History Colorado

It’s flat, windy, and dry--the middle of nowhere. The Eastern Colorado prairies look pretty bleak to most people. But to new homesteaders, they look like heaven. A family can prosper here and build for the future. There’s plenty of land (it’s free--just stake a claim), a railroad, a good school, and a strong community. So let's go to Keota, Colorado! Why was the town of Keota settled by homesteaders? What national and global events shaped Keota’s history? How does life today compare to living in Keota in the 1900s?

Little Town on the Plains: Keota, Colorado

Created by: History Colorado

From Mesa Verde to the Dust Bowl, and to the changing contemporary landscape of the Rocky Mountains, discover the important role water has played in Colorado history — and the environmental challenges people faced in the past and present.

Water Quest

Created by: History Colorado

Grade 3-8

Explore some of the ways we can know about the past. Practice and compare the many disciplinary lenses we can use to learn about the past while exploring the form, function, continuity and change of objects from across history.

Exploring Ways of Knowing

Created by: Field Museum, History Colorado

Grade 9-12

Welcome to the Borderlands of Southern Colorado, an ancient crossroads. They have a violent history of conquest and enslavement, but also traditions of beauty and diversity. A place where Indigenous cultures blend with Spanish, Mexican, and American traditions to create a unique identity unlike any other in the world. This identity lives within the people of the Borderlands, and it goes with them wherever they move. Borderlands people don’t stay still. By choice, by force, or by necessity, they have moved a lot. They are mobile people who have lived beyond boundaries and between languages. They are people who live "sin fronteras" - without borders. Guiding Questions; 1. What factors impact the ways that different cultural groups interact with one another? Do these change over time? 2. What impact does war have on public policy? What impact does war have on the relationships between cultural groups? 3. What are the lasting impacts of war on the people and their perspectives?

Colorado Borderlands

Created by: History Colorado

Dog Patch is a neighborhood in the East Side of Pueblo, CO, founded in the 1950s. Its majority Hispanic and economically disadvantaged residents live there still, advocating for fair treatment and working to combat stereotypes about their community. In many ways, the themes discussed by Dog Patch residents reflect other majority-Hispanic communities across Colorado.

Dog Patch- Exploring Change in a Colorado Hispanic Community

Created by: History Colorado

From exploring the Colorado territory to fighting discrimination, to expanding voting rights, African American people have had a long and active role in shaping Colorado's past and present.

Early African American History in Colorado

Created by: History Colorado, Denver Public Library, Western History and Genealogy

Grade 3-8

Learn about strategies used to make discoveries about the past. Apply disciplinary lenses to objects from history and modern day. Explore the relationship between form, function, and technological change.

Investigating Form and Function

Created by: Field Museum, History Colorado

World War II was a conflict that left a mark on all who lived through it. The items showcased in this resource kit are physical reminders of the heroic sacrifices Americans made to secure a place for democracy in the world. Join us in a virtual exploration of objects and stories from the Pacific Theater of Operations, the home front, and the fighting in Europe and the Mediterranean.

Liberated: America Fights for Democracy in World War II

Created by: History Colorado

Grade 6-12

Avondale is primarily a Mexican American and Italian American community outside of Pueblo, Colorado. It was once an affluent town that boasted the Pueblo Army Depot, high-producing-generational farms, and a bustling main street. Unfortunately, Avondale would begin to diminish in the latter twentieth century due to the downturn of Pueblo's steel industry and the downscaling of the Pueblo Army Depot. However, Avondale is still there and residents maintain a rich history of veterans, military, agriculture, religion, and sports. These stories reflect the resilience of a community with the rise, fall, and upswing within Colorado's changing economy. Most importantly, this is Avondale's story--as told by them.

Avondale, Colorado--Community History In Their Words

Created by: History Colorado

Grade 6-12

A community advisory committee helped develop El Movimiento: The Chicano Movement in Colorado. The exhibit shares the story from their point of view, in their voices. History Colorado is honored to work with the committee, people who stood up for human rights at the height of the Movement in the 1960s and ‘70s, and who continue the fight for education and equality. The Chicano Movement—El Movimiento—changed lives. Years of racism and discrimination that kept Mexican Americans poor, marginalized, and often invisible would not be tolerated anymore. The battle for justice and equality intensified in the 1960s and ‘70s, particularly in Colorado. Chicanos demanded better working conditions, housing, education, and representation. They called for an end to war in Vietnam. In cities, they stood up against police brutality; in rural areas, they fought to reclaim land. El Movimiento forced change, and the struggle continues.

