Montezuma was relating the tale he had heard since childhood of the Aztecs emergence from seven caves and their migration from a land to the north called Aztlán (meaning Place of Whiteness). Aztec pictorial books, known as codices, gave over twenty different accounts of the Aztec’s migration from the northern lands to present day Mexico. One tradition states the Aztecs left Aztlán on their calendar date of 1 Flint Knife (1111 A.D.). According to legend they were led by their tribal patron god Huitzilopochtli (Wit-see-low-poach-tlee) who commanded them to leave for the Promised Land to the south. The Aztecs had enjoyed Aztlán, described as a place of many lakes, lush foliage, and full of fish and waterfowl. Their home was an island unto itself surrounded by arid inhospitable lands. The Aztec migration was a long hard journey in which they would stop for intervals and build temples and wait for years for instructions from Huitzilopochtli. They eventually arrived at their final destination in present day central Mexico in 1 Flint (1376 A.D.). The Aztec who called themselves, the Mexica, would forever long for their beautiful ancient homeland, Aztlán. Ancient Trade The Toltec Empire (900-1168 A.D.) and later the Aztec rulers (1427A.D.-1521A.D) created vast trade networks that reached as far as the Colorado Plateau. The Plateau has been occupied by people for the last ten thousand years. The Chaco Canyon Culture (900A.D.-1150A.D.) had a vast center for regional trade goods such as corn, squash, beans, and textiles. They built massive buildings, known as “Great Houses” that were multi-story and contained hundreds of rooms. The Chacoans also traded for “exotic” non-utilitarian items from Mesoamerica, such as Baja and Pacific coast shells and copper bells. This trade from Mexico made the Mesoamerican leaders aware of the vast area inhabited to the north. They were particularly interested in the mineral trade. The trade route between Mexico and Chaco Canyon has

7 become known as the “Turquoise Road” because of the large quantity of turquoise traded to Mexico. Scientists using neutron activation analysis have found that some of the turquoise used in mosaics in Mexico was from the Cerrillos mines, west of Santa Fe, New Mexico. In return, the Mesoamerican people sent highly prized Scarlet Macaws and parrots to the Chocoans. Their feathers were probably used for rituals and ceremonial costumes for the Chacoan elite. The trade routes provided more than just commerce, along with it came new knowledge, legends, and myths of great cities and riches which probably tantalized the traders from both distant lands. The Geography of Trade The vast distance between the Toltec Empire and Chaco Canyon complex convey a sense of a well- established trade route. The Cerrillos turquoise mined in present day New Mexico and used in Mesoamerican mosaics had been transported two thousand miles. Shipping the Scarlet Macaws to Chaco Canyon was an even more arduous task. They were shipped alive and had to be feed and kept warm on their fourteen-hundred-mile trip from the southern lowlands of present day Mexico. Archaeologists have found no immature Scarlet Macaw skeletons at Chaco indicating they were brought in and not raised there. Aztec and Ute Legends The Utes and the Aztecs have more in common than just a root language; there are many similarities in their customs and legends. The Aztec creation story has seven Nahuatl- speaking tribes emerging out a passage from a seven –chambered cave in a place called Chicomoztoc. The Aztec place of emergence is topped with mountain surrounded by the earth. The Utes created wedding baskets as a trade item to the Navajos. The baskets have black triangular elements that represent rain clouds and mountains, a red band representing the sun, and the basket itself symbolized the earth. The center of the basket is the place of emergence from which the people came to the surface. They had to follow a mythological pathway from the center of the basket to the rim. The Northern Utes tell an ancient tale of emerging from the great waters where men had the bodies of fish. The Aztecs believe that during the fourth age of man the world was covered with water and men became fish. Both tales end with men taking human form and walking on the earth again. The Aztec and Ute cultures viewed the land and the human spirit as inseparable. The Utes believed separation from sacred lands was a form of spiritual death. To the Aztec the earth was the center of sacredness and the forces of nature were holy because they provided life. Montecuhzoma expedition members would have found much in common with the Ute view of life.

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Journey of the Ancients

Rock Art Rock art, found on every continent except Antarctica, is the earliest depiction by man. The American Southwest is a hotbed for rock art sites ranging from the very old to the very recent and spanning a large number of cultures and styles. Rock art is divided into three styles based on the method used to create it. Petroglyphs are the most common form of rock art in the southwest. Images are carved or cut into the surface of the rock. Pictographs are another common form of rock art where images are drawn or painted onto the surface of the rock. Geoglyphs are a very large and very rare form of rock art. The images are either scraped or outlined directly on the earth’s surface. Most of these images are so big that they must be viewed from the air to see. Ute Rock Art Ute rock is commonly found in northern Utah and northwestern Colorado. are a common theme and most images are representational rather than abstract. The presence of horses is a major clue to the age and culture of the rock art. The use of the horse was absent from the New World until they were re-introduced by the Europeans. Fremont Rock Art Fremont rock art is common in Utah and parts of northern Colorado. Most rock art is petroglyphs and is usually identified by trapezoidal shaped bodies that include great detail such as jewelry. The shield images also represent a common Fremont form of rock art with the shield formed as both a petroglyph and pictograph with the head and lower legs of a human. Several distinct styles of Fremont rock art as found including Classic Vernal and Northern and Southern San Rafael. The Fremont The term “Fremont” is used generically to describe a culture centered in Utah and parts of Colorado between 400 AD and 1300 AD. Noel Morss of the Peabody Museum named the culture after the Fremont River in south central Utah. The Fremont are divided into five regional sub-cultures including the Great Salt Lake, San Rafael, Sevier, Parowan, and Uinta. Of the five, evidence only of the San Rafael and Uinta are found within Colorado. The Fremont appear to have been semi-sedentary and practiced agriculture. Other traits which distinguish the Fremont include their unique one-piece method of making leather moccasins, their thin-walled coiled grey pottery, their “one-rod-and-bundle” method of making baskets, and their distinct style of rock art. Paleoindian Era (13,000-6500 B. C.) The Paleoindian hunters followed the migrating herds of mammoths and mastodons and hunted them with the atlatl (spear-thrower). The atlatl throwing board is a carved stick about two feet long, with a

9 handgrip at one end and a "spur" at the other end. The spur point would fit into a cavity in the back of a four to six-foot-long dart. The dart was held suspended parallel to atlatl board by the finger tips at the handgrip. The hunter launched with sweeping arm and wrist motion, very similar to a tennis serve. The atlatl would increase the velocity of the dart and its ability to pierce the thick hide of a mammoth or mastodon at a safe distance. The Fremont Culture (AD 500-1300) The Fremont Culture lived in what is now Utah and areas of Colorado, Idaho, and Nevada. They were early farmers that planted corn, beans, and squash. Fremont hunters and gatherers tended to stay in one area for extended periods. They hunted both large and small game with spears, snares, and nets. The Fremont Culture were aided by an invention not available to the Paleoindians, the bow and arrow, which gave hunters the advantage of firing arrows in quick succession at game. These projectile points and knife blade are similar to those found at numerous Fremont Culture archaeological sites. Fremont Pilling Figurine This a reproduction of one of the Eleven Pilling figurines discovered by Utah rancher Clarence Pilling in 1950. The figurines were created by the Fremont culture nearly 1000 years ago. The unfired clay figurines are of both genders and each are distinctly decorated with necklaces, paint, and artistic elements. The Navajo The Navajo, a major culture group in the American Southwest, refer to themselves as the Dine (The People). With roughly 300,000 members, the Navajo Tribe is the largest Native American tribe in the today. Like the Apache, the Navajo historically spoke an Athabaskan language, which suggests a migration into the southwest from the Great Plains. There is some evidence, however, within Colorado to suggest an intermountain migration. Archaeological evidence around Trinidad, Colorado, and other locations along the Colorado-New Mexico border, suggests early Navajo or Apache migration to the area. It is believed that the Navajo first arrived in the southwest around 1400 AD. It appears they were primarily buffalo hunters with cultural similarities to Great Plains groups. Around 1540, the Navajo started practicing agriculture, began interacting with the Puebloans and adopted many of their traditions including the farming of corn. After the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, many of the Navajo and Puebloans were displaced. Archaeological evidence suggests that at least some of the Navajo lived in Colorado until they were pushed south around 1756. Navajo Weaving During the mid-1500s, Francisco Vasquez de Coronado observed a strong tradition of weaving among the Navajo, particularly the making of clothing from cotton. After sheep were brought into the Southwest by the Spanish, wool was used for weaving. The introduction of sheep also led to a major change in lifestyle as the Navajo began moving around the southwest in search of grazing land rather than farmland. By 1750 the Navajo had access to dye sources and developed a distinctive style of their own. One common element in Navajo weaving are yeis, supernatural beings who communicated between the Navajo and the gods. These rugs themselves are not considered to be sacred and yei rugs depict the

10 deities themselves. Another similar style is the yeibichai rug. These rugs depict Navajo dancers personifying and impersonating the yei. There are four common weaving techniques including plain, tapestry, twill, and pulledwarp (tapestry) weaving. Saddle blankets, perhaps the most commonly produced woven objects, were usually made with a twill weave. The Hopi The Hopi culture shares many aspects of everyday life with other Puebloan cultures of the American Southwest but has a distinct language (Uto-Aztecan), its own styles of agriculture, pottery, and religion. Between 1350 and 1450 AD the Hopi abandoned the Kayenta region of Arizona and moved south of Black Mesa. Corn and beans were selectively planted so that eventually the plants would produce roots up to twenty feet in length. This allowed beans and corn to be grown in areas that had little moisture and high wind gusts. The Hopi also developed a distinct style of pottery and became one of the first cultures to consistently paint with curved lines rather than geometric shapes and to use animals and people as subject matters. One of the most innovative adaptations by the Hopi was the mining of coal as early as the 14th century. Coal was used by the Hopi for cooking, heating, and firing pottery. Hopi Kachinas The Hopi religion is largely based on the kachinas. Kachinas are supernatural beings that live on the Peaks near Flagstaff, Arizona and are impersonated by masked men during religious ceremonies. During the first half of the Hopi year, from the winter solstice until mid-July, is the time for Kachina ceremonies. These ceremonies include Soyalang-eu (Winter Solstice Ceremony in December), Pamuya (January), Powamuya (Bean Dance in February), Palölökonti (Water Serpent Ceremony in February or March) and the Home Dance – Niman Kachina – in July. After the Home Dance, the kachina return to their home and do not appear in Hopi ceremonies until the beginning of the next year. The men who wear the mask and costume of the kachina give up all of their personal identity and receive the spirit of the kachina they are representing. Kachina dolls play a major role in this ceremony. The dolls are not toys nor are they worshipped. Hopi children receive the dolls as well as other small gifts and sweets from the kachinas during ceremonies. The dolls are to be studied by the children and displayed in a prominent location in their homes. It is through this method that Hopi children learn the significance of over two hundred kachinas. The Apache Apache is a collective name for a group of several similar cultures that share a common language type known as Athabaskan. Linguistic and archaeological evidence suggest that the Navajo and Apache were once part of a single cultural group that migrated to the American Southwest, most likely through the Great Plains, and reached present day Arizona by the mid- 1500s. Even though they do share a common language, the Navajo have developed into a distinctively separate culture group. Today the Apache are divided into these groups: Western Apache, Chiricahua, Mescalero, Jicarilla, Lipan, and Plains Apache. Evidence for the Great Plains migration found can be found in Colorado and Nebraska through the Dismal River aspect and from historic accounts provided by the Spanish dating from the early 1500s. The Dismal River aspect lasted from 1650-1725 AD and is characterized by a distinctive ceramic type and multi-family houses that are believed to be ancestral to modern Apaches in the southwest. Records from

