Posts about areas Nearby Wetmore
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Bassick Mine is Dedicated by E Clampus Vitus
On June 25, 2019, WHG&HS members Margaret Stiles Storm, Vivienne Wachholtz, and Anne Hayward attended the dedication of the Bassick Mine outside Querida CO. The plaque and dedication were sponsored by the Al Packer Chapter of E Clampus Vitus. You can view the Siloam Plaque Rededication Post HERE
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Beulah: Discovering Beulah’s Burgeoning Businesses
An interesting read by the Pueblo Star Journal, published on April 8, 2026: Discovering Beulah’s Burgeoning Business
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Bishop Castle
Learn about Bishop Castle HERE
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Brookside
Written and photos by Mike Johnson-Robinson and used with his permission. Brookside, Colorado was initially homesteaded by Sylvester Davis in 1873, and soon a small town popped up called Springfield (due to multiple little springs bubbling up). In the 1880’s coal was found and word soon spread to the AT&SF Railroad. The Brookside Mine would…
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Cañon City: 4th Street Bridge
The 4th Street Bridge located at 4th Street and Centennial Park, Canon City. “The oldest bridge still crossing the Arkansas river in all of Colorado is located next to Centennial Park and fourth street. The Bullin Bridge company of Minneapolis, Minnesota would build the fancy new bridge connecting South Cañon to Cañon City in 1891.…
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Cañon City: Augusta Macon’s Well
This is from a post shared on our Facebook page, February 6, 2026
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Cañon City: Garden Park School, Cañon City
Garden Park School outside of Canon City, CO. In use 1895-1961, and listed on the State Register of Historic Properties, 2008 Learn More About the School and Restoration Here
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Cañon City: Greenwood Cemetery
Greenwood Cemetery is Cañon City’s oldest cemetery. Learn more about Greenwood Cemetery HERE A Concise Listing and History of the Cemeteries in Fremont County complied by the Fremont County Heritage Guide can be found HERE
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Cañon City: Hotel St. Cloud
The Hotel St. Cloud in Cañon City, Colorado, is a historic frontier-era hotel originally built in 1879 in Silver Cliff, Colorado. When mining declined in Silver Cliff, the building was carefully dismantled and moved brick by brick to its present location at 631 Main Street in 1888. Once known as a premier lodging place for miners, travelers,…
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Cañon City: Prospect Heights Jail
Prospect Heights Jail, photo taken by Deeg Deegers. From the County Historical Society: Town of Prospect Heights, previously a Slavic enclave of mine workers near the Nonac Coal Mine. The enterprising residents incorporated in 1905 to take advantage of absence of saloons in the neighboring “dry” communities of Cañon City and South Cañon. The jail…
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Cañon City: Skyline Drive, Written by Mike Robinson-Johnson
This article and photos were posted on Mike Robinson-Johnson’s Facebook page on November 20, 2025. Thank you Mike for sharing the history of this wonderful drive! ‘Work 30 days and Shave 10 from your sentence.’ That was the deal given to 60 inmates of Colorado Territorial Prison located in Canon City. The year was 1905…
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Cañon City: Standard Oil Service Station
This article was written by Mike Robinson-Johnson and shared on his Facebook page November 5, 2025 Canon City’s Standard Oil Company Service Station From one form of petroleum to another form of Go-Go Juice, the Standard Oil Company building on Canon’s Main Street has had the liquids that makes things GO. With oil flowing from…
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Cañon City: Territorial Prison Farming, Written by Mike Robinson-Johnson
This article was written by Mike Robinson-Johnson and was shared on his Facebook page on November 16, 2015. Before becoming a branch of the Pueblo Community College Learning Tree, a different kind of seed was spread on the land. Territorial Prison was originally opened in 1871 as the (then) Territory of Colorado’s first gated community……
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Cañon City: Then and Now
A Collection of Photos in No Particular Order Here’s another then and now photograph. This one is of downtown Canon City supplied by the Royal Gorge Regional Museum and History Center. They say,“Here is a “Before & After” shot of the north side of the 500 Block of Main Street here in Cañon City. The…
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Cañon City: Tunnel Drive
History of Tunnel Drive, written by Mike Robinson-Johnson and shared on his Facebook page November 13, 2025 From an Ill-fated Canal to a lifeline and scenic road line, and now just one of the local’s favorite past times. Canon City’s Tunnel Drive has seen a few changes. Cañon City’s Tunnel Drive Trailhead was initially started…
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Florence in the 1930’s
What a great photo shared on our Facebook page, November 6, 2023, by Gail Vigil.