La Gente: El Movimiento/The Movement

Created by: History Colorado

It’s flat, windy, and dry--the middle of nowhere. The Eastern Colorado prairies look pretty bleak to most people. But to new homesteaders, they look like heaven. A family can prosper here and build for the future. There’s plenty of land (it’s free--just stake a claim), a railroad, a good school, and a strong community. Folks can support themselves, build some savings, maybe leave something behind for the next generation. Keota doesn’t have everything, but it has all the things that matter. Freedom. Independence. Opportunity. Community. Those are the blessings that fill these empty prairies.

Little Town on the Plains: Keota, Colorado

Created by: History Colorado

During World War II, 120,000 Japanese and Japanese Americans were forced into internment camps—including one in Colorado called "Amache." Explore the story of Amache through the lens of democratic principles and discover how they came into conflict in this historic case study.

Japanese Internment in Colorado

Created by: History Colorado

Colorow. Leader among the White River (or Yamparika) band of Utes.

Object

Glass Plate Negative, Colorow

History Colorado

Object

Photograph, Chipeta and Chief Ouray

tinted photograph of Chipeta and Chief Ouray

History Colorado

Object

Negative, Wagon Wheel Gap below THT Station

View of Wagon Wheel Gap Valley and the Rio Grande River, including some ranch buildings, in Mineral County, Colorado. View of Wagon Wheel Gap valley and probably the Rio Grande river and ranch buildings, Mineral County, Colorado. The date of this photograph was determined when it was digitized and cataloged between the years 1994-1997 as part of the PhotosWest: Western History Imaging Project coordinated by the Denver Public Library. This project was funded through a three-year grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Boettcher Foundation.

History Colorado

Object

Drawing, overlay, Mexican land grants

Pen and ink overlay for drawing depicts a man on his horse, wears dark clothing, goatee, wide brim hat. Another horse is on his right. Two men are in the middleground, one is in dark clothes, hat on back of head throwing a rock per tradition, the other man is kneeling down. The background are trees.

History Colorado

Object

Drawing, pen and ink, Mexican Land Grants

In the middleground is probably an official astride a horse, he is wearing a suit white shirt and tie. Long hair, goatee, hat with brim. Two other horses are on his right side, Grass, rocks, flowers, trees, hills in the distance are around the area. To the left are two Mexican men , one is throwing rocks the other is kneeling pulling grass, which was the custom when an official rode with the grantees out the the land, orally granted them the land and then the grantees pulled grass and threw stones wishing long life to the Sovereignty of The Mexican Nation. In the third line of the text is a strip of cardboard with "Colorado" glued over perhaps a correctio;ns. The last paragraph has a strip of cardboard glued over another correction. *In pencil bottom right margin: "49 1/4"\ *In pencil on back: "29/ 23/ Colorado Sketchbook/ 3 wl X 4 1/2' unsure of word / Empire Monday Cit 1245/5

History Colorado

Object

Photograph, Ralph Carr Taking the Oath

Ralph Carr is sworn in as the U.S. Attorney for Colorado

History Colorado

Object

Photograph, Ralph Carr on a Bike

Ralph Carr and Colorado Highway Patrolman riding a tandem bicycle.

History Colorado

Object

Photograph, Lucy Stone

Photo of Lucy Stone from a set of Progressive Chautauqua Cards. Each card has two prints of famous men or women. There are seven women in this set and Lucy Stone is one. Front of the cards to the right or left of the print gives the date born and in most cases date died, six questions printed in green by each man/woman. Back of the card is information to be read to the players to help identify the person is they have failed to answer correctly any of the six questions on front.

History Colorado

Object

Flag, World War II Service Flag

A rectangular World War Two service flag. Orange, satin fabric with a blue edge trim. White satin fabric rectangle in center with two stars. One star is blue, one is blue with a gold thread center. Gold painted wooden rod with two decorative ornaments on the end through the top of flag. Two gold ropes with gold tassels hang from ends of wooden rod. The inscription "Sons In Service" stitched to center bottom of white rectangle.

History Colorado

Object

Radio speaker

The earliest Peerless Radios came on the market in the mid 1920s and were battery operated. Generally speaking, the earlier the radio, the fewer number of tubes it had. A 1924 Peerless Radio found on line has only one tube. Late 1920s and early 1930s models had three tubes. Depicts cathedral stained glass-like speaker cover.

History Colorado

Object

Photograph, Ryan Gomez

Color photograph of Ryan Gomez in military uniform. Description by Donor given during scanning day: Ryan Gomez, 1998.

History Colorado

Object

Map, Denver

Guide map to the city of Denver, Colorado. / W.H. Lawrence & Co.; Tourists guide book to Denver.

History Colorado

Activity

BONUS: Escape Room!

Colorado Borderlands

Identify the lasting impacts of the people of the Borderlands on Colorado to escape the room. The clues spell out the name of a Spanish town in Colorado. What does the word mean in English? Tell your teacher when you escape the