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Spanish contact during the early 1500s indicate that there was a strong network of trade between the Apache and Puebloan peoples of New Mexico. Apache While the Spanish and bands of Apache often fought throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, there was no form of a reservation system and hostilities between the two were usually concluded quickly. When Mexico gained independence from the Spanish in 1821, and when the United States claimed large amounts of land from Mexico in 1846, conflicts with the Apache escalated. The United States reservation system was fiercely opposed by Apache leaders such as Cochise and Geronimo as late as 1886. Apache Basketry Basketry was a natural fit for the nomadic Apache. The baskets are traditionally made from cottonwood, sumac, and willow with different types of fiber providing different colors. Baskets are usually either coiled trays or plates, burden baskets, ortus, an urn shaped water container. These baskets are from the Mescalero, Northern, and Jicarilla Apache. The large basket in the center was made by Cecilia Henry, a Northern Apache, in 1905. The Utes The first historic American Indians to live in Colorado were the Utes, distant relatives of the Shoshones. The Utes may have arrived in Colorado from five hundred to eight hundred years ago after several centuries of migrating east from the desert regions of California and Utah, or, as some Utes believe, possibly northern Mexico. Uto-Aztecan is the broad language group to which the Ute language is assigned, the same group to which the languages of the Aztecs, Hopis, Paiutes, Shoshones, and Comanches belong. The Anasazi’s move to defensible locations in cliffs around A.D. 1200 may have been prompted by Ute (or Navajo) raids, although it is most accepted that the latter tribes probably did not enter the area until the 1500s. From People of the Red Earth: American Indians of Colorado, Sally Crum. Water Jugs Water jug baskets, constructed of coiled sagebrush and sealed with hot liquid pine sap, were essential to the migrating Utes. The lightweight vessels could easily be carried on one’s back or by a dog, which the Utes used as a pack animal. Ute Pottery The Utes made a limited amount of coiled pottery. It was usually undecorated and utilitarian in nature, such as the cooking pot displayed here. Ute Basketry The Utes employed both the woven and coiled methods in their basketry. A twine weave was used for burden baskets, roasting trays, seed beaters, jars, and hats. Squawbush and willow were coiled into trays and bowls. Beads and Buckskin

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The Utes were known for the quality of their tanned buckskins and beadwork. Both were valuable trade goods. The accessibility to horses increased the Utes’ buffalo and big game kills. Thus, they had more hides to tan and their tanning skills improved. Ute beadwork was a derivative of Plains Indian beadwork, which in turn was influenced by French- Canadian missionaries in the Great Lakes Region. Early Ute beadwork was often characterized by colorful geometric patterns, while the latter work was often characterized by stylized floral patterns. Ute Bows Ute bows were made of cedar, chokecherry or serviceberry wood and were often sinew-backed for strength. The standard, strong bows were three to four feet long. The shorter bows were well-suited to the hunter on horseback. Fletched arrows were usually 22 to 24 inches long and were used for hunting and war parties. Ute Indian Weaponry ( new 2017) The Utes were quick to adapt new technology into their culture. They were one of the earliest native peoples to acquire the horse after the arrival of the Spanish in the Southwest. Utes began to trade with the Spanish for metal to fashion arrowheads, scrapers and knives. With the advent of settlement era, the Utes began to make iron arrowheads from acquired metals such as sheet iron, barrel hoops, and broken pieces of machinery. The iron arrowheads were more durable then their stone counterparts which were extremely time consuming to produce and very fragile. The Ute bows were constructed juniper, chokecherry, cedar, or mountain mahogany. The bows were soaked in water, bent, and staked to the ground to achieve their desired shape. Ute warriors could fire seven arrows a minute and combined with their horsemanship skills became one of the most powerful tribes in the region. The Utes were eager to trade for firearms when they became available, and quickly progressed through flintlocks, percussion, and weapons. The Ute warriors rode with Henry repeating while the were still using single shot Springfield rifles in 1879.

Ute War Club Originally Ute War clubs had a much shorter handle but with the acquisition of the horse the warrior needed a longer handle to reach his enemy when fighting on horseback. The stone head was carefully selected from river beds or creeks and would weigh between two to eight pounds. The double pointed stone head was designed to deal devastating blows in battle.

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Boardwalk Baseball

The Origins of Colorado Baseball The love of baseball has been intertwined with American History for over 100 years. Almost as soon as settlers and prospectors arrived in in 1858, early communities formed baseball teams and played on rocky, overgrown fields of glory. Baseball offered a great diversion from toiling in the fields, working in the mines and the hard scrabble life that was early life in the west. In 1862, some of the Colorado Territory’s first organized teams were the Denvers and the Colorado Base Ball Club (base and ball were separate words until around 1910), who started playing regular games but were interrupted by the expansion of the Civil War. However, by 1866, Colorado Territorial baseball was in full swing and new teams emerged, such as the Young Bachelors and the Rocky Mountains. These early teams had players of every level of ability, from rookies to “ringers,” semi-pro players who could be persuaded to play for financial reward. In 1871, The Blue Stockings, a all-star team won the Colorado Territorial Championship. Colorado became the 37th state in 1876 and, fittingly, the National (Base Ball) League was formed the same year, ushering in the development of modern baseball. Town Baseball Rivalries From the later 1880’s to the early 1890’s, towns in Western Colorado began to form baseball teams. Games were at first informally arranged when team members had time to compete. By the early 1900’s baseball became the nation’s favorite pastime. Communities developed fierce rivalries, fielding uniformed teams. This led to the development of leagues. Early Colorado Baseball By the early 1870’s. gentlemen’s club for the Colorado Territorial Championship. Like everywhere in America, Coloradans formed teams and leagues that thrilled them in the good times and kept their spirits up in the bad. During the World Wars, soldiers played ball to remind them of home and better times. Baseball has always been a constant reminder of what is good about America. It teaches us about teamwork, friendship, and what we can accomplish together. Early League Baseball Teams From 1920 to the late 1940’s, Western Colorado baseball began to change. Instead of being supported by a community, teams were increasingly being sponsored by business or fraternal organizations, The Shell Oilers, Macongan Lounge, and the American Legion teams began to expand their tournament play into Utah. The leagues were set up in regional divisions giving the winner of the contest an opportunity to play on a national level for the first time. Today, millions of Americans enjoy watching major league play, great neighborhood games, or cheering on their grandchildren at little league tournaments. This exhibit takes a look at all facets of baseball, from the local level to the major league players and the enduring love of this historic game.

The Uniform

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The early baseball uniform was neither cool nor comfortable. It was long-sleeved and often made of wool. Finally, short sleeves were adopted but this 1940s Eagles jersey was still made of coarse wool. This 1957 Phillies jersey is an improvement with a finer wool fabric. Synthetic fabrics used in modern uniforms, such as this 1995 Rockies uniform, give players comfort and mobility. History of the Louisville Slugger Hillerich and Bradsby’s Louisville Slugger took shape from the splinters of Peter “The Gladiator” Browning’s Bat. Over a century ago, Browning was a star player with the Louisville’s Eclipse team of the American Association (the forerunner of the National League). During his career, he achieved a .341 batting average, the twelfth highest career average in Major League history. But in 1884, Browning was fighting a slum, one that deepened when he broke his favorite bat. John Andrew “Bud” Hillerich was watching the game that day. He was playing hooky from the woodworking shop of his father, J. Frederich Hillerich, a German immigrant who rose from an apprentice wood turner to a master craftsman. After the game, Bud Hillerich invited the despondent Browning to the shop. Browning and Hillerich picked out a piece of white ash. Young Hillerich then began fashioning the new bat according to Browning’s direction. They worked through the night, Browning periodically taking practice swings. Finally, Browning pronounced the bat just right. The next day, Browning used the Hillerich bat to go three for three. The “Louisville Slugger” pulled Browning out of his slump and launched the Hillerich’s into a new business. Today, Hillerich and Bradsby Company is the oldest and largest bat manufacturer in the world. Ft. Crawford

Fort Crawford The fort was established on July 21, 1880 as a temporary military supply camp eight miles south of present day Montrose, Colorado. It was first called, “the Cantonment on the Uncompahgre” and was built to provide security after the Meeker Incident and the Battle of Milk Creek. Colonel Ronald S. Mackenzie, 4th U.S. Calvary, found a strategic location to establish the fort and the 23rd U.S. carried out construction of the facility. On December 15, 1886, it was designated , in honor of Captain Emmet Crawford killed while in pursuit of Geronimo. The fort closed in 1890 and the land was sold by the Interior Department. What were the problems that Ft. Crawford faced? Fort Crawford began as a temporary camp eventually became more permanent. Tent were replaced with buildings and as supplies finally arrived from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, the post turned into a ‘tolerable’ place. The biggest problem at the camp was water. A ditch was dug to irrigate crops from the nearby Uncompahgre River. But, with the mills operating at full blast up in , the water flowed red, gray and green. Fort Crawford continued to improve, ultimately having modern conveniences of later, more advanced military installations, such as a firing range (recreated here) and a gym for use by enlisted men. U. S. Army Forage Cap Circa 1861

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During the Civil War, many soldiers wore these forage caps. The caps were massed produced in1861 with leather visors. Soldiers would often put their caps on their rifle barrel and lift it up to check if there was any danger of enemy fire. Soldiers at Fort were still wearing these Civil War surplus caps in the 1880’s.