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Florence: San Juan Bautista Cemetery
In the early 1900s, San Juan Bautista Cemetery was established southeast of Florence, Colorado, as a burial place for Mexican Catholics in the area. Some believe the cemetery was created because of prejudice from non-Mexican residents, while others say it was established so members of the Penitentes would have a place to bury their dead. Nearly four…
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Florence: Then and Now
A Collection of Photos in No Particular Order Denver Public Library Digital CollectionCall NumberMCC-1892TitleStreet scene, Florence, Colo.CreatorMcClure, Louis Charles, 1867-1957Date[1903 or 1904]SummaryView of Main Street, Florence, Colorado; shows brick buildings (man with canvas awnings), cement sidewalks with hitching posts, fire hydrant, early automobile, and a horse-drawn wagon. Identifiable businesses include Florence State bank, Lewis &…
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Fremont County: Chandler by Mike Robinson-Johnson
This is an article written by Mike Robinson-Johnson and shared on his Facebook page on February 16, 2025 “Don’t go out there after dark, it’s haunted!”; “You’ll end up with handprints in the dust”; “There’s strange orbs floating” Those were the stories told about Chandler to many of Fremont County’s youth as they grew up…
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Fremont County: Ice in Fremont County
From the Royal Gorge Regnional Museum and History Center: With the cold weather we’ve had recently, we’ve certainly had our fair share of ice. On cars and roads, it is a fairly unappreciated part of winter. But as soon as summer comes along, we’re all grateful to have ice in our drinks and in our…
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Fremont County: Moshcetti and Florence American Legions, Written by Mike Robinson-Johnson
This article was written by Mike Robinson-Johnson and was shared on his Facebook page December 10, 2025. The Moschetti Store and Florence American Legion have ties together at a townsite many have forgotten about. The buildings were originally built in 1903 in Radiant, Colorado. The American Legion would begin it life as the Company Store,…
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Fremont County: Oil in Fremont County
The Story of Oil in Fremont County Written and photos by Mike Johnson-Robinson and shared with his permission The oil Industry in Fremont County really cranked up in 1887 when United Oil Company began refining crude oil from Fremont County. United Oil Company was founded in 1887, more out of necessity than anything, there were…
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Goodnight Barn
The History of the Goodnight Barn From the Goodnight Barn Website The Charles Goodnight Barn, located in Pueblo, Colorado was built by Goodnight in 1871 on his Rock Canyon Ranch in Pueblo, Colorado. It is the sole surviving structure on the old ranch. It is one of Colorado’s most significant ranching related historic resources. The…
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History of Fawn Hollow Mine and Fawn Hollow Tavern
Written and photos by Mike Robinson-Johnson and shared with his permission Upon further request here’s a more detailed write up on the history of the Legendary Fawn Hollow Tavern and Mine. The First appearance of the “Fawn Hollow” name was in 1925 making newspaper headlines as a place for a great natural amphitheater hosting an…
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Huerfano Butte
The Huerfano Butte was documented as early as 1818. Spanish Traders and Native Americans used the Butte as a landmark for travel. Later, two notable railroad surveys were conducted in the area around 1853. The Huerfano Butte is currently located on private property and cannot be approached. Huerfano means “orphan” in Spanish. From Colorado Fan…
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Ludlow Massacre, 1914
The United Mine Workers of America built this monument in 1918 and the “death pit” shortly thereafter in order to honor the victims of the Ludlow Massacre of 1914, which occured on the site. April 20, 1914 Ludlow Massacre You can read more history of the Ludlow Massacre HERE The Ludlow Children, Part 1 The…
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Phantom Canyon
What’s left of Adelaide, Colorado. This is cistern is one of the very few things that survived the floods of 1912 down the valley where Phantom Canyon Road in Fremont and Teller County once was. This lays on private property and is viewed from the road!What’s left of Adelaide, Colorado. This is cistern is one…
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Pueblo: Central High School
Central High School Historical Overview, written by Dave Walker and shared on the Pueblo Colorado…Are You From there, Back in the “DAY?” Facebook Page on April 16, 2026 Key Historical Milestones Year Event 1881 High school founded and building construction began. 1882 Building officially opened on East Pitkin Avenue. 1889 Introduced vocational education, the first…
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Pueblo: Mesa Drive In Theater
Did you know that the Mesa Drive In Theater is the 2nd oldest in Colorado? The Mesa Drive In Theater celebrates 75 years in 2026! Learn More in this article published in the Pueblo Star Journal in April, 2026
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Pueblo: Pueblo Chieftain
The Pueblo Chieftain was indeed a critical business engine for southern Colorado, operating far beyond a typical local news outlet. Established in 1868, it functioned as a “printing powerhouse” that actively drove the region’s industrial advancement through commercial services and advocacy. Pueblo Star Journal * Commercial Printing Hub: In its early years, the Chieftain operated…
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Pueblo: Pueblo Chile
