Center of Southwest Studies to honor local achievements in archaeology and historic preservation

    The Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College continues its program series, “Celebrating the Preservation of our Natural and Cultural Heritage”, on Tuesday, May 8th, with an awards presentation celebrating local achievements in archaeology and historic preservation.

   May is Colorado’s Archaeology and Historic Preservation Month, and in celebration the Center is pleased to recognize the significant accomplishments of people and organizations in the region. Honorees include Julie Coleman for the Public Lands Award, Jim Judge for Life Time Achievement in Archaeology, the Durango Railroad Historical Society for The Little Engine That Could Award, and the Durango Discovery Museum for the Adaptive Reuse and Education Award.

   Awards presentation will begin at 5:30pm, with a reception immediately to follow.

Southwest Colorado Spring Creek Basin Wild Horse Management Program

The Center of Southwest Studies continues its program series, “Celebrating the Preservation of our Natural and Cultural Heritage”, on Tuesday, April 24th with a presentation on the southwest Colorado Spring Creek Basin wild horse management program. A reception will begin at 5:30pm, with the program starting at 6:00pm in the Center’s Lyceum. This presentation will discuss herd management, the wild horse adoption program, and volunteer efforts surrounding the Spring Creek Basin wild horse herd. Informational materials will be provided by the Bureau of Land Management, the Disappointment Wild Bunch Partners, San Juan Mountains Association, Mesa Verde Back Country Horsemen, Four Corners Back Country Horsemen and the National Mustang Association, Spring Creek Basin Chapter.

Photo credit: TJ Holmes

Rhythms of the Red Willow: Traditional Drums by Phillip C. Martinez now on display in Delaney Library

Miss Indian World visits the Center of Southwest Studies

Miss Indian World, Marjorie Tahbone and
Delaney Librarian Elayne Silversmith



Miss Indian World, Marjorie Linne Tungwenuk Tahbone

Park County program scheduled for April 10th has cancelled

We are sorry to announce that the Park County Resource Protection program has cancelled. Gary Nichols was to present on April 10th in the Center's Lyceum. We hope to reschedule this program at another time. Below is further information on Gary's good work.

Gary Nichols has served as the director of Tourism & Community Development in Park County since 1988. During this time he has secured nearly $25 million in grants for community projects and published several articles and guidebooks of public interest. Both of Gary’s parents were descendants of Colorado pioneers and his grandfather worked for the historic Colorado & Southern Railway that served South Park. Gary holds a master’s degree in environmental quality engineering from the University of Alaska, and worked as a consulting engineer in Fairbanks prior to returning to Colorado.

His accomplishments include numerous projects designed to conserve the natural, cultural, and recreational resources upon which the Park County economy depends. In addition to establishing a fee-based ranch recreation program, Gary has been instrumental in rehabilitating several miles of riparian habitat and securing conservation easements on 20 local cattle ranches. Current projects include creating new economic uses for ten protected ranches, two railroad depots, and a 19th Century gold processing mill.

Successes in Land Conservation program- Tuesday, March 27th

The Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College continues its program series, “Celebrating the Preservation of our Natural and Cultural Heritage”, on Tuesday, March 16th with a talk on “Successes in Land Conservancy”. Speakers will include Kathy Roser and Scott Perez of La Plata Open Space Conservancy, and Nina Williams formerly of Montezuma Land Conservancy.

The La Plata Open Space Conservancy and Montezuma Land Conservancy have successfully worked with dozens of private property owners to conserve in excess of 54,000 acres of land, water and a way of life in southwest Colorado. These land owners have chosen to restrict development on their private property in order to protect agricultural lands, water, wildlife habitat, scenic beauty, and historic and archaeological resources that make our region special to both our community and visitors.

A reception honoring Kathy Roser's retirement from LPOSC will begin at 5:00pm in the Center of Southwest Studies’ lobby. The program will start at 6:00pm in the Center’s Lyceum classroom. This event is free and open to the public.

Photo credit: Redburn Ranch, Montezuma Land Conservancy

CSWS to host History Colorado talk

The Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College continues its program series, “Celebrating the Preservation of our Natural and Cultural Heritage”, on Wednesday, March 14th with a talk from Steve Turner, Vice President of History Colorado, formerly the Colorado Historical Society. A reception will begin at 5:30pm, with the program starting at 6:00pm in the Center’s Lyceum.

Mr. Turner manages both the Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, and the very popular State Historical Fund grant program. On March 14, he will discuss the preservation programs of History Colorado and provide an overview of State Historical fund preservation projects in southwest Colorado. This event is free and open to the public. Please call 970-247-7456 for further information.

Photo of hanging flume by Tom Carr.