U.S. Dress Helmets Circa 1882

Officers and enlisted troops at Fort Crawford wore this distinct yellow horsehair plume helmet and braid. The helmet design was based on a similar design being used by the British and German armies in the 1870’s and 1880’s. Infantry troops wore the plain spiked helmet with the American eagle emblem. Fire Department Hose Carts

1886 and 1910 Hose Carts

These carts were among Grand Junction’s first pieces of firefighting equipment. When responding to a fire, volunteers grabbed the tongue, pulled the cart to the blaze, and connected the 300 feet of hose to the nearest fire hydrant. The speed of the hose cart team was a source of pride for each of western Colorado’s communities. Competitions were held, usually on holidays, to find out which team was fastest. In 1895, Grand Junction Hose Cart Number One placed first in every race it entered and held state and world records. Wood hose carts were eventually phased out by more durable and longer lasting all metal carts. By 1912, however, the Grand Junction Fire Department was exclusively buying combustion engines and the bulky hose carts and horse teams were either sold or retired. Grand Junction’s First Blacksmith

Thomas Hocking Williams Thomas H. Williams and his wife, Fanny immigrated from England and moved to the new town of Grand Junction in December of 1881. He opened a blacksmith shop on the bank of the Grand (Colorado) River near the ferry crossing. Travelers coming from Gunnison, Colorado, had long and difficult wagon road to Grand Junction. William’s blacksmith shop was the first business across the river and the weary travelers’ wagons often needed serious blacksmith repairs or their horses shoed. The constant flow of merchants, settlers, and later military units gave Williams a constant source of income and made him one of the wealthiest businessmen in Grand Junction. However, the Grand River would often overflow its banks in the spring and Williams opened his new shop on the northeast corner of the present-day Museum of the West’s parking lot. Blacksmith’s Tools of the Trade Hand-Cranked Forge-The super- heated forge would make metal hot enough to shape it and bend it to the desired shape with the hammer and anvil. The hot metal could be tempered by putting it in a barrel filled with water to strengthen it. Anvil- Most anvils were either cast iron or steel and were used to hammer unheated and heated metal. The blacksmith would hammer the metal on the anvil to make the desire angle or shape to repair wagons, make horse shoes, fix iron pots, create hinges, and numerous other items essential to living on the nineteenth century frontier.

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Hand -operated grinding wheel- Blacksmiths used the grinding wheel to shape, smooth, polish and sharpen metal surface. Thrallkill Firearms Room

Fur Trade Fur trappers ranged throughout western Colorado by the 1830s. Around 1828, Antoine Robidoux established a trading post, Fort Robidoux, on the near present-day Delta. This was Colorado’s first “general store” west of the Continental Divide. By 1833, Robidoux had a large group of trappers working for him in the river valleys of present day western Colorado. , a prominent rendezvous site for mountain men and traders, was built in 1836 in northwestern Colorado. Beaver and buffalo pelts were primary trade items in that area. This fort was so remote and plagued by mosquitos that it was dubbed, “Ft. Misery” by the trappers. The fort was abandoned after several years due to its poor reputation and sparse trapper activity. Mountain Men During the mountain men era of the 1820s and 1830s, thousands of trappers roamed the American West. European fashion demanded beaver hats for men and this new trend caused a boom in the trapping activity in present day Colorado. A single beaver pelt would sell for six to eight dollars, a tremendous sum in the early nineteenth century, and was small and light enough to pack out of interior trapping regions. Many mountain men, including , came to this region to seek their fame and fortune. By 1840, the fur trade ended due to changing fashion taste and economics. However, mountain men were soon employed as “guides” for explorers eager to chart the unknown West. Their frontier knowledge and skills would assist in opening up the region for settlement. Remington Target/Competition Rifle .32 caliber This percussion rifle with an extremely heavy barrel was renowned by mountain men for its accuracy. Often it was referred to as a chunk gun, because the shooter had to rest the barrel on a chunk of wood. The heavy barrel was desired by target shooters because it did not heat up to rapidly, thus permitting a longer shooting period. Smooth Bore Fowler 20 gauge Used for small game, this ancestor of the shotgun was light and reliable. Originally the Hudson Bay Company distributed this gun, bearing Birmingham, England strike marks, as a trade item to Native Americans. Kentucky Flintlock Rifle .32 caliber American flintlock rifles made their first appearance in 1710 when German and Swiss gunsmiths settled in Lancaster, Pennsylvania area and brought their knowledge of flintlock technology to the colonies. America’s first rifle became legendary both in fact and fiction. This renowned Kentucky rifle used by James Fenimore Cooper’s hero, Hawkeye, was also used by many real-life legends, such as Daniel Boone. Percussion Rifle .32 caliber

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Many of these small game rifles were used in Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio and Indiana. This gun would have been rebarreled or rebored to a .54 or .56 caliber as it moved out West for big game hunting. Percussion Rifle .50 caliber This large caliber weapon with a shortened barrel was typical of the mountain man firearm. Tacks decorated both the mountain man and Indian rifles and were often used as trade or barter items. The rifle on display was produced by J. P. Lower of Philadelphia and has an engraved German silver cap box on the bottom of the stock behind the trigger. Winchester - An American Legend Winchester gunsmiths went through many different designs to perfect the lever rifle. The journey from an ineffective pistol to the Gun that won the West took years of painstaking trial and error. The Winchester which debuted in 1849, hit its peak in the 20Th century when it became the largest gun maker in the world with more than 18,000 employees. The Jennings Rifle The first “Winchester,” ca. 1849, was an odd looking rifle called the “Volition Repeater” by its inventor, Mr. Walter Hunt. Very few of these rifles were made, and only one is known to exist today. This rare rifle fired an equally unique cartridge called the “,” a hollow filled with powder backed by a pierced disc permitting ignition by separate primer. The next “Winchester” combined the talents of B. Tyler Henry, and Daniel Wesson into the Hunt's successor, a full production rifle called the “Jennings” rifle made circa 1850-1851 in a quantity of 5,000 pieces. This rifle is marked “Robbins and Lawrence-Makers-Windsor, Vt.,” S.N. 644. All Jennings rifles were .54 caliber to accommodate the “Rocket Ball.” Smith & Wesson - Lever Action Repeating Pistol The next “Winchester” predecessor was based on a Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson patent of 1854. These firearms were the S&W lever action pistols made in Norwich, Connecticut, ca. 1854-55. Only 1000 or so were made. They fired modified “Rocket Balls.” From July 1855 to 1857, the business was known as the “ Company.” Oliver F. Winchester, a prosperous clothing manufacturer, became a stockholder in the Volcanic in 1855. He acquired a large interest in the company after it was reorganized into the “New Haven Arms Company” in April 1857. Both Smith and Wesson had dropped out of the company in 1856 to continue development of a cartridge firing . This pistol, although in poor condition, serves to show the mechanical aspects of the weapon as well as its loading features. “Henry's” Patent Rifle Mr. B. Tyler Henry, foreman of the New Haven Arms Company, designed a new rifle and cartridge which were patented as Henry's Patent of October 16, 1860. About 13,000 firearms were made from 1860-1866. This rifle bears S.N. 12725 and has a brass frame rather than the limited steel frame version. This last predecessor to “Winchester” arms was called “that damn Yankee rifle - you load on Sunday, 'n shoot all week long!” The cartridge was a .44 rim fire.

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The Winchester - Model 1866 Rifle (The “Yellow Boy,” the first real “!”) The first “real” Winchester Rifle, produced from 1866 to 1898, was made in New Haven, Connecticut by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. 170,101 pieces were manufactured. This newly designed rifle loaded through a gate in the frame's right side. The barrel markings indicate Henry and King's patent-a “Model 1866.” This rifle is S.N. 78661 and exhibits hard use. Winchester Model 1873 .32 W.C.F. Rifle This standard grade rifle has an octagon barrel and is a .32 W.C.F. It did not carry a cleaning rod trap in the rear stock. This was the third and last center fire caliber Winchester Model 1873 rifle. The .32 W.C.F. was a flatter shooting cartridge suitable for small game. Like most other Model 1873 Winchesters, this one shows heavy usage. Winchester , Model 1892 This .44 W.C.F. (.44-.40) Saddle Ring Carbine, S.N. 986932, was made in 1927. It is a “scaled down” Model 1886, a dependable successor to the older weaker action Model 1873 which handled the same . Over 1,000,000 arms in this model were produced. This rifle still functions reliably and remains reasonably accurate during 60 years of continuous use. Winchester Carbine, Model 1894 Designed by John M. Browning, the Winchester Model 1894 was the company's first lever action arm made for smokeless powder cartridges. It remains the most successful centerfire rifle/carbine Winchester produced; over 5,500,000 were manufactured from 1894-1994. It is noteworthy that over its long production run not a single major change has been made. This example, S.N. 950,989, is a .30 W.C.F. (.30-.30). WINCHESTER CARBINE, MODEL 1894 The Winchester Model 1894 has been called "a specimen of ultimate perfection in a lever action rifle.” The Model 94 has been produced with no major design changes from 1894 to 1994. This carbine was owned by Mesa County Sheriff Charles S. Lumley, from 1929-1941. It is a .25-.35 WCF, S.N. 1031561. Famous and Infamous Western Colorado was a center of activity for “Wild West” heroes and villains. Within a few hundred miles of Grand Junction, Butch Cassidy and his gang robbed banks and trains, Buffalo Bill performed with his Wild West show, and Kit Carson explored the frontier. Meeker Incident In March 1878, Nathan Meeker was appointed as Indian Agent of the White River Ute Reservation in northwest Colorado. In 1870 he was part of Horace Greeley’s agricultural colony in Colorado territory and it was hoped that he would teach the Utes to farm. Meeker was not sympathetic to traditional Ute cultural values and soon upset them by trying to make them farmers and ignoring their nomadic heritage. Conditions deteriorated at the White River Agency and Meeker called in the United States Army. The Utes felt this was an attack on their sovereign land and a violation of their treaty with the U.S.

