Memorial Day Living History Encampment

25 May Saturday / 9 am - 5 pm
25 May Sunday / 9 am - 1 pmFort Garland Museum will be holding its annual Living History Encampment on Memorial Day Weekend with a variety of events hosted, starting at 9 am on both days. Throughout the whole weekend, the Fort Garland Memorial Regiment and the Artillery Company of New Mexico will be presenting activities and displays recreating nineteenth-century life at the fort.

On Saturday, the ladies of the garrison will gather in the Soldier's Theatre to demonstrate nineteenth-century domestic arts. All attendees are invited to join them for a cup of tea and conversation! That night starting at 8 p.m. the garrison will be hosting a Regimental Ball. This event will be open to the public, but all attendees must be attired in period costume.

Sunday will begin with a flag-raising ceremony at 9 am, followed by a non-denominational service held in the Soldier's Theatre, and the soldiers will break camp soon after. The event ends Sunday at 1 pm.


11 May Saturday / 2 pm"Legacy of Oppression"
Benjamin Waddell

Professor Benjamin Waddell will share his lecture "Legacy of Oppression: Southern Colorado, the Electoral College, and the Future of Democracy in the United States." In this talk, he will discuss the impact that discriminatory lending practices against Hispanic farmers and ranchers in communities such as the San Luis Valley has had on the electoral system. He will ground the conversation in empirical data and personal interviews with San Luis Valley elders and community members.

Benjamin Waddell is a professor at Fort Lewis College, where he has taught a wide variety of courses on topics as varied as poverty, inequality, and international migration. His research focuses on the intersection of international migration with develpment and crime in Latin America and the United States. He has been published multiple times in a variety of journals, including The Social Science Journal, Contemporary Sociology, and Latin American Research Review. This event is sponsored by Colorado State University-Pueblo and the Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area. Refreshments will be provided.


23 May Thursday / 6 pm"The Violent Killing of the Espinosas"
Virginia Sanchez
Stories about the escapades of and the murders committed by the Espinosas of Conejos have been published in books, aired on television programs about Western desperados, and posted on various websites. However, these stories all tell the same version, the same perspective. Sanchez will introduce new historical documents and will discuss the events taking place in Conejos during Colorado's early Territorial Period to provide an alternative explanation about a place and time when the murders occurred and why the Espinosas were violently hunted down and killed.

Virginia Sanchez is an independent historian, research, and author, and a member of the Colorado Historical Society, the Colorado Society of Hispanic Genealogy, the Huerfano County Historical Society, and the New Mexico Historical Society. Her work has appeared in journals including Colorado History, the New Mexico Genealogist, and more. In 2008 she was recognized by the Hispanic Annual Salute for her contribution to the Hispanic community in the area of history. This presentation is sponsored by Colorado State University-Pueblo and the Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area.

The Fiber Studio now OpenThe Fiber Studio is open for the summer season. Come spin up some lovely threads on our spinning wheels or weave a beautiful scarf on our many looms. For just $10.00 a day you can work on any project you’d like. Spinning wheels and ridged heddle looms are available to rent as well.
Call Kelley at 719-379-3512 for more information.


11 May Saturday / 9 amHow To Dye Wool (and other fibers)
Acid dyes are used on wool (and all other fibers from animals), silk, and nylon. In this class, we’ll learn the basics of using acid dyes, using a microwave to heat-set the dyes. We will completely cover studio safety, choosing and mixing dyes, how to make them washfast, and how to finish up dyed articles. Everybody will take home samples, written guidelines, and a list of supply sources. Students should wear clothes they don’t mind getting dye on, and closed toe shoes, and bring a pair of kitchen-type rubber gloves. All other minimum safety equipment will be provided. This class is for age 13+ (age 10+ with registered adult). This class is taught by Michelle Bowman. Class fee is $65.00 per person with a material fee of $25.00. Tickets available online at Eventbrite or at the Fort.


18 May Saturday / NoonHow To Dye Wool (and other fibers)
Knitters (and anybody who plays with yarn) benefit a lot from understanding how yarn is made, and this hands-on class will help add some valuable knowledge to your crafter’s toolbox. We will spend some time de-constructing some yarns we normally work with to see their twist and structure, and we’ll take that information and construct some yarns of our own. This will also be a great introduction to spinning, if you were thinking about spinning on a wheel. This class is taught by Michelle Bowman.

Class fee is $55.00 per participant with a $15.00 material fee. Tickets available online at Eventbrite or at the Fort. Fort Garland looking for "New Skills" InstructorsDo you have a special skill or talent you would like to share? We are looking for instructors in anything from fiber arts, to flint napping, to cooking and canning - the possibilities are endless! Apply here to teach your class!


Museum Store SpotlightPhotos and Postcards: "With the Spirit of the Wild Horse" by Judy BarnesSee these beautiful photographs and cards in the museum store this month!

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Want to support the Fort?
As a member of the Friends of Fort Garland you get free unlimited admission to the museum, receive a discount in the museum store, and get invitations to special museum events!

Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center
29477 Highway 159
Fort Garland, CO 81133
719-379-3512