History of Ignacio, Colorado

Chief Ouray is born.

1833

Revered today as one of the Ute's great leaders. He led the Southern Ute Tribe in the mid 1800s and maintained a friendship between the tribe and whites.

Chief Ignacio is born.

1844

Ute leader in 1869 and 1890.

First Ute Agency opened at Taos.

1850

It soon closed due to lack of funds.

First school is built in Ignacio.

1866

Utes cede San Juan Mountain area by terms of Brunot Agreement.

1873

Southern Ute Agency is created.

1877

Served the Capotes, Monaches and Weeminuche (all Utes), and was located at the Rio de los Pinos.

Chief Ouray dies.

Aug 24, 1880

Ignacio leads Weeminuche in protest.

1895

Leads group to western part of Southern Ute Reservation in protest against the government's policy of land allotment.

Land not owned by Utes taken by white settlers.

1898

Land taken as part of homestead.

Catholic Church built.

1903

Two tracts of land merge to create Ignacio.

1908

One tract was owned by H.L. Hall and the other was owned by Hans Aspaas.

First plot of Ignacio filed with LaPlata Country Clerk.

Jun 26, 1909

Filed by Henry L. Hall.

Ignacio Bank built.

1911

Protestant Church built.

1911

Town of Ignacio incoperated.

Jul 2, 1913

Death of Chief Ignacio.

Dec 9, 1913

Aspaas store/hotel burns.

1917

American Indians become United States citizens.

1924

Reburial of Ouray.

1925

Movie theater opens.

1929

Established by George Anderson.

Fire destroys Bryan and Wyat stores.

Jan 8, 1931

Fire started in the Wyat hardware store from coal being left unattended, and spread to the adjacent Bryan store and caused $20,000 in damages.

Leonard C. Burch born.

1933

Influential chairman, council member, and Sun Dance Chief.

Passage of Indian Reorganization Act by Congress.

1934

Commonly called the Wheeler-Howard Act.

Tribal Council established.

1936

Created as part of the Indian Reorganization Act.

Death of Buckskin Charlie.

1936

He was succeeded by Antonio Buck.

Restoration Act returns 222,016 acres of land to the Southern Utes.

1937

Restoration Act returns 30,000 acres of land to the Ute Mountain Utes.

1938

The Phillips Mercantile store established.

1947

Building had been built by Burns in 1913, and purchased from U.G. McJunkin. The Philips owned it until their deaths in 1981.

Closing of smaller, rural schools.

1947

Drilling of the first gas fields.

1948

Construction of new junior high school and high school in Ignacio.

1950

Utes win judgment from U.S. Government for over $5 million in forced land sales.

1950

Utes begin to receive money from gas leases.

1951

Ute Rehabilitation Program created.

1954

Two business owned by Hispanos - Pool Hall and Barber Shop.

1955

Closing of the Southern Ute Indian School.

1956

The Film, "Around the World in 80 Days" filmed in Ignacio.

1956

Congress appropriates first money to build the Navajo Reservoir.

1956

Last hereditary chief, Antonio Buck Sr., dies.

1961

Golden Anniversary of the Corporation of the Town of Ignacio.

Jul 2, 1963

Navajo Reservoir is complete.

1964

Rosa, Los Martinez, Arboles and Rio de Los Pinos covered with waters impounded from dam.

"Ignacio Chieftain" Newspaper closes.

1970

Retired editor named Fay Jones shown in photograph.

Pino Nuche Purasa Motel opens.

1972

Later replaced by the Sky Ute Casino.

First library opens.

1991

Originally named the Butch McClanahan Memorial Library.

Sky Ute Casino Opens

1993

First annual Leonard C. Burch day celebrated.

Dec 10, 1996

Introduced by Councilman Ray C. Frost.

Leonard C. Burch dies.

2003

New library building opens.

2007

Re-named the Ignacio Community Library.