19 government. On September 29, 1879, Ute Chief Douglas and a group of warriors killed Meeker and other agency employees. Mrs. Meeker and four others were taken hostage for 23 days and then released. The incident led to the removal of the Utes from the White River Agency to a reservation at Ft. Duchesne, Utah. Mrs. Meeker’s Pistol - Marlin .32 Caliber Rim Fire This tip-up model has a 3 ½ inch barrel with horn stocks. It was found at the site where Colorow, Chief of the White River Utes, camped with Mrs. Meeker. after the Meeker Massacre. It was a typical weapon carried by women and was thought to have belonged to Mrs. Meeker. Law Enforcement Many of the West’s most notorious outlaws operated in western Colorado. Butch Cassidy and robbed his first bank in Telluride. Kid Curry robbed a train in Silt, and the Tom McCarty gang terrorized Delta, The outlaw era was short lived on the Western Slope as larger and better organized law enforcement agencies began to work together to bring these criminals to justice. Colt Frontier Model 1878 - Double Action Revolver .45 caliber This Colt Frontier Model 1878 was given as a gift by notorious Chicago gangster “Diamond Jack” Alterie to Garfield County Sheriff George L. Winters. In the late 1920’s, Alterie purchased a dude ranch known as the Sweetwater Resort near Glenwood Springs, Colorado, to “cool off” from his gangland activities in Chicago. Alterie had numerous drunken altercations with Garfield County law enforcement, including one incident where Sheriff Winters knocked him out with a punch. Alterie was enamored with the old West and dressed in cowboy attire and liked old western firearms like this Colt Model 1878. Alterie admired Sheriff Winter’s toughness and gave him this present for the trouble he caused in Glenwood Springs. The Model 1878 Frontier was Colt’s first heavy-frame, double-action revolver. More than 51,000 of the fixed cylinder were manufactured from 1878 to 1905. The introduction of swing-out-cylinder Colt revolvers in 1889 made these earlier models obsolete. Tom McCarty's Winchester Rifle - Model 1886 On June 29, 1889, Tom McCarty, Matt Warner, and Butch Cassidy robbed the San Miguel Valley Bank in Telluride, Colorado. McCarty was implicated in several other robberies with Cassidy and the Wild Bunch. On September 7, 1893, Tom McCarty, with his brother Bill and nephew Fred, pulled up in the alley behind the Farmer's and Merchant's Bank in Delta. Tom remained outside with the horses while the others entered the bank, shot and killed the bank vice-president, and made off with about $700. Escaping down Main Street, Bill and Fred were shot and killed. Tom was wounded but managed to get away. This 38.56 caliber rifle was recovered by the Delta County Sheriff after the robbery. Kid Curry’s Pistol .41 Caliber Colt Revolver Harvey Logan, alias Kid Curry, was a notorious outlaw and associate of Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch. After a bungled train robbery near Silt, Colorado in June of 1904, the robbers were cornered by a posse. During the ensuing shootout, Kid Curry was heard to call out, “I’m hit, and

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I’ll finish it now.” He took his own life with this .41 caliber Colt revolver. A detective from the Pickerton Agency later identified his body as the outlaw. The pistol was recovered next to his body by a posse member and his descendant gave it to firearms collector Audrey Thrailkill. However, the story did not end there. Harvey Logan’s relatives claim that it was a case of mistaken identity and Harvey Logan escaped and rejoined the Cassidy Gang in South America. Logan’s relatives later received a letter that Kid Curry was kicked in the head by a mule and died from his injuries in 1909. Kit Carson Era Pistol - Colt .44 Caliber Cap & Ball First Model Dragoon This gun was found in 1885 by homesteader and amateur historian John Lurvey in Carson’s Hole, near Unaweep Canyon. Lurvey claimed he had discovered evidence of Kit Carson’s hastily abandoned camp. Carson was well known to the area having had many dealing with Antoine Robidoux during his trapping days. However, this First Model Dragoon pistol was manufactured from 1848 to 1850, long after Carson’s trapping days. Kit Carson did ride with the United States Army Dragoons who used this pistol. Since Lurvey’s discovery of the camp the area has been known as Carson’s Hole. The rotted stocks have been replaced. When found, three chambers were loaded, one with a . The belt and holster were severely deteriorated and beyond repair. It has a 7 ½ inch barrel. George Crawford's Pistol - Remington No. 1 Revolver .32 Caliber Rimfire This is a typical pistol carried by businessmen and merchants of the 1870s. George Crawford, the founding father of the cities of Grand Junction and Delta, Colorado, carried this revolver during his town building days. Fleagle Gang The career of the notorious Fleagle Gang began in Western Colorado. In 1926 "Little Jake" and Ralph Fleagle, William Messick, and Herbert "Heavy" Royston plotted the robbery of the First National Bank of Rifle. Their plans were thwarted when the bank's assets were transferred to Denver. In 1928 they robbed the First National Bank of Lamar, killed the bank president and his son, and took two tellers hostage. They later murdered one of the hostages and a had been forced to aid a wounded gang member. The gang successfully eluded authorities for more than a year until an FBI fingerprint expert identified Jake Fleagle's print on the murdered doctor's car. Three of the gang members were soon captured: Ralph Fleagle in Illinois, William Messick in Grand Junction, and Herbert Royston in California. They were each found guilty and executed in July of 1930. Jake Fleagle remained at large until October 14, 1930 when he died in a shootout with 23 law officers in Branson, Missouri. With his death, the Fleagle Gang's trail of violence came to an end. Iver Johnson Single Barrel 12 Gauge Shotgun A Fleagle gang member used this shotgun with an 11 7/8inch barrel to rob the First National bank of Lamar, Colorado. Riverside Arms Double Barrel 12 Gauge Shotgun

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This shotgun with illegally shortened to 10 3/8 inch barrels and was used by a Fleagle gang member to rob the First National Bank in Lamar, Colorado. Robbers’ Roost Bandits This .44 caliber, six shot cap and ball revolver was found in the Robbers Roost country of Utah, famous hideout of early day Western bandits. It has an eight inch barrel and is cut for shoulder stock. The rust is from years of exposure. Wild Western Entertainment The Wild West has always fascinated the American public, and it was only natural that entertainers would capitalize on this popular trend. One of most popular entertainers in the nation and the star of Buffalo Bill’s Wild was Annie Oakley. On September 7, 1908, Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show came to Grand Junction. The show was one of the largest entertainment events ever held in Grand Junction and 10,000 people attended the show. Buffalo Bill's Pistol - Colt Bisley Model 32.20 Winchester Center Fire This gun has a 7 ½ inch barrel and hard rubber grips, with three notches on the left grip. Scratched on the inside of the grip is the following: “Bill Cody. Aug. 11 1902". During his later years Buffalo Bill was reported to use bird shot in his Colt to always hit his target at Wild West performances. Annie Oakley Matched Pistol Set - Smith &Wesson Model 2 .38 Caliber Single Action Revolver (top) Smith &Wesson .22 Caliber Model No. 1 Third Issue Revolver (bottom) Annie Oakley met her future husband and sharpshooter, Frank Butler, during a rifle match on Thanksgiving Day of 1875. The two sharp shooters joined Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show in 1885. When Annie became the star of the Wild West show, Frank became her manager. They toured with Buffalo Bill for seventeen years. In 1890, Frank Butler presented Annie with a similar set of matched pistols. Leo Carillo's Colt Bisley Pistol This gold-plated 38/40 caliber (38W.C.F.) pistol once belonged to Leo Carillo, best known for his role as "Pancho" in the television series The Cisco Kid. The pistol was fully coated with 24 karat gold, hand engraved, and accented with elephant ivory grips. Beloved by his fans, "Grand Marshal" Carillo wore this pistol in many parades throughout the nation. Mesa County Sheriffs This exhibit represents the most complete set of Sheriffs’ pistols in the United States. The vast change in the technology of law enforcement weaponry is evident in this collection.

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Western Investigation Team

What is the Western Investigations Team? The Western Investigation team is composed of Museum of Western Colorado staff, scientists and interns from Mesa State College, and outside consultants. The team works together to solve enduring mysteries of the West. The group started as a result of the success of the Alferd Packer Lost Camp Expedition, which discovered Packer’s camp in Lake City, Colorado. Museum of the West’s Curator of History, David Bailey, serves as Director of the Western Investigations Team (WIT). Dr. Rick Dujay, Director of the Electron Microscopy Lab at Mesa State, serves as WIT Scientifi c Coordinator. The Alferd Packer Case In the spring of 1874, Alferd Packer and five prospecting companions headed into the snowy of Colorado. Packer was the only one to come out of the mountains several months later. Suspicions were aroused, and Packer was accused of killing and eating his fellow travelers after their remains were discovered in August of that year. Although he always proclaimed his innocence, Packer was sentenced to forty years in prison. In 1994, Curator of History, David Bailey began research on a Colt Model 1862 Police (Conversion) pistol. The pistol had little documentation other than a card that stated, “This gun found at the site where Alferd Packer killed and ate his companions.” Bailey and archaeologist Phil Born traced the gun’s history. The pistol had been reconfigured to five instead of cap and ball and was re-issued in 1873, the same year of Packer’s ill-fated trip. The firearm had an old accession number from the Western State College Museum in Gunnison. Bailey soon found old records from the number of the pistol. They indicated that an historian and archaeologist named Ernest Ronzio had excavated the pistol at the Alferd Packer murder site in Lake City, Colorado in 1950. Later, famed fi rearms collector, Audry Thrailkill purchased the gun and it was later acquired by the Museum of Western Colorado. Better History through Science In 2000, Bailey was given a chance to test his theory when he was allowed to test forensic samples that had been collected in a 1989 examination of the Packer Party skeletons. He also examined photographs from the exhumation and noticed that a skeleton marked “A” had a round hole in the hip region. He had found historical references from visitors to the Packer crime scene stating that Shannon Bell had a bullet hole in his hip. He took the forensic sample from skeleton A (Shannon Bell) to be tested by Dr. Rick Dujay, Director of the Electron Microscopy Lab at Mesa State College. Dr. Dujay, a team of scientists, and interested students examined the bits of wool fabric, old buttons, and soil for traces of gunshot residue to prove Packer had shot Bell. On February 10, 2001, team member Dr. Ken Konsanke a pyrotechnics expert, found a 50-micron piece of a lead fragment. Because of its structure, size, and composition, he determined that it was man-made. Dujay used an x-ray spectrograph to analyze the elemental makeup of the object. He found the object was consistent with lead used for bullets during the post-Civil war era. Even more amazing, was the fact that the lead was unusually pure and consistent with a sample taken from a lead bullet still in the pistol found by Ronzio in 1950. This new evidence linked the gun to the murder scene and gave much more credibility to Packer’s version that he shot the real killer, Shannon Bell.

