Rooted in culture (1)

History of Ignacio, Colorado

By ignaciovoices

  • Chief Ouray is born.

    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.

    Chief Ignacio is born.

    Ute leader in 1869 and 1890.

  • First Ute Agency opened at Taos.

    It soon closed due to lack of funds.

  • First school is built in Ignacio.

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

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

  • Southern Ute Agency is created.

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

  • Chief Ouray dies.

  • Ignacio leads Weeminuche in protest.

    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.

    Land taken as part of homestead.

  • Catholic Church built.

  • Two tracts of land merge to create Ignacio.

    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.

    Filed by Henry L. Hall.

  • Ignacio Bank built.

  • Protestant Church built.

  • Town of Ignacio incoperated.

  • Death of Chief Ignacio.

  • Aspaas store/hotel burns.

  • American Indians become United States citizens.

  • Reburial of Ouray.

  • Movie theater opens.

    Established by George Anderson.

  • Fire destroys Bryan and Wyat stores.

    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.

    Leonard C. Burch born.

    Influential chairman, council member, and Sun Dance Chief.

  • Passage of Indian Reorganization Act by Congress.

    Commonly called the Wheeler-Howard Act.
  • Tribal Council established.

    Tribal Council established.

    Created as part of the Indian Reorganization Act.

  • Death of Buckskin Charlie.

    He was succeeded by Antonio Buck.

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

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

  • The Phillips Mercantile store established.

    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.

  • Drilling of the first gas fields.

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

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

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

  • Utes begin to receive money from gas leases.

  • Ute Rehabilitation Program created.

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

  • Closing of the Southern Ute Indian School.

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

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

  • Congress appropriates first money to build the Navajo Reservoir.

    Congress appropriates first money to build the Navajo Reservoir.

  • Last hereditary chief, Antonio Buck Sr., dies.

  • Golden Anniversary of the Corporation of the Town of Ignacio.

  • Navajo Reservoir is complete.

    Navajo Reservoir is complete.

    Rosa, Los Martinez, Arboles and Rio de Los Pinos covered with waters impounded from dam.
  • "Ignacio Chieftain" Newspaper closes.

    "Ignacio Chieftain" Newspaper closes.

    Retired editor named Fay Jones shown in photograph.

  • Pino Nuche Purasa Motel opens.

    Later replaced by the Sky Ute Casino.

  • First library opens.

    Originally named the Butch McClanahan Memorial Library.
  • Sky Ute Casino Opens

    Sky Ute Casino Opens

  • First annual Leonard C. Burch day celebrated.

    First annual Leonard C. Burch day celebrated.

    Introduced by Councilman Ray C. Frost.

  • Leonard C. Burch dies.

  • New library building opens.

    New library building opens.

    Re-named the Ignacio Community Library.