During the years of its existence, the Santa Fe Trail was more than
just an important commercial trade route across the southwest. From ,
the Trail was an international corridor between the United States and Mexico.
Even after the United States acquired Mexico's northern provinces (1848),
the Trail served as a conduit for exchange and interaction between Spanish,
Native American and American cultures. The trail's multi-cultural history
is reflected in the diverse inhabitants of the communities found along the
Byway, and in the richness of the cultural events hosted by these communities.
In addition, communities through which the byway passes are scenic in
their own right, from the Corazon de Trinidad National Historic District,
with its period architecture and brick streets, to quaint rural farm towns
with roadside stands at the farmers market selling locally grown produce.
The Corazon de Trinidad National Historic District is the place to be on
Saturday mornings. Your coffee is brewing at the Trinidad Farmer's Market.
Join the other strollers at Miners Memorial Park on Main Street to shop
for next week's meals. Growers rise early to bring you the choicest produce
from the area; mounds of cantalopes, sweet corn, greens and every variety
of root crop. Some say that Rocky Ford, Colorado grows the sweetest cantalopes
on earth! Vendors offer homemade jams, jellies, vinegars and pickles, even
handmade aprons. There is also a delectable variety of honeys. Local nurseries
are here with a large selection of annuals and perennials that grow well
in the area, including the full palette of bearded irises. Sturdily crafted
redwood trellises for your vines and roses, plus gardening books and melodic
wind chimes are all available at the Farmer's Market. Musicians drop by
to add some tunes to the conversations with the out of town visitors. Farmer's
Market on the Mountain Branch of the Santa Fe Trail is a cultural feast
for the soul.
Culturally diverse communities.
Numerous farm stands featuring local produce and crafts.
Community events, such as rodeos, Santa Fe Trail festivals, County Fairs, the Arkansas
Valley Fair, Cinco de Mayo Celebrations and much more!
Traditional Hispanic celebrations such as Los Pastores and Las Posadas.
The Koshare Indian Dancers and an extensive collection of Native American
art at the Koshare Indian Museum in La Junta.
Culturally representative architecture, including adobe structures on
private property and public facilities, particularly the Corazon de Trinidad
National Historic District.
Several large murals depicting the Santa Fe Trail and western history
on walls of commercial buildings.
Numerous art galleries displaying western regional and local art.
A traditional mud oven (horno) for public use at Trinidad Lake State
Park.
Culturally Diverse CommunitiesThe culture of the Santa Fe Scenic and Historic Byway has been shaped by the many people that have traveled along the Santa Fe Trail. The byway has many signs of Mexican influence, as well as the impact of a variety of other people. Communities along the byway continue to celebrate the diverse inhabitants through traditional celebrations, culturally representative architecture, religious folk art, and Hispanic culture at Trinidad's Baca House Museum, Old Fire House No. 1 Children's Museum, A.R. Mitchell Museum, and the many other museums along the Mountain Branch of the Santa Fe Trail. Traditional Hispanic celebrations are held throughout the byway, such as Los Pastores, Las Posadas, Fiesta Days and Santa Fe Trail Days. Large murals depicting the Santa Fe Trail and Western history are displayed as reminders of past and present cultural contributions.
The tradition of the county fair and local rodeos can be found all along this route, and community celebrations highlight some of the unique features of the area. Southeastern Colorado is embedded with Mexican culture as a result of the area being a Mexican territory longer than it has been a part of the United States. Even after the United States acquired Mexico's northern provinces in 1848, the Santa Fe Trail served as a conduit for exchange between Spanish, Native American, and American cultures.
The Koshare Indian Dancers and an extensive collection of Native American
art are representative of our native American Indian culture. The Koshare
Indian Kiva is home to the world renown Koshare Indian Dancers and their
famous flaming hoop dance. The local Boy Scouts Troop 232 performs authentic
ceremonial dances of the Plains Indians. Each summer, the Koshares have
a limited number of public performances before their annual national tour.
In the winter, the Winter Ceremonial Dance has become part of the local
holiday tradition.
Theater and ArtsThe for Performing Arts is home to the Picketwire Players. Currently, the theater stages four plays each year featuring various local performers. The of La Junta is now in its 4th summer under the direction of Kelly Jo Smith. They will hold their summer 2004 Auditions Mary 7th and 8th. also has performances throughout the school year. The Arkansas Valley Community Concert Series sponsors several concert performances throughout the year. A group of traveling artists performs samplings of several different musical formats each year. The Baca Little Theater in Springfield and The Walsh Fine Arts Center are major contributors to the rich repertoire of cultural contributions to the Byway.