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A New Investigation into the Packer Case Bailey’s interest was piqued by this new information and he began to study documents, books, and trial transcripts to find out more about the Packer case. Many of the sources indicated that Packer might have been innocent. Packer claimed in his last interview with the Denver Post in 1907, that the real murderer was Shannon Bell, who, he claimed, killed all the other members of the party and began to butcher them. Packer claimed upon his return to camp that he shot Bell with a revolver in self-defense after being attacked. Bailey suspected that the pistol in the Museum collection might have been used by Packer to kill Bell. Alferd Packer’s Pistol This rusted relic of an 1862 Colt still has bullets in three of its five chambers. The pistol was found in 1950 at the Alferd Packer massacre site on Cannibal Mesa, near Lake City, Colorado. Packer denied killing and eating his five prospecting companions. Before his death in 1907, Packer recounted the 1873 massacre, stating that the real murderer was one of his party, Shannon Bell, who killed all the other members and began to butcher them. Packer claims that upon returning to camp, he was attacked by Bell and forced to shoot him in self-defense. The pistol found 77 years too late could have been the evidence that Packer needed to prove his innocence and avoid his 40-year jail sentence. Dr. Richard Dujay of Mesa State College tested a bullet still in the gun as well as the lead fragment found under Shannon Bell. He found both of the samples we unusually pure and were a consistent match. Packer’s Fight for Survival In Alferd Packer’s version of the infamous incident, he returned from a scouting trip to find four of his companions slain and Shannon Bell frenzied in a fi t of insanity. Bell then attacked Packer with a hatchet. Packer reacted very quickly and fi red two shots that killed Bell. Trapped in snowy mountains with no food, Packer was forced to cannibalize his companions – an action he regretted for the rest of his life. The Alferd Packer Lost Camp Expedition 2004 During the first week of September 2004, a fifteen-member Museum team conducted an archaeological expedition to the Alferd Packer site. The team consisting of scientists, archaeologists, anthropologists, and historians conducted thorough examinations of the area with metal detectors and appropriate inspection devices. The goal of the project was to find the location of two of Alferd Packer’s campsites described in historical documents. Although the first campsite yielded no evidence, the second site, where the murders occurred, had charcoal remains and rusted tin ware. Dr. Dujay tested the artifacts at the Mesa State College Electron Microscopy Laboratory. Test results showed that the charcoal had a high graphic content consistent with a maintained campfire and the camp ware had a high iron content expected in nineteenth-century commercial tin. Engel Brothers Media, in conjunction with the History Channel, obtained the film rights to the expedition and produced a two-hour documentary called Cannibals that aired in 2005. The great success of the expedition and the collaboration between Mesa State College and the Museum of Western Colorado led to the formation of a new organization, The Western Investigations Team. Mysterious Stone Floor of Kimball Creek

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The Western Investigations Team’s first major expedition (2005) was to a site near Collbran, Colorado. In 1937, a rancher digging an outhouse had found a mysterious stone floor buried ten feet under dirt and river rock. He excavated an area that measured five feet by ten feet. The floor looked to be carefully laid sandstone blocks that had an unusual tapered design. The floor was eventually filled back in, briefly uncovered in 1980s, and forgotten for most of the sixty-eight years after its discovery. The WIT team, consisting of Museum staff, geologists, archaeologists, anthropologists, historians, and a science team from Mesa State College decided to locate and uncover the floor to determine if it was an archaeological site or a natural geologic formation. Kimball Creek Floor Tiles This is a group of loose floor tiles that were found near the main section of the floor excavated by the WIT team. The tiles were level and of an even thickness. There was a natural clay between each tile. This made it seem as if the flooring was purposely laid by an unknown early culture. 1937 Expedition In the spring of 1937, Tom Kenney was doing some excavation work on his ranch and uncovered perfectly laid flagstone pavement. He then cleared out a five foot by ten-foot area to examine the floor more carefully. He assumed the floor was built by an unknown ancient civilization. Well-known amateur archaeologist Al Look and some colleagues examined the floor and concurred that it was created by some earlier civilization. Two archaeologists, one from Denver, and one from Chicago examined the site in the spring of 1938. They concluded the floor was from 25,000 to 80,000 years old. The men contacted the Archaeological Society of London for help. The society contacted one of their researchers, who was in Egypt exploring an ancient tomb. One month later the explorer and other archaeologists came to the Kenney ranch. The archaeologists dug test holes eight feet out from the floor and discovered some flagstone. After much debate and argument, the man from London concluded that the floor had to be natural because it would have been impossible for a civilization to lay such a sophisticated floor before the Ice Age. 2005 Expedition In August 2005, WIT Director David Bailey and WIT Scientifi c Coordinator Dr. Rick Dujay assembled a team of scientists, archaeologists, geologists, historians, and anthropologists to locate and excavate the mystery floor found in 1937 by rancher Tom Kenney. Kenney’s daughter, Mary Lou Ridenhour, placed stakes where she thought the floor pit had been in 1937. On August 8, the WIT crew began excavating between the stakes with a backhoe. Near the end of the day a small section of the floor was found and excavated. By the next day, a large section of the floor was excavated and it appeared level with bisected stones that were about four inches thick. The WIT group carefully cleaned the floor and searched for associated artifacts; however, no artifacts associated with the site except tools and equipment from the 1937 dig were found. The following day, three consulting geologists, Larry Leupke, Bill Hood, and Joe Fandrich, arrived to examine the floor. The geologists thought the floor was near a contact point between the Wasatch and Green River formations. After careful examination, they concluded that the formation was a natural occurrence. The archaeologists also concurred that it was not man-made because of the lack of archaeological evidence. However, after returning from the dig site, the researchers have been unable to find photographs of a similar formation that is level, of the

25 same thickness, and with stones that bisect each other. Because of the unusual nature of the formation, the Western Investigations Team will continue to seek additional information on similar formations or search the area for additional stone outcrops. The Kannah Creek Mystery The case began on April 1, 1961, when Keith and Anita Clark, accompanied by Mrs. Melvin Beye, found an unusual bronze relic with religious depictions during an afternoon hike. The artifact was found near the Ute Trail in the Kannah Creek area, southeast of Grand Junction, Colorado. The piece thought to be of early Spanish origin was sent to Father Sierra, a Catholic diocesan historian living in Pueblo, Colorado, who recognized the possible historic importance of the object. He consulted with Dr. George T. Mills, Curator of the Taylor Museum of the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center. Mills then sent a photograph of it to a leading authority, Patrice Proske, Curator of sculpture at the Hispanic Society of City. Proske wrote, “It is indeed an interesting object, and the style of 17TH century Spanish work. The scene at the top is the Vision of Constantine.” The Vision of Constantine is a legend that states the pagan Roman emperor Constantine saw the vision of a fiery cross in the sky at noon together with the motto “In This Sign You Will Conquer.” His troops painted crosses on their shields and defeated their enemies. Constantine later became the first Christian emperor of the Roman Empire. The bronze casting was sent to another consultant Steven V. Grancsay, Curator of Arms and Armor at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, who thought bronze piece was part of an early Spanish processional cross. Unfortunately, the object was never returned to the Clarks and was lost to history. Mysterious Masonic Relic This is the actual relic found by the Clark family during a hike near Kannah Creek on April 1, 1961. It was missing for forty five years after being sent to an expert for analysis. WIT Team members, David Bailey, Rick Dujay, and Mike Perry recovered the artifact from Pueblo and returned it to the Museum of the West. Vision of Constantine The relic depicts Emperor Constantine staring at the cross in the sun. In 312 AD Constantine was preparing for battle against his rival Maxentius. Before the battle, Constantine looked at the sun and saw a vision, the sign of the cross and the words, In Hoc Signos Vinces (In This Sign You Will Conquer). Constantine painted the cross on his war banners and soldiers’ shields and defeated his enemy at the Battle of Milvian Bridge. The Masonic Knight’s Templar adopted In Hoc Signos Vinces as their motto showing their commitment to God. WIT Investigates the Relic In 2004, Anita Clark took WIT Director David Bailey to the location where she had found the object and provided a photograph of it. Bailey thought at the time that the processional cross relic might have been from an unknown Spanish expedition that met tragedy on the Ute trail, or from a Spanish encampment near the trail. Bailey decided to use the WIT team to investigate the Kannah Creek site for additional evidence. On June 22, 2006, the WIT Team prepared for an archaeological survey to locate any remaining remnants of the bronze Spanish relic or any associated artifacts in the area where the original discovery had been made in 1961. On that same day, the Denver Post ran a front-page story about the

26 upcoming expedition that featured a picture of the Spanish artifact found 45 years earlier by Keith and Anita Clark. Over the years the Clarks heard that Father Sierra had died of a heart attack. The Clarks were not sure if the artifact had been sent to one of the eastern museums or lost when Father Sierra died. David Bailey had contacted several of these museums but they had no record of the artifact. The next day the WIT team, consisting twenty-two scientists, historians, and archaeologists, conducted their first survey of the area. First, the team first mapped the area with GPS units and then conducted a search with metal detectors and by visual inspection. Unfortunately, the team found no other artifacts. However, a second expedition was planned to investigate a strange stone structure found during the survey. A few days later Bailey got a mysterious call from Cara DeGette, an editor from the Colorado Springs Independent newspaper in Colorado Springs, Colorado. A Break in the Case The Spanish relic lost in 1961 had been found! Ninety-four year-old Monsignor Howard Delaney had kept the Spanish relic for 45 years in a greeting card box in his fi le cabinet in Pueblo. He saw the picture of the artifact in the Denver Post and realized it was the same one he possessed. The Monsignor was a friend of Father Sierra and had kept it for him when he was sent to Argentina for eight years. In fact, Father Sierra had not died but was preparing to celebrate his 90th birthday party in Maryland! WIT Director David Bailey accompanied by Museum of Western Colorado Director Mike Perry and WIT Scientific Coordinator Dr. Rick Dujay, took a fifteen-hour round-trip drive to pick up the relic for study at the Mesa State College Lab and the Museum of the West. With great joy and relief at finding it again, Anita Clark then donated the relic to the museum. Dr. Dujay tested the artifact at his lab at Mesa State and results indicated the object was made out of pure copper. David Bailey researched the object and found out it was not of Spanish origin, but was a decorative element from a Masonic Knight’s Templar sword scabbard from the late nineteenth century. Although the mystery of what happened to the relic was solved, it still leaves unanswered what this Masonic Templar relic was doing in a remote area of Kannah Creek. What is Freemasonry? This worldwide fraternal organization has a set of shared morals and metaphysical beliefs and membership requires belief in a Supreme Being. The group is organized by Grand Lodges where members can advance through different degrees by learning the teachings of the Masons. What do the Masonic Symbols Mean? The symbolism of the relic relates to the teaching of the Freemasons. Some prominent symbols on the relic include an inverted triangle in the sun, reclining Emperor Constantine looking at the cross in the sun, a coat of arms, and a cross within a crown. This symbol represents the Knight’s Templar degree in York Rite masonry. The relic originally was part of a decorative element on a Masonic Knight’s Templar sword scabbard. Another Masonic Mystery On November 11, 2006, a second WIT expedition visited Kannah Creek to examine the round basalt stones laid out in the shape of a rectangle. They dug around and below the boulders and found the stones on top were actually part of a wall that tilted inward nearly forty degrees. When all four sides

