“Just like we used to — celebrating 65 years.”
On May 26, the Saguache County Museum will celebrate its 65th year of operation with a full day of activities. The museum opens at 9 a.m. with free admission. See below for a full list of fun activities.
Museum history
The Saguache County Museum is housed in a historic adobe building that is 150 years old. The concept for the museum first began as part of a community improvement project to celebrate Colorado’s centennial anniversary on June 20, 1959. Three Saguache women’s clubs brainstormed the idea. They never imagined this “little museum,” conceived to open for the centennial season, would evolve into what it is today. In the beginning it was to be a small historic exhibit in the Saguache Town Hall, on display for just a year. That was 65 years ago.
Luckily, Saguache County had just completed building a new jail complex, and the old 1908 jail and its companion residence for the deputy sheriffs were set to be demolished by the county. A plea went out from the clubs and the town council to save the old jail complex, this being a perfect “historic building.” The property was thus saved and turned into a museum.
The building was constructed in the early 1870s by Otto Mears and owned by Nathan Russell, one of the Saguache Town Company founders and one of the first commissioners appointed. Russell allowed it to be used as the first school in 1872, and later the first county meeting was held there when he donated it to the town on February 7, 1874. This building has served as a courthouse, church, jailers’ headquarters, and a general all-purpose building before its renovation into a museum.
Funding for the museum first started with a mile of pennies. This unique idea invited anyone who wished to help with the museum’s funding to measure their height and tape that many pennies together to donate. When all the pennies were collected, the measurement did, in fact, total a mile. This was said to be such a fun project, but imagine the bank employees who had to untape all those pennies!
A gift of two broken display cases from Hooper and a nutmeg grinder were the start of the museum. Today the little museum has grown to eight specialized rooms. There is a “Pioneer Kitchen,” a “School Room,” a “Spanish/American Indian Room,” a “General Parlor,” a “Wesley De Camp Room,” a “Mineral Room,” a “Memorial Room,” and the “Virginia Sutherland Room.” Virginia was a pioneering and visionary planner who dedicated 57 years of her life as chairperson of the Museum Board, passing away in 2020 at the age of 95. She made it her mission to secure grants to build this room, which included excellent bathrooms. This was accomplished in 2004.
Over the years, this “little museum” project has faced monumental challenges. But with all the completed repairs and improvements, and with the community’s ongoing support, the museum continues to welcome visitors after 65 years.
The museum today
The museum has a board of directors that are elected volunteers. It is a separate entity from the Saguache County government and is a non-profit corporation.
It opens annually on Memorial Day Sunday and closes on Labor Day. For the 2024 season, the museum will be open Thursday to Monday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Funding for the museum is generated from admissions, the gift shop, donations, sale of a BBQ dinner on opening day, sustaining memberships, sales tax grants from Saguache County, and also grants from the Saguache County Tourism Council. Additional assistance is provided by the county commissioners.
Celebrating 65 years
The Museum will host the traditional Sunday Opening Celebration honoring its 65 years as a museum. Plans include a parade with the theme, “Just Like We Used To — Celebrating 65 Years.” Judy Bunker will be the Grand Marshall. The Mountain Valley School Lifestyles class will oversee the 11 a.m. parade, provide the announcer, and handle all parade details. H.E.A.R.T. will help with vendors in the park and with serving food. The Antique Tractor Club will have their barrel train in the parade, and it will then be available for kids to ride in after the parade. A choice of food will be served at noon in the Community Building in Otto Mears Park, followed by a play directed by Virginia Drake, titled Valley Echoes, which portrays historical characters from Saguache County. The play will be held at the Community Building at 1:30 p.m. A car show, as well as an antique tractor display, will also take place.
Schedule
Parade: 11 a.m.
Barrel train rides for kids after the parade, provided by the Antique Tractor Club.
Vendors in Otto Mears Park, all day
Car & Antique Tractor Show, all day.
Lunch at the Community Building in Otto Mears Park.
Community play: 1:30 p.m. at the Community Building.
After the parade, awards will be given out to winners in various categories including floats/vehicles, individual entries, musical groups, dance/flag, and children’s bike decorating. The theme is “Just Like We Used To — Celebrating 65 years.”
Parade check-in begins at 9 a.m. and line-up is by 10:45 a.m. Please sign up by May 15. There is no sign-up fee.
For information, contact Laura Abeyta, chair of the parade committee: lauraabeyta01@gmail.com or Jody Abeyta, leadership instructor: abeytaj@valley.k12.co.us.