Grown in the fertile soil of the Arkansas River Valley in southeastern Colorado, Pueblo Chile is a unique variety of pepper that packs a punch of flavor and heat. Learn more about Pueblo Chile Here
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Pueblo: Pueblo Levee Mural Project
Pueblo Levee Mural Project became “The Largest Outdoor Mural Gallery in the World” in the Guinness World Book of Records from 1995-2016. These murals spanned the concrete levee wall along the Historic Arkansas River, in Pueblo Colorado. The wall was built in 1921 after the 1921 flood that left downtown Pueblo under 25 ft.…
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Pueblo: Pueblo Railway Museum
Visit the Pueblo Railway Museum HERE
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Pueblo: Roselawn Cemetery
Roselawn Funeral Home Cemetery & Crematory is located on the eastern edge of the community. Sitting on a 150-acre parcel of land, it maintains a silent vigil over the final resting place of 62,000 souls. Learn more about the Roselawn Cemetery HERE
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Pueblo: Steelworks Center of the West
The museum features exhibits related to all facets of CF&I and related industries’ impacts on the American West. Visit the Steelworks Center of the West
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Pueblo: The Historic Arkansas Riverwalk of Pueblo
The Historic Arkansas Riverwalk of Pueblo (HARP) is a 32-acre urban waterfront experience open to the Public daily. The Riverwalk returned the Arkansas River to its historic location at the heart of downtown Pueblo, after being diverted in the 1920s due to a devastating flood that destroyed much of Pueblo. Visit Here to Learn More…
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Pueblo: The Slopper
From the Pueblo Independent News, and shared on their Facebook page on April 16, 2026 Congrats to Grays Coors Tavern for winning the 2026 Slopper Tour Contest! PUEBLO’S FAMOUS GREEN CHILE AND SLOPPERS THAT PUT PUEBLO ON THE MAP – By Jenny Paulson – A native once told me when I moved to Pueblo two…
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Pueblo: Then and Now
The City of Pueblo has a long and colorful history dating back to 1842, when it was called Fort Pueblo. What brought our city from a small fort in southern Colorado to the backbone of Colorado were the ore mines. This area once housed 4 separate towns, which are Pueblo, South Pueblo, Central Pueblo, and…
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Pueblo: Underground Tunnels and Speakeasies by Keith Guerrero
In the early 1900s, Pueblo, Colorado—often called “Little Chicago”—featured a complex hidden world of underground tunnels and speakeasies. This subterranean culture was largely driven by Colorado’s early adoption of Prohibition in 1916, four years before the rest of the nation. The Senate Bar & Grill * Building Origins: The building at 219 S. Grand Ave.…
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Pueblo: Union Station
Here are three historic facts about the depot that highlight its dramatic past: The Vanishing Tower Height: When the depot first opened, its clock tower stood a towering 150 feet tall and was designed to be visible from any point in the city. However, the devastating Great Flood of 1921 caused severe structural damage, including…
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Pueblo: Vail Hotel by Keith Guerrero
The Vail Hotel in Pueblo, Colorado, was named after John E. Vail (sometimes cited as John F. Vail), a prominent local newspaperman and publisher of the Pueblo Star-Journal. Pueblo Chieftain When the hotel was built between 1910 and 1911, Vail contributed a significant $25,000 seed subscription to the fundraising campaign, which helped kickstart the $200,000…
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Rockvale History Written by Mike Robinson-Johnson
This article and photos were posted on Mike Robinson-Johnson’s Facebook page on November 25, 2025. Thank you Mike for sharing From flooded homesteads to mountains of coal, and now a quiet place a few call home. Rockvale was built on perseverance. In 1860, Colonel William Horace May had decided to homestead in a lower valley…
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Royal Gorge Bridge and Park
View HERE For More Info on the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park A Collection of Photos in No Particular Order President Theodore Roosevelt visits the Royal GorgePresident Theodore Roosevelt and his entourage made history when they stopped and picnicked at the Hanging Bridge on May 8, 1905. Archives say the president was on an excursion…
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Royal Gorge Railroad Wars
Read More About the Royal Gorge Railroad Wars HERE From Royal Gorge Region: Fighting along America’s burgeoning railroad companies was common among those vying for the best tracks. While most of these disputes occurred in the courtroom, during the last quarter of the 19th century, some of these arguments turned violent, as armed men engaged in…
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Royal Gorge Railroad Wars: Doc Holliday, Bat Masterson, War over Train Tracks, Written by Mike Robinson-Johnson
This article was published on Mike Robinson-Johnson’s Facebook page on December 4, 2025 Doc Holliday, Bat Masterson, and a War over train tracks? Yes, the Royal Gorge was a literal Wild West scene for a short time. The Royal Gorge Route, also known as the Tennessee Pass, was initially started under construction in 1878 when…
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Royal Gorge Scenic Railway at Buckskin Joe
Photo shared by Christopher Jenkins on the Growing Up in Canon City, Florence… FB page May 16, 2022“The Royal Gorge Scenic Railway opened right next door to Buckskin Joe and would take visitors right to edge of the Royal Gorge at Point Alta Vista.”Looks like fun!