27 were uncovered, it took on the appearance of a truncated pyramid (a four-sided pyramid with the top cut off). The team investigated the area around the pyramid with metal detectors and found no metallic objects associated with the site. After the return of the Masonic relic, David Bailey, who had done extensive research on the history of Freemasonry, remembered that the unfinished pyramid was a major symbol used by the Masons. Perhaps the Knights Templar sword scabbard relic found nearby was connected to the pyramid site. It is well known that the early Freemasons who traveled out West often met at outside locations when no lodge was available. Also, the site is near the Spanish and Ute trails used by early mountain men like Kit Carson, a well-known Freemason. Due to the bad weather conditions, the WIT team could only excavate a small section on the inside of the pyramid. The team plans a third expedition to the site in 2007 and will renew their efforts to find out if traveling Masons on the frontier used this site. Scanning Electron Microscope - The Western Investigation Team’s Most Valuable Tool Conventional light microscopes use a series of glass lenses to bend light waves and create a magnified image. The Scanning Electron Microscope creates magnified images by using electrons instead of light waves. The Scanning Electron Microscope, called the SEM for short, shows detailed three-dimensional images at much greater magnification than is possible with a light microscope. The images created without light waves are rendered in black and white on the monitor. The WIT team has used the SEM on many of its investigative cases. Examples include finding the bullet fragments in the Packer case, creating a metallurgic profile of Spanish Colonial artifacts, determining the composition of the Masonic pieces, and analyzing samples from the mystery floor near Collbran.

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One-Room School House

One-Room School House Early schools in Western Colorado not only provided education but also were the center of community life. Town meetings, elections, and social gatherings were held at the school. The first school in Grand Junction was constructed out of vertical cottonwood poles, a canvas roof and oiled paper windows. The school located at 5th and Colorado, collapsed after a flood. Town residents built a new school complete with floors, a stove, and real windows. Pastime Saloon

The Pastime Saloon The Pastime saloon opened for business around 1890 at 421 Main Street in Grand Junction. It was originally used as a saloon, gambling house, and a pool and billiard hall. The business boomed and a large stock of tobaccos and cigars were added for the growing customer base. By 1905 the saloon added a café and began conducting regional billiard tournaments. The Pastime boomed because just as advertised, it was, “a popular meeting place for business engagements or a friendly game with the ivories.” Baby Doe Tabor Blanche Arkwright completed this charcoal drawing of “Baby Doe” Tabor in 1891. Elizabeth McCourt, known as “Baby Doe” had an affair with Horace “Silver King” Tabor, the richest man in Colorado. Tabor left his wife to marry Baby Doe, who was twenty-five years his junior, causing a huge scandal in Colorado. The Tabors lived a rich and flamboyant lifestyle for many years until the Silver Crash of 1893. Tabor was ruined and died broke in 1899, leaving Baby Doe to fend for herself. Baby Doe kept her husband’s old mine, The Matchless, in hopes of getting rich again someday. She lived by the mine, penniless, until her death in 1935. Pastime Graphophone The Columbia Type “BS” coin-operated graphophone was introduced in 1898 at a price of twenty dollars. The device was first used in a saloon in California. Customers at a saloon could drop in a nickel, turn a crank and listen to a cylinder recording of favorite music of the day. The Graphophone was equipped with rubber listening tubes that customers could put in each ear. The metal feet had screw holes so the graphophone could be secured to the bar to prevent theft. This graphophone was actually used at the Pastime Saloon. Lever Balance Gold Scales On the back bar, behind the main bar is a set of scales used for measuring gold dust or nuggets. The bartender had counterweights that could weigh out the amount of gold the customers brought into the saloon. It was a common currency and miners and prospectors paid for their drinks or a game of pool with gold. A rule of thumb in the Old West was “a pinch of gold equaled one drink.” Unscrupulous bartenders would often take a pinch of gold out of a customer’s pouch and put it into the bar box. He would wipe the gold dust remains off of his hands and into his beard after the transaction. At the end of

29 the night, he would go home and carefully wash out his beard. He often made more money from his beard than from his bartender wages. Pastime Cash Register This National Cash Register Model 442 was actually used at the Pastime Saloon in the 1900s. The register, serial number 847717, was produced in Dayton, Ohio on May 18, 1910. The very ornate brass case was called “Empire Style” and was designed for the National Register Company by Tiffany Jewelers of New York City in 1898. The register keys are still labeled pool, dice, and tobacco & cigarettes. Gamblers and Saloon Girl Pistols Small pistols were the choice of gamblers because they were easily concealed and could be carried into gambling houses. Frontier saloons often required that patrons check in their side arms and knives at the door. The owners felt this would stop violent confrontation caused by cheating at cards or the accusation that a player was a cheat. Many gamblers bought this small pistol to keep in their pockets in case of life-threatening emergencies. Saloon girls also liked small pistols that could be concealed in their garters. These so-called “garter guns” were a defensive weapon to wield off drunken or unruly patrons. Park Opera House

Grand Opening of the Park Opera House The Park Opera House opened on June 23, 1892 to a sold-out audience of 750. One of Grand Junction’s largest buildings, this multi-storied structure measured 70 feet by 120 feet and cost $25,000 to build. The first floor held 500 people and the upper balcony held 250. The stage measured 36 feet by 70 feet and was ten feet deep. A basement, 30 feet by 5 feet, was used to store stage props. Actors and actresses had six dressing rooms. Over the years, the Park Opera House hosted many national and international theater and open companies. However, with the advent of motion pictures, the public lost interest in traveling performers and Park Opera House was forced to close in the 1920s. Park Opera House Rediscovered During construction of the Museum of the West’s parking lot in 2003, remnants of the brick foundation of the Park Opera House were discovered. Nearby workmen found a broken Hood’s sarsaparilla bottle, a marble floor fragment, broken bricks, and pieces of elegant glassware. These relics are all that remain of early Grand Junction’s center of cultural entertainment. As the backhoes dug deeper, workmen found horseshoes and strap iron from an even earlier structure, Thomas Williams’ blacksmith shop that operated in the 1880s. Floradora Girls As the new century dawned in 1900, the first theatrical sensation was a British musical comedy called Floradora. The musical told the story of a young woman trying to recover her inheritance. The show earned millions of dollars and toured the United States and Europe. The attractive Floradora Girls, Daisy Green, Majorie Relyen, Vaugn Texsmith, Margaret Walker, Agnes Wayburn, and Marie Wilson, became superstars of their day and turned down thousands of marriage proposals. The girls kept bottles of seltzer water in their dressing rooms to douse unwanted suitors. To be a Floradora girl you had to weigh

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130 pounds and be five-foot four, because the producers insisted on uniformity of the Chorus. The Floradoras caused a great sensation when they arrived in Grand Junction by train and played to sold out shows at the Park Opera House. Leaving for the Opera 1905 In 1905, evening fashions for men dictated that they wore a dinner jacket with tails, known today as a tuxedo, a waistcoat, trousers and a simple tie or ascot. To complete the dress of a gentleman of culture, a walking stick and a top hat were essential. Women of the day wore full-length dresses that tapered to the waist, had a laced neck and puffed sleeves. Most important was an elegant hat. Opera Glasses These beautiful, mother-of-pearl inlaid opera glasses were essential to the nineteenth-century theatergoer. Opera glasses first appeared in London around 1730. By the late 1800s they were an essential fashion item and were often very ornate and given as gifts or tributes.

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Uranium Mine

W.A.A.I.M.E. Mine Project W.A.A.I.M.E., is an acronym for the Women’s Auxiliary of the American Institute of Mining Engineers (Colorado Plateau Section), the organization that graciously funded this uranium mine exhibit. The Museum of Western Colorado appreciates this donation, and would like to thank the following people who contributed to this project: Bill Chenoweth - Uranium Mine Consultant Ed and Peggy Lippoth - Uranium Mine Consultants Steve Rash, Diesel Services - Mining Equipment TNT Stucco - Color and Texturing

The Manhattan Project The Uranium Boom was the result of a secret government program, code named The Manhattan Project, to procure uranium for nuclear weapons development. In 1943, the United States Vanadium Corporation and the Army Corps of Engineers first focused on easily accessible uranium from old vanadium mill workings in southwestern Colorado and eastern Utah. Later they set up a procurement agency, the Manhattan Engineer District (MED), and began to locate, map and mill uranium sources. The Manhattan Project became public knowledge after atomic weapons were used against Japan. In 1947, the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) took over the duties of the MED and set up its offi ces in Grand Junction. The AEC issued a series of Domestic Uranium Program circulars that opened prospecting and mining to the general public. Thus began the Uranium Boom, as hundreds of prospectors and miners poured into Colorado and Utah to find the “new gold.” By April 1962, enough uranium reserves were found that the federal government limited the purchase of uranium, thus ending the Boom. The Small Mine Many uranium mine operations consisted of one or two men who depended on a jackhammer, compressor, and wheelbarrow to extract ore. The small mine operators had easy access to shallow uranium deposits but often had to transport their ore hundreds of miles to a buying station or mill. Uranium Boom The American public became captivated by the Uranium Boom in Colorado and Utah during the 1950s. National magazines, such as Life, carried stories on uranium prospecting and boom town economics. On the local level, city fathers, businessmen and promoters heralded the economic stability the uranium industry brought to small western towns. They promoted their new industry through parades, beauty pageants, and other celebrations. Uranium Hunters “Most uranium hunters knew little and cared less about geology. They just followed the lead of the Manhattan Project and AEC geologists and moved over the canyon ridges of the backcountry like a blind man’s fingers reading a relief map. They concentrated on exposed outcroppings on the canyon rims. They looked for tell-tale red, light brown or gray sandstone that they were told would indicate