Trinidad State Junior College is expanding its theater and musical offerings
through its New Performing Arts Academy & Southern Colorado Repertory Theatre Company. Link at
left takes you to their playbills for the season and more information. This
summer they will be hosting a three-month residency with specialized classes
and performances for theater and music students of all ages. The Massari
Performing Arts Center at Trinidad State Junior College has productions
throughout the year for your enjoyment.
The Otero Junior College puts on its Spring Festival competition that
features local students work. The categories include everything from writing,
painting, photography to ceramics. The Otero Junior College Dance Program
puts on various performances through the year show casing the students from
preschool age through junior college. The local Fine Arts League at Otero,
sponsors a National Art Show that showcases local artists. They hold this
juried competition each May at the Otero Museum and it is open to all local
artists. The Mountain Branch is now home to countless local artists. These
artists have come from all over the world, including some well known Artists
Communities such as Santa Fe and Taos. Our area also is home to many writers
who devote their creative pursuits to the historical documentation of the
Santa Fe Trail. Santa Fe Trail Mountain Branch has an old town shopping
environment and is a treasure trove of arts, antiques, oddities and bargains
galore.
The Colorado Historical Society and the many historical societies established
within our communities are very active in keeping the history alive on the
Santa Fe Trail. They are large contributors to the opportunities afforded
us along the Mountain Branch of the Santa Fe Trail. Founders of many of
the Historical sites along our Byway, they support our efforts in increasing
awareness of all of the attributes our Byway offers. They are the mighty
trees beneath the Mountain Branch of the Santa Fe Trail. They protect, preserve
and promote our byway's history and are truly appreciated by all.
Trinidad Historical society has been very active in supporting the historic
ventures along the Santa Fe Trail within its region. These proud champions
of our cause offer living history activities, research, historical site
development, and grants assistance for historical projects along the Santa
Fe Trail. The Trinidad Historical Society sponsors a well attended and popular
monthly presentation every third Thursday, 7 PM at Trinidad State Junior
College. Presentations are focused on aspects of the history of Trinidad.
Attendance is free and you learn about the many opportunities that life
offered within its complicated conception during area development. To find
out more about the scheduled shows and for VHS filming of past presentations
call the Trinidad Historical Society at . The videos currently
available are: "The History of School District No 1," "Trinidad
during WWII," "Old Homes of Trinidad," and "CF~I
Coal Mining (Colorado Fuel and Iron Company) in Las Animas County."
They are $20. Click here for a printable order
form.
The Pioneer Historical Society of Bent County sponsors the Boggsville Living History Committee. This group of volunteers supports activities at the site and adds a visual reference for the day to day human activities that comprised the interactions of diverse cultural backgrounds that were the "Community of Boggsville." One project of this committee was the dramatic re-creation of the Cheyenne Indian raid of 1867. This raid, a product of unrest following the Sand Creek Massacre (November 1864), resulted in the death of four Indians, two soldiers and two settlers. The re-enactment was filmed and is available on VHS video from the Boggsville Store.
Foreign Food FavoritesRestaurants throughout the Mountain Branch offer all types ethnic foods to satisfy a variety of cravings for Italian, Mexican, Chinese, Greek, and let us not forget the all American melt in your mouth grilled Steak at the local Saloon. Trinidad's Rinos Italian Restaurant of excellent traditional Italian foods and fantastic singing waiters in their opulent historic setting. Rocky Ford has authentic mouth-watering Mexican food at the La Taqueria #2 Mexico (#1 is in Denver). A new brewery has just opened that is making a buzz in the Corazon of Trinidad. They have two new brews, one being a Porter and the other a Honey Wheat. Appetizers are served with a big and hearty welcome to the Trinidad Brewing Company, Trinidad's First New Brew Pub in this Century. While in the Corazon of Trinidad District visit the Lucky Monkey, a popular modern day watering hole with local flavor. The Mountain Branch of the Santa Fe Trail offers nightlife ranging from Mexican Cantinas to Old West Saloons. You will be dazzled by the quality of entertainment and excellent cuisine.
Trinidad is home to the annual "Trinidaddio Blues Fest." It is a premium
Blues Festival, offering a wide variety in blues entertainment yearly. This
year the festival will take place in Trinidad's Central Park on Saturday,
August 23, 2003! The above link will take you to this years line up of outstanding
artists. Site Map |
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Lamar Sites |
Trinidad Sites |
Byway Museums |
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