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S Wetmore Dr and E Hahns Peak Ave, Pueblo West
Did you know there is a S Wetmore Drive in Pueblo West? We discovered this intersection yesterday as we were exploring Pueblo West. Photo by Anne Hayward January 17, 2024
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San Isabel National Forest
On April 11, 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt signed Proclamation 467, officially creating the San Isabel Forest Reserve. This early conservation victory reserved forested lands in southern Colorado’s Sangre de Cristo Range from unrestricted settlement and resource extraction. It formed the nucleus of what would become today’s San Isabel National Forest and exemplified Roosevelt’s aggressive use…
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Silver Cliff: Then and Now
Read about the History of Silver Cliff HERE Visit the Silver Cliff Museum HERE A Collection of Photos in No Particular Order SILVER CLIFF, CO Post Office, 81249!! Lost ZIP Code: Silver Cliff lost its unique 81249 ZIP code in 1991, which was consolidated into Westcliffe. Current Status: In July 2025, the House passed a bill to…
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Trinidad: Fact or Fiction: Did Al Capone use Tunnels in Trinidad
Did Al Capone Use Tunnels in Trinidad, Colorado, to Move Alcohol During the Prohibition Years? During Prohibition in the 1920s and early 1930s, Trinidad became a hotspot for underground smuggling operations. Located near the New Mexico border, the town’s strategic location made it ideal for discreet liquor transport. According to local lore, Al Capone and…
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Trinidad: Felipe Baca
Did you know? On March 20, 1849, Felipe Baca and his wife Dolores were married in the Roman Catholic church in Taos, New Mexico. At the time, Felipe was 21 years old, and Dolores was 18. Felipe frequently traveled to Denver and Santa Fe to sell his farm produce. In 1860, while transporting a load…
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Trinidad: Santa Fe Trail
The Santa Fe Trail was a 19th-century route between Missouri and Santa Fe, in what was Mexico. The so-called “Mountain Branch” of the trail traveled through what is now Trinidad and across Raton Pass. Getting over this rugged section of the pass (before it was converted into a toll road) was a major challenge for…
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Trinidad: Sopris Mine
On March 24th, 1922, seventeen mine workers were killed in an explosion at the Sopris mine near Trinidad. Just as nearly 200 miners exited the mine as their day shift had ended at 3 pm, at 3:30 pm the top of the ventilation shaft was blown off. Within a couple of hours the ventilation fan…
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Trinidad: Then and Now
To learn more about Trinidad, visit HERE Visit Trinidad History Museum A Collection of Photos in no Particular Order Panoramic View of Trinidad, 1885-1895 Scene includes the school, a stone church, the First National Bank Building and the County courthouse. Photo by Hook, W. E. Denver Public Library Special Collections, X-1935 Check out this historic…
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Wayfinding Kiosks, Helping Travelers Navigate Custer, Fremont, and Las Animas Counties
Other Las Animas County Kiosks are located in Trinidad, Cokedale, Branson, and Kim. Kiosks in Huerfano County are located in La Veta, Walsenburg, and Stonewall. If you’re visiting any of these areas, please stop and take a photo of the kiosks. E mail them to historycenter@wetmorehistoricalsociety.com We’ll share the photos on this page. The Wayfinding Kiosks…
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Westcliffe: Beckwith Ranch
The Beckwith Ranch is a historic cattle ranch in the Wet Mountain Valley of Custer County, Colorado. The headquarters spread over eleven buildings, ten of which have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since May 20, 1998. The History of the Beckwith Ranch can be found HERE
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Westcliffe: Hope Lutheran Church
The Hope Lutheran Church is a historic church at 310 S. 3rd Street in Westcliffe, Colorado. The building was designed and constructed in 1917 by Reverend John Reininga and was added to the National Register in 1978.It is a rectangular 35 by 75 feet (11 m × 23 m) church with a 96 feet (29…
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Westcliffe: Then and Now
You can read Westcliffe History HERE A Collection of Photos in No Particular Order History of Westcliffe Westcliffe, Colorado, incorporated in 1887,grew as a crucial railroad terminus for the Denver and Rio Grande Railway in 1881, thriving as a ranching supply center after the neighboring mining town of Silver Cliff declined. It became the Custer County seat…
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What’s the Oldest Photo of Colorado?
Posted by History Colorado on September 25, 2025 What’s the oldest photo of Colorado? It was a curious question that recently sparked a deep dive into the historical record. So far, the most promising candidate appears to be the photo above, which the Library of Congress describes as “View of a Cheyenne village at Big…
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