32 something called the Salt Wash member of the Morrison Formation. They didn’t know what that was but it was where they were supposed to find uranium.” “They put a few dollars down for a radiation counter named after the German physicist Hans Geiger. Then they hiked until the thing started clicking, swinging a detection wand that looked something like a hand-held microphone over promising terrain. When the clicks chattered or the needle on a dial whirled, they checked the surrounding area more carefully. The number of pulses per minute or the distance the needle moved measured the intensity of the radioactivity.” From Uranium Frenzy: Boom and Bust on the Colorado Plateau by Raye C. Ringholz 1959 Cessna 150 Cessna introduced the 150 models in October of 1958 and continued production of the aircraft until April 1977. A total of 22,769 were produced in the United States, France, and Argentina. This airplane is a Trainer version, which was designed for basic, single engine flight instruction. A 100 horsepower Continental O-200A engine came standard with a fuel capacity of 26 gallons. Perhaps the most noticeable aspect of the Cessna 150 is the size of the wings. With a wingspan of 33’ 4” and a total wing area of 160 square feet, the 150 required minimal power for flight. This airplane, registration number N5703E, has been through three reported accidents. The first was caused by a student pilot who crashed the craft into a group of trees while trying to land in unfavorable weather during a flight from Taos to Farmington, New Mexico in 1969. The second crash, also in northern New Mexico, was caused by a radio failure between a student pilot and an instructor on the ground in 1972. The student was forced to land at an uncontrolled dirt airport and, because of strong rain, the ground softened and forced the airplane’s nose over and down. Finally, in 1992, just after takeoff from Greeley, Colorado, the aircraft’s engine began to run choppy and failed. The pilot made an emergency landing in a cornfield. It was later discovered that automobile, not aviation, fuel was used in the airplane and the carburetor flooded. Only minor injuries occurred in each accident. The aircraft was found at J.W. Duff’s salvage yard in Denver in October 2003.

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Grand Junction Fire Department

Grand Junction Fire Department History On July 16, 1889, Grand Junction citizens organized a volunteer Fire Hose Company to deal with growing concerns over fi re protection. The company was given six hundred dollars by James Cameron, a businessman, and City Council. By 1890, the Fire Hose Company had a fire hose cart, two thousand feet of hose, and thirty-four volunteers. The men requested fire horses to pull their larger wagons of equipment and later that year received two horses. In 1902, the volunteers dissolved their organization and were renamed the Grand Junction Fire Department with three full time firemen. The Fire Department became motorized in 1912, with the purchase of a Model 1911 Seagraves fire truck. The old fire horses were re assigned to the city street crew. After several years more vehicles were added to the fleet, this included a Ford one-ton truck, and two American La France firetrucks. With the motorization of the fire department, their pioneer past was left behind and a modern firefighting agency started. Now over 100 years old, the Grand Junction Fire Department has experienced tremendous growth with 79 firefighters and twenty-five state of the art vehicles used for fire prevention and protection. 1898 Steam Pumper Model This is a working model that can actually create steam. All the gauges and valves perform like the full- sized pumpers. The Grand Junction Fire Department never owned a steam pumper. They were used primarily in large cities where extremely high-water pressure was needed to reach the upper levels of buildings. This model was owned by the fi re department for many years and is now part of the Museum’s collection. 1921 American La France Combination Pumping Engine and Hose Car On September 22, 1918 a large fire started in the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad ice house in Grand Junction. The fire was barely contained and destroyed the ice house, loading dock, and twelve railroad cars full of freight. Firefighters at the scene feared that the whole city might have burned. The Grand Junction Fire Department felt the fire got out of control because of their antiquated equipment. The City agreed and funded the purchase of two new vehicles, including this 1921 La France now on exhibit. The truck faithfully served the city until its retirement in 1955. The truck ended up at Frank Dunn Auto Salvage. City firefighters, in cooperation with Mr. Dunn, recovered the truck and carefully restored it to its former glory. For many years the truck was the centerpiece in parades around Grand Junction. In order to insure the preservation of the fire truck, it was donated to The Museum of Western Colorado to complete their collection of historic firefighting equipment.

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Theodore Roosevelt Room

THEODORE ROOSEVELT - The Twenty-sixth President (1901 - 1909) In the Spring of 1905, President Roosevelt conducted a bear hunting expedition in the Divide Creek region about twenty miles south of Rifle. His trip to western Colorado had a profound impact on Roosevelt’s view of conserving natural resources. “I recognize the right and duty of this generation to develop and use the natural resources of our land; but I do not recognize the right to waste them, or to rob, by wasteful use, the generations that come after us.” By the time Roosevelt left the White House, he had added 150,000,000 acres to the National Forests and had launched large scale reforestation and programs serving more than 3,000,000 acres of the west. Roosevelt’s account of his 1905 adventure in western Colorado, A Colorado Bear Hunt, became Chapter II in his book Outdoor Pastimes of an American Hunter. The Great Teddy Bear Controversy Historians in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, claim that Hotel Colorado maids produced the first teddy bear out of burlap, rags and buttons in 1905. They presented it to President Theodore Roosevelt, often called “Teddy” in the press, after an unsuccessful hunting trip. Other historians claim the bear was made after a Roosevelt hunt in Mississippi. Whatever the origin, the “teddy bear” concept was adopted by foreign and domestic toy companies, and is still one of the best- selling toys in history. Theodore Roosevelt - Author/Historian Theodore Roosevelt was a prolific writer of history, politics, hunting an outdoor travel. His first publication, The Naval War of 1812, is still considered one of the best scholarly studies of early United States Naval history. Roosevelt published forty-five books, numerous articles, and wrote over 150,000 letters during his lifetime. His most popular series was the six- volume Winning of the West. Roosevelt’s most famous collaboration was with western artist Frederic Remington who illustrated his book, Ranch Life and the Hunting Trail Roosevelt’s Hunters’ Banquet During President Roosevelt’s stay in Glenwood Springs, the Hotel Colorado was known as the “Little White House”. The hotel served meals during the presidential visit rivaled the finest restaurants in Washington, D.C., New York, and San Francisco. However, on Sunday, May 7, 1905, Roosevelt had an opulent hunter’s feast prepared for his western Colorado hunting companions and guides. Seafood was brought to the Hotel Colorado in refrigerated boxcars, served with roast prime rib, turkey, lamb, and squab. Deserts include frozen Egg Nog, Strawberry ice cream, and cream pie. Menus with Roosevelt’s image on the cover were printed for this special culinary occasion.

“SKIP” The White House Dog Skip the undersized western Colorado hunting dog became a favorite of President Roosevelt during his hunting trip to western Colorado. Roosevelt noted that Skip was very small but was the first to chase a bear or bobcat. Skip loved to travel with Teddy on horseback and would often precariously balance

35 himself on the saddle. The dog also “guarded” the President while he slept and would bark at intruders. Roosevelt took Skip back to live at the White House and the little dog was a faithful of the Roosevelt family for many years. Theodore Roosevelt and the Pith Helmet President Roosevelt was known more wearing many hats during his lifetime, and it often reflected what he was doing at the time. In his early life, he wore cowboy hat when he moved out to the western frontier. As a United States Army officer in the Spanish-American War he wore an Australian slouch hat. As a politician, he was fond of silk top hats. Perhaps his most famous headwear was the Pith helmet which he popularized worldwide with his many hunting and scientific expeditions. Hotel Colorado - Grand Dining Room Cane Chair This 1893 chair is one of the few original furnishings from the Hotel Colorado. When the hotel was converted to a United States Naval hospital in 1943 all the original furniture was sold at auction. The Museums of Western Colorado acquired this piece and two other Hotel Colorado chairs from a donor who bought them at the auction. Grizzly Bear Before settlers began to populate Western Colorado in the mid 1800's, grizzly bears were common in the higher elevations of the area. Between 1850 and 1920, bears were eliminated from ninety five percent of their original range. Encroachment into their habitats and new firearms technology decimated grizzly bear populations. When President Roosevelt visited western Colorado in 1905 the grizzly population had been decimated by settlement. In 1959, 17 grizzlies were found in Colorado. By 1962, only ten could be found. A hunting guide acting in self-defense killed the last known grizzly in Colorado in 1979. Grizzly Bear Before settlers began to populate Western Colorado in the mid-1800s, grizzly bears were common in the higher elevations of the area. Between 1850 and 1920, bears were eliminated from ninety-five percent of their original range. Encroachment into their habitats and new firearms technology decimated grizzly bear populations. In 1959, 17 grizzlies were found in Colorado. By 1962, only ten could be found. A hunting guide acting in self defense killed the last known grizzly in Colorado in 1979. Mountain Lion The largest cat in Colorado, the mountain lion, is often called a cougar, puma, panther and catamount. Mountain lions are normally more than six feet long and weigh over one hundred pounds. The lion’s main diet is deer, with adults consuming a deer a week. At the turn of the century, Teddy Roosevelt expressed his concerns about the hunting of mountain lions (cougars) in his book, Outdoor Pastimes of an American Hunter, “... Cougars had once been plentiful throughout this region, but during the last three or four years, the cougars have greatly diminished in numbers throughout northern Colorado.” Mountain lion’s large range from Canada to Argentina protected them from extinction and new laws helped to protect them from the fate of the Colorado grizzly.

