Colorado Historic Markers

Southwest Colorado - Trail of the Padres

Archuleta, Delta, Gunnison, Hinsdale, La Plata, Mesa, Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, San Juan, and San Miguel Counties

Click on thumbnails to see larger images.

Pagosa Springs
Archuleta County
On north side of US-160 about 3.5 miles west of Pagosa Springs' San Juan Mountain & Golf Resort.
N 37°13'53.2" W 107°06'25.3"
photos taken 9/21/2012

Pagosa Springs - Chimney Rock - The Old Spanish Trail - Pagosa Springs Country
Erected in 2001

Paonia
Delta County
On north side of Paonia, on south side of CO-133 at intersection with CO-187 (Grand Ave).
N 38°52'48.9" W 107°35'49.9"
photos taken 7/21/2017

North Fork Valley - When Coal Was King - Theodore Roosevelt - West Elk Country
Erected in 1997

Gunnison
Gunnison County
On the southeast corner of US-50 (E Tomichi Ave) and Adams St,
on the grounds of the Pioneer Museum, on the southeast side of the main building.
N 38°32'37.5" W 106°55'03.5"W == 38.543738N 106.917650W
photos taken 7/31/2019

This tablet is the property of the State of Colorado.
Capt. John W. Gunnison
explored this region for the United States government in 1853, seeking a trans-continental railroad route.
He and others in his party were killed in eastern Utah by Indians on October 26, 1853. The river, county
and city perpetuate his name in Colorado.
Erected by the State Historical Society of Colorado from the Mrs. J. N. Hall Foundation and by the Pioneer
Society of Gunnison County. 1946.

Gunnison
Gunnison County
On north side of US-50 (E Tomichi Ave) in Legion Park between N Teller St and Loveland St.
N 38°32'40.6" W 106°55'16.2"
photos taken 8/26/2016

Ho for the Gunnison! - Two Great Trains - King Coal - Gunnison Country
Erected in 1996

Marble
Gunnison County
South of Redstone on east side of CO-133 at intersection with CR-3 (to Marble).
N 39°06'56.3" W 107°16'14.3"
photos taken 7/19/2017

Marble - John C. Osgood - Redstone - Redstone Country
Erected in 2010

Lake City
Hinsdale County
Near the north edge of Lake City on the southwest corner of CO-149 (Gunnison Ave) and Henson St.
N 38°02'04.0" W 107°18'43.0"
photos taken 8/26/2016

The Mountain People - Roads into the Mountains - Metropolis of the San Juans - Silver Thread Country
Erected in 1997

Colorado River Highway
Mesa County
East of Grand Junction, on east/south side of I-70 at exit 47 by truck stop. Similar to, but not a Colorado Historical Society marker.
N 39°09'31" W 108°17'59"
photos taken 6/25/2009

First plaque reads:
Colorado River Highway. Dedicated to the pioneers of the mountains and the valleys of western
Colorado by Grand Junction Lodge No. 575 B.P.O.E. June 14, 1931.
Second plaque reads:
Governor William H. Adams. State Highway Advisory Board, Peter Seerie, William Weiser, B.B. Allen,
E.G. Middelkamp, J. Hayes-Davis, L.C. Moore, Frank H. Blair. State Highway Engineer. Maj. L.D. Blauvelt,
1921 - 1930. Charles D. Vail, 1930 -. Locating Engineer, R.E. Cowden.
Third and fourth plaques are missing.

Lands End
Mesa County
On FR-100, about 11.5 miles west of CO-65 (Grand Mesa Scenic Byway)
N 39°01'31.9" W 108°13'25.1"
photos taken 8/29/2016

A Spectacle of Beauty - Grand Mesa Country
Erected in 1997

Cortez and Mesa Verde Country
Montezuma County
About 5 1/2 miles east of Cortez, on north side of US-160 at CDOT's Sleeping Ute Mountain rest area.
N 37°21'11.8" W 108°26'37.5"
photos taken 9/28/2013

Cortez - Four Corners - Southwest Survival - Mesa Verde Country
Erected in 1996

Towaoc Country
Montezuma County
About 20 miles south of Cortez, and 29 miles northeast of Four Corners,
on northwest corner of US-160/US-491 and US/160, at Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Park Visitor Center.
N 37°05'24.1" W 108°43'59.5"
photos taken 5/8/2019

Ute Mountain Utes - Ancestral Puebloans - Welcome to Colorado - Towaoc Country
Erected in 1998

Hanging Flume
Montrose County
About 21.5 miles north of Naturita on west side of CO-141.
N 38°23'54.3" W 108°48'34.0"
photos taken 8/28/2016

Hanging Flume - Hanging Flume Country
Erected in 1998

Naturita
Montrose County
On northeast corner of CO-141 (W Main St) and W 2nd Ave. Similar to, but not a Colorado Historical Society marker.
N 38°13'03.7" W 108°34'18.8"
photos taken 8/28/2016

Naturita, a Community on the River - Dreams for a Better Life - Unaweep Tabeguache Scenic & Historic Byway

Uravan
Montrose County
About 16 miles north of Naturita on west side of CO-141 near the old town site of Uravan.
N 38°22'25.1" W 108°44'21.9"
photos taken 8/28/2016

Uranium - The "Magic Metal" - Uravan Country
Erected in 2004

Red Mountain Pass
Ouray County
US-550 south of Ouray
N 37°53'56" W 107°42'41"
photos taken 7/16/2006

This memorial is the property of the State of Colorado.
Red Mountain Pass.
Across divide between Uncompahgre and Animas Rivers. Altitude 11,018 feet. "The Million Dollar Highway"
toll road built by Otto Mears 1882. Improved highway opened 1924.
Erected by the State Historical Society of Colorado from the Mrs. J. N. Hall Foundation and by the
State Highway Department and the U.S. Forest Service. 1929.

Ouray Country
Ouray County
About 1 mile south of Ouray on southbound side of US-550, at Switzerland of America Lookout Point.
38°01'00.1"N 107°40'14.9"W == 38.016688N 107.670812W
photos taken 9/8/2022

San Juan Travel - Preserving the Past - Untold Stories - Ouray Country
Erected in 2003

Ridgway
Ouray County
In Ridgway, in Hartwell Park, on north side of CO-62 (Sherman Ave) at intersection with N Railroad St.
N 38°09'06.2" W 107°45'18.2"
photos taken 7/18/2021