Western Colorado History: Western Colorado History Videos

Join us in a brief investigation into Colorado’s mineral endowment and its heyday of extraction. This presentation by Peg Williams will focus on the origin, geographic extent and characteristics of the Colorado Mineral Belt, which hosts Colorado’s wealth of gold and silver resources. The discoveries of precious metals and the evolving methods of mining and processing the valuable ores are the stories that drove the early development and settlement of the Centennial State. It was a rough, wild, and highly innovative time. Today, the legacy of the early mining days—both positive and negative—continues to impact Colorado residents, and the gold and silver mining remain contributors to the state’s economy.

The large scar on the ridge south of the town of New Castle, near I-70 and the Colorado River, was the scene of three disastrous coal mine explosions that killed scores of miners over several years. The last blast was never extinguished and still smolders today.

Irrigation water is the lifeblood of the Grand Valley. Without it, our area would have remained a desert, and we would never have seen the agricultural bounty we enjoy today. In this special presentation presenter Gary Hines shares vintage photographs and maps highlighting the hardships, failures, and ultimate successes early settlers encountered in developing irrigation systems that now deliver a consistent supply of vital irrigation water.

The Plateau Valley was settled by some of Mesa County's first pioneers, and they put the area to good use, raising crops and livestock. Learn how this vibrant agricultural area was developed and how it looks today. Presented by the Plateau Valley Historical Preservation Society.

Located at the future site of the mining town of Uravan, the Club Ranch was a large ranching operation which became well-known across western Colorado. This presentation will explore the ranch's origins and history.

The Ute people had lived in western Colorado long before Europeans arrived. In some cases, Ute words and names of individuals are still used today. In other cases, the original Ute designation has since been changed to something else. Colorow is recognized in history as one of the more well-known Ute leaders and in modern times, and he is remembered in many ways.

The early days of Mesa County saw the development of remote mining towns, communities, and post offices. Some of the post offices have stood the test of time while others were more short-lived. Learn about some of the lesser-known historic post offices in Mesa County, how they came to be, and the communities that they served.

From the late 19th Century through the mid-20th Century, the development of Mesa County has been influenced by our ability to obtain natural resources from the ground. This presentation will cover a history of the different types of mining that occurred in the county.

Learn about a number of prehistoric sites in Mesa County and Montrose County that contain material remains which prove human habitation and activities going back at least 1,000 years.

Discover some of the many abandoned towns and communities in Mesa County through photos and maps. Mesa County Libraries' in-house historian, Ike Rakiecki, presents this fascinating look back in time.