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Wild West Gallery

“Wild” Western Technology - Adapting to a New Land From the travels of the earliest prehistoric people to the pioneers of the frontier, settling in new lands required technological change to adapt and flourish in a new environment. This exhibit examines the technological advancements that were both beneficial and detrimental to the denizens of the West and their environment. Contrary to popular myth, the people of the West, no matter what their culture, used technology readily to better their lives, some to make an easier living, and others skirt around the laws of the land. Mud Wagon Stagecoach Circa 1880's (Reproduction) The Mud Wagon stagecoach was used extensively by Western Colorado stage lines. Mud Wagon stages ran from Grand Junction to Rifle, New Castle to Glenwood Springs, and from Meeker to Rifle. The Mud Wagon Stage Coach was a lighter, smaller and simpler version of the Concord Stage. It had the same under carriage of the Concord, but instead of a heavy wooden frame and doors, it was open to the outdoors and had small canvas roll down windows. This was a distinct advantage in the stifling hot Southwest summers. Mud Wagon Stages had a lower center of gravity and lightweight frame, making it easier for travel over mountain passes and negotiating tight turns. The stage could hold up to nine passengers with a center seat in place and had ample room to store luggage in the rear canvas covered boot. The Mud Wagon was great in bad weather because it was easier to pull out of the mud then the heavier Concord Stage. Wells Fargo Bank and the Mud Wagon Stage The Museum of the West expresses its appreciation to Dean Massey and Wells Fargo Bank for their major donation toward the purchase of this stage. Without their help, the Museum could not have purchased the stage from the Mancos Valley Stage line in Mancos, Colorado. The Museum would also like to thank The Daily Sentinel for their contribution towards the stage purchase. It is very appropriate that Wells Fargo is our major sponsor. By 1866, Wells Fargo Stages made up the largest Stagecoach operation in the world. Wells Fargo coaches ran from Nebraska to California via Denver and . Wells Fargo also had an early pioneer freight office branch in Grand Junction that served the Western Slope. Grand Junction Police Commemorative Saddle -Circa 1924 Nelson and Post Saddlery created this Commemorative saddle in 1924. Often Commemorative saddles were ordered for special occasions, such as retirements or special recognition. Riding Shotgun You have heard the term or said it, “I want shotgun”, which means riding next to the driver. The term comes from the man with the shotgun sitting next to the stagecoach driver, armed with a sawed-off shotgun. Stagecoach guards were armed with weapons similar to the Richards exposed hammer twelve- gauge shotgun in this case. Shotgun guards protected the stage when it was carrying valuable cargo, usually gold, silver or payroll money. The valuable cargo was carried in a heavy iron locked box, the bullion box, like the one displayed. The theory was it would be harder for robbers to haul off this heavy

37 portable safe. Outlaws soon countered this idea by robbing the stage with more men. They would shoot off the lock and divide the loot between them. This .38 Caliber Pistol belonged to a Wells Fargo Company guard. The company stamp W.F & C is on the bottom of the pistol. Nelson and Post Saddlery Clarence Nelson Post was born in 1882 in Saguache, Colorado. He learned the harness maker trade in Leadville and Denver. He was employed by two harness shops of the pioneer days, Lon Bradbury and Fred Mantey. In 1920, Nelson opened a shop at 122 South 5th Street in Grand Junction and took in a partner H.R. Post. Nelson and Post purchased the Fred Mantey Saddlery Company and moved to 342 Main Street in 1924. After a successful business run, Nelson and Post Saddlery dissolved in 1930, and Nelson was sole owner again. Nelson closed his doors in 1941 and went to work at Grand Junction’s Canvas and Leather Company. Nelson and his company of saddle makers used the latest saddle making technology and became famous for their workmanship and were known throughout the West. This is a recreation of their early saddle shop in 1920. Frazier Saddle R.T. Frazier was a full seat form fitter saddle. This heavily used saddle was favored by ranchers in the 1900s-1920s. Women’s Side Saddle This women’s sidesaddle was used at the turn of the century because riding astride a horse was considered not proper for a woman. Sidesaddles became unpopular around 1910. This saddle has no maker marks and was used around 1890 to 1910. Meanea Saddle This saddle was made by the famous F.A. Meanea Saddle Company in Cheyenne, Wyoming, around 1890. The saddle was a favorite of cowboys because of its craftsmanship and durability. Nelson and Post Saddle This was Nelson and Post’s ninth saddle produced in 1923. This style is a typical Plains bronco- busting saddle. This bearstrap saddle served only one purpose, to break colts. Heiser Saddle This Herman H. Heiser saddle was produced around 1890 to 1910. It has had very rough usage and is a testimonial to the hard times of the period. Nelson and Post Leather Punch Tools The tools on this workbench were used at the Nelson and Post Saddle shop. Many of the tools on the bench were specially created to make custom saddle designs. Tools of the Trade: Lawmen One of the lawman’s most important tools was his pistol. The pistol developed rapidly from flintlock, to cap and ball, and finally to loaded cartridge, such as this Doc Shores .44 caliber Remington Frontier

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Revolver pistol on display in this case. Cyrus Wells Shores, a.k.a. Doc Shores was Sheriff of Gunnison County from 1882-1892. However, another important tool was prisoner restraints. On display in this case are early leg irons used to stop prisoners from running away. A latter invention was the ball and chain in combination with leg irons made it almost impossible to escape. Another unique device was the Oregon Boot, a special boot designed n conjunction with a heavy clamshell weight that limited prisoner’s mobility. This boot was used by the Routt County Sheriff for prisoners transported by wagon. Tools of the Trade: Outlaws Outlaws would often modify weapons for nefarious purposes, most often to make it concealable for robberies. In this case is a sawed-off Winchester Model 73-39.40 W.C.F. that had the barrel and stock shortened. This cut down Winchester was called a “mare’s leg” and although used little in the Old West is often glamorized in Hollywood Westerns. The rusted Smith and Wesson Russian .44 caliber has a sadder tale. Legendary Gunnison Lawmen Jeff Watson owned this gun. Watson was a gun fighter, ex- Texas Ranger, and in his later years, the town drunk. While in a Price, Utah, saloon, Watson hung his holster and gun on the back of his bar stool. Unfortunately, an outlaw that he had arrested many years earlier, spotted him and came up behind him, grabbed his pistol and killed Watson with his own gun. Tools of the Trade: Cowboy Cowboys developed very specialized equipment to do their jack-of-all-trades job, a job that could vary from midwifing cattle and horses to building fences and windmills. The cowboy boot has a smooth leather sole to allow easy removal from the stirrup. The tall heel prevents the foot from sliding through the stirrup and provides a grove to help hold the stirrup on the foot. The tall top on the boot provides protection from brush and thorns. The riata (lariat) is made by braiding four or six strands of rawhide or by twisting a single wider strip of rawhide into a long rope of 60 to 90 feet about 5/16 of an inch in diameter. It is fairly durable and has fair strength, but is brittle and will brake if jerked, therefore it is dallied and never tied off to a saddle horn as thicker maguey or grass ropes and our modern nylon and poly ropes can be. The leather cuff was worn for protection from brush and thorns and as decoration. Tools of the Trade: Rancher The most widely recognized tool of the rancher is the branding iron. Ranchers use a hot iron to burn an identifying mark on cattle and horses. Branding provides proof of ownership of livestock so if they stray or are stolen they can be returned to their rightful owners. Most brands use a combination of numbers, letters and/or figures such as circles, quarter circles, dots, slashes, etc. There is an almost unlimited combination of these. In 1899, the State of Colorado took over the registration of brands from the counties and brand books were published listing all of the brands and their owners. Some are simple like the Bar Quarter Circle and others are complicated and harder to burn on like the Lazy S Two Circles used by George Stahl on his ranch, 20 miles above Debeque on Upper Road Creek. Buffalo Bill Comes to Town On September 7th, 1908 three large trains loaded with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show pulled into the Grand Junction Railroad yard. Over 500 Wild West Show employees unloaded hundreds of horses, ponies, and burros, and large tented pavilions.

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Over 10,000 people came to see the show that featured Native Americans, cowboys and cowgirls, trick riders, Russian Cossacks, Japanese soldiers and many other acts from around the world. The Show was set up by 9:00 a.m., the performance was at 11:00 a.m. and the crew packed up the show and left shortly after 4:00 p.m. for Salt Lake City. Buffalo Bill’s Pistol – Colt Bisley Model 32.20 Winchester Center Fire This gun has a 7 ½ inch barrel and hard rubber grips, with three notches on the left grip. Scratched on the inside of the grip is the following: “Bill Cody, Aug. 11 1902.” During his later years, Buffalo Bill was reported to use bird shot in his Colt to always hit his target at Wild West performances. Little Book Cliff Railway The Little Book Cliff Railway made an eleven-mile connection between Grand Junction and the town of Carpenter at the base of the Book Cliff Mountains. Completed in 1892, it hauled coal and quarried stone from railroad owner W.T. Carpenter’s mining operation. Carpenter developed his town as a resort which he named Poland Springs, and Grand Junctionites made excursions to the Springs for picnics. Carpenter bottled the mineral water as yet another business enterprise. After having a series of owners, the mines and railway line went out of business in 1925. Little Book Cliff Rediscovered In the spring of 1992, during the construction of the new Mesa County Sheriff’s office and jail, workers discovered these wheels and side frames from the Little Book Cliff Railway. The construction site was on top of the Little Book Cliff Railway yard. The entire line had been dismantled and smelt in the 1920’s and 30’s, these being the only remaining pieces of the railway’s rolling stock. Construction stopped and Mesa County allowed the Museum to use a large back hoe on site to dig up the remaining artifacts. Commissioner Doralyn Genova, Jim Spehar, and John Leane donated the artifacts to the Museum for Mesa County. Dan Carlson, of Carlson Memorials, and his crew spent two days sandblasting the car wheels and other artifacts for this exhibit. During the examination of the car wheels, fragments of the original paint were found. The Museum has painted the wheels as close to the original finish as possible.

Waiting on the Go The railway line held many excursions to view the desert wildflowers in spring bloom. Daring passengers could return home on the “Go-devil,” a collection of boards and wheels that coasted on the Little Book Cliff tracks back to Grand Junction at a high rate of speed. The rear passenger acted as brakeman, holding wooden blocks against the steel wheels. I’d Rather be Sailing W.S. Phillips, the manager of the Little Book Cliff Mines, was from New England and enjoyed sailing. He rigged a sail on the “Go-devil” in an attempt to run it uphill on wind power. It must not have been too successful for only one reference to the sail has been found.

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Mountain Men Gallery (New Gallery in 2018)

During the mountain men era of the 1820s and 1830s, thousands of trappers roamed the American West. European fashion demanded beaver hats for men and this new trend caused a boom in the trapping activity in present day Colorado. A single beaver pelt would sell for six to eight dollars, a tremendous sum in the early nineteenth century, and was small and light enough to pack out of interior trapping regions. Many mountain men, including Kit Carson, came to this region to seek their fame and fortune. By 1840, the fur trade ended due to changing fashion taste and economics. However, mountain men were soon employed as “guides” for explorers eager to chart the unknown West. Their frontier knowledge and skills would assist in opening up the region for settlement. Fur Trade Fur trappers ranged throughout western Colorado by the 1830s. Around 1828, Antoine Robidoux established a trading post, Fort Robidoux, on the Gunnison River near present-day Delta. This was Colorado’s first “general store” west of the Continental Divide. By 1833, Robidoux had a large group of trappers working for him in the river valleys of present day western Colorado. Fort Davy Crockett, a prominent rendezvous site for mountain men and traders, was built in 1836 in northwestern Colorado. Beaver and buffalo pelts were primary trade items in that area. This fort was so remote and plagued by mosquitos that it was dubbed, “Ft. Misery” by the trappers. The fort was abandoned after several years, due to its poor reputation and sparse trapper activity.

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