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History is in Our Hands
 


Ranching Survey in Colorado

With funds from Preserve America, the Department of Local Affairs, and the Colorado Historical Society’s State Historical Fund Colorado Preservation is initiating a project to survey historic sites in Otero and Las Animas Counties.  With most of the region divided into large ranches, there are many undocumented historic resources on private lands. With cooperation from local ranchers, we have a unique opportunity to identify and document these resources. Professionals will survey archaeological resources, historic buildings, and cultural landscapes on private ranch lands as well as the communities of Hoehne, Kim, Model, Timpas, and Branson. The survey will produce a historic context study, survey forms, and a survey report with historic preservation recommendations.

Approximately 500 historic sites have been identified during the reconnaissance-level survey. This spring the architectural and archaeological survey teams will together select resources from the reconnaissance survey to further evaluate at an intensive level. The selection of resources will depend on a variety of factors including physical integrity, significance of the resource, and possibility for heritage tourism use.  The current project also includes the preparation of a historic context study, which presents a thematic overview of the history of the area, identifying historic resource types associated with each identified theme. This study synthesizes primary and secondary source research on the development of the area with the results from the field survey. Themes identified in the historic context study include homesteading, community, education, transportation, farming, cattle ranching, sheep herding, cowboy culture, Hispanic settlement and culture, religion, and water.

Click here to see some of the surveyed resources including an "Armchair Tour" of the Purgatoire River region.

 

Reconnaissance Survey:

  • A survey team composed of architectural historians and
    archaeologists will photograph and note the location of
    all resources more than 45 years old.
  • A reconnaissance level survey form will be completed
    for each collection of resources identified
    (i.e. an isolated building on a ranch would get a single
    form while a grouping of structures such as a windmill,
    corral, and shed or a collection of archaeological
    features would get a single form).

Historic Context Study

  • This document will present a thematic overview of the history of the area and will identify historic resource types associated with each identified theme.
  • The study will synthesize primary and secondary source research on the development of the area with the results from the field survey.
  • All property owners participating in the survey will receive a copy of the historic context study. 

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

Intensive-level Survey:

  • Following the reconnaissance-level survey, a selection
    of the most significant resources will be studied at
    the intensive level.
  • Intensive-level survey includes a detailed description,
    site maps, historical background, and an assessment
    of historical integrity
  • Determination of eligibility for listing
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