(719) 738-2346
huerfanoheritagecenter@outlook.com
Preserving the history of Huerfano County
WALSENBURG, COLORADO
This is OUR history.
Huerfano County Historical Society
Events & News
​​2026 Calendar of Events:
Monday, April 6, 2026 at 2 p.m.
Washington School Tour
Strikers & Ghosts!
$10 payable at the door.
201 E 5th St., Walsenburg, CO.
Strikers spent time on the playground and ghosts roam the halls of Washington School.
Learn more by attending an HCHS tour of the school.
Tour size is limited. ​​​
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Print the waiver below, complete, and bring to the tour with you.
Complete one waiver per person. Each waiver is good for all 2026 tours.
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Saturday, May 2, 2026
Ugolini Ranch Tour
Hosted by Mr. Bill Ugolini himself, renowned Dairy and Cattle man. Established in 1917 near
Walsenburg, Colorado, the Ugolini Farm Dairy is a historic family-run operation recognized by
History Colorado. Originally supplying milk, produce, and eggs to local mining camps via
horse and wagon, the farm transitioned to beef cattle and hay production in the late 1980s.
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Print the waiver below, complete, and bring to the tour with you.
Complete one waiver per person. Each waiver is good for all 2026 tours.
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​Saturday, May 23, 2026
Walsenburg Porchfest
The Walsenburg Porchfest is a community-driven, walkable festival in Walsenburg, Colorado,
featuring local musicians performing on front porches, pop-up concerts, and a Mural Fest
with public art. The event fosters community spirit, often including yard sales, local food,
and artistic collaborations. Stop by the Mining Museum and the Huerfano Heritage Center.
The historic train depot in Heritage Park will be open for tours, as well.
Contact the Walsenburg Downtown Revitalization Committee for more info.
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Saturday, June 6, 2026
St. Mary's Tour
​The early settlement of St. Mary's , located on the Huerfano River, was once a thriving hub where five major trails intersected.
Participants will explore the historic grounds of a community that predates Colorado statehood, including the former sites of the original School District #1, a once-thriving hotel, blacksmith shop, general store, and, later, a mercantile. Although the original buildings have long since disappeared, traces of the settlement remain.
Because the site is privately owned, this is a rare opportunity to visit these historic ruins and hear firsthand stories shared by local residents and descendants connected to St. Mary’s.
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Meet at 9:00 a.m. at the Walsenburg Mining Museum, 112 W. 5th St. (Allow 3-4 hours)
Cost: $5 Members | $10 Non-Members (Cash or Check)
Participants are encouraged to use a high-clearance vehicle to access the cemetery site or be prepared for a fairly long walk.
Because this historic site is located in a remote outdoor area, participants should be prepared for moderate hiking and uneven terrain. The tour may not be suitable for individuals with limited mobility. Comfortable walking/hiking shoes, long pants, water, snacks, and sun protection are recommended.
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Please let us know if you plan to attend so we can prepare enough tour materials. Contact the Huerfano Heritage Center at
(719) 738-2346 or email huerfanoheritagecenter@outlook.com with your name and number in your party.
Please do not attempt to drive directly to the site.
All participants are asked to meet at the Walsenburg Mining Museum, where the group will depart together for the tour site.
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Complete one waiver per person. Each waiver is good for all 2026 tours.
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Saturday, July 25, 2026
Vialpando Ranch Tour
Visit and tour this historic Family Ranch which includes a penitente and morada. Family members, including Chuck, Nick, and Yvette Vialpando, have contributed to local historical accounts, such as documenting the history of Maes Creek.
$5 for Members & $10 for Non-Members. Please wear walking shoes and long pants.
Print the waiver below, complete, and bring to the tour with you.
Complete one waiver per person. Each waiver is good for all 2026 tours.
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Saturday, August 1, 2026
82nd Annual Chuck Wagon Cookout in Gardner, CO
Head out to Gardner to join the 82nd annual chuck wagon cookout supper celebrating Western hospitality,
featuring food and entertainment.
This annual event takes place behind the Methodist Church in Gardner, Colorado.
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September 23 - 27, 2026
Santa Fe Trail Association
Rendezvous with The Santa Fe Trail Association
Anyone interested in local history will be glad to know about the Santa Fe Trail
Conference nearby. Included on the agenda is a ride on the Southwest Chief train
from Trinidad to Las Vegas, NM, following part of the historic Santa Fe Trail over
Raton Pass. The hotel lunch stop will be in the signature Harvey House. A motor coach will bring passengers back to Trinidad. Sessions open to the public include bits about the Trail. Huerfano County's Taos Trail is sometimes labeled as an offshoot of the Santa Fe Trail, used by traders and trappers to avoid Santa Fe's taxes on freight. There will also be trolly rides, walking tours, and curated art exhibits in Trinidad, plus special guided excursions. So save the dates to participate in part or all of the Santa Fe Trail Association's 40th anniversary, and more than 200 years of the Trail itself. This milestone event honors 40 years of scholarship, preservation, and community. Please contact the Santa Fe Trail Association at www.santafetrail.org or (620) 804-3653 to join or for more information. ​​​​
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News​
May 1, 2026 Walsenburg Mining Museum Opening
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Dear Members,
To help us manage rising costs associated with printing and mailing,
please provide your email address for an electronic version of the the newsletter.
Send your email address to HuerfanoHeritageCenter@outlook.com.
Thank you for your continued support.
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We are always looking for old photos and historical information. If your family has some hidden treasures you'd like to donate, please contact us or drop donations off at The Huerfano Heritage Center. (Open to the public on Thursdays.)​​​​
Let us help you find your story.
As long as humans have walked through this part of North America, they have been drawn to put down roots beside these mountains. Whether it was the various Native American tribes, who treated this area as a sacred space that all could pass through, to the Spanish settlers and French trappers, to the Yankee farmers and Texas cattle herders, to the flood of laborers who came in the late 19th and early 20th century with the railroads and the mines, this was a destination.
The mines and ranches of Huerfano County have long been the Ellis Island of the Rockies.
People from all across the world ‘washed ashore’ here, where the mountains meet the prairie, in search of opportunity and a better life.
Some stayed for just a little while and moved on, while others dug in and made this amazing place their home for themselves and their descendents.
If you are looking for information on your ancestors who may have lived, worked and died here, we have resources and knowledge to help you in your search.
Funding for this website has been provided by Colorado Humanities, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) as part of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) and the NEH Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan (SHARP) initiative.
About US.
Our organization is operated primarily by volunteers and donations. We appreciate all of our volunteers and donors who selflessly benefit the lives of others and are working towards making the world a better place.
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Huerfano County Historical Society
Board Members
John Van Keuren, President
Gib Rokich, Vice President
Carolyn Newman, Secretary
Amy McCray, Treasurer
Board Members at Large:
Judine Leonhart
Debbie Oborny
Larry Schumacher
Gretchen Sporleder-Orr
Sharon Vezzani
Cindy Cowing
Board meetings are the
first Thursday of every month
(Feb-Oct) at 4p at the
Huerfano Heritage Center
114 W 6th St, Walsenburg, CO
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Walsenburg
Mining Museum
Operating Committee
Members
Kathy Carpenter, Chair
Ron Reynolds, Vice Chair
Amy McCray, Secretary/Treasurer
Margaret Gleisberg
Carol Glorioso
Dianne Hanisch
John Van Keuren
Carolyn Newman
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Committee meetings are the
second Tuesday of every month
(Feb-Oct) at the
Walsenburg Mining Museum
112 W 5th St, Walsenburg, CO
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All members and guests are invited to attend.