About 60 Montezuma Heritage Museum members met Nov. 8 at the Baymont Inn to celebrate the museum’s work over the past year. The Farm catered lunch for attendees.
The event included unveiling a plaque honoring former Montezuma County Commissioners Keenan Ertel, James Lambert, Larry Don Suckla and County Administrator Melissa Brunner for securing the museum building in 2019.
The plaque will be mounted at the museum entrance to recognize their role in making the museum a reality, the museum said in a news release.
“In honor and recognition of Montezuma County Commissioners Keenan Ertel, James Lambert and Larry Don Suckla and County Administrator Melissa Brunner for providing the museum building in 2019 to house the Montezuma Heritage Museum – a place where everyone can learn about and celebrate the rich and diverse history of this county and surrounding area,” the plaque reads.
Attendees enjoyed dramatic readings from oral histories of early settlers. Actor John Fleitz portrayed S.A. Barrett, who arrived in 1875 seeking mining opportunities, while Claudia Martin depicted Agnes Lupke, who settled with her husband in the 1880s along present-day Road T, south of Dolores.
History Colorado presented the museum with a Caroline Bancroft History Project Award for its permanent exhibit “Ute Mountain Utes – We Are Still Here.” The $1,250 prize recognizes projects in communities with populations of 50,000 or fewer.
“The Ute Mountain Utes: We Are Still Here exhibition began as a collaboration in 2019 between the museum, volunteers and community members to share Indigenous voices as current and active members of the community today,” History Colorado’s website said. “The goal of this exhibit is to capture this important part of Montezuma County’s history and to collaborate closely with the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe to share their culture and stories with museum visitors. Museum staff and stakeholders are bringing tribal and pioneer experiences together to tell a fuller history of the region.”
The program ended with a year-in-review summary and the announcement of the upcoming Guardians of History Annual Fund drive, which begins in the coming weeks.
The museum is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, with Tuesday visits by appointment only.
More details are available at montezumamuseum.org or by calling 970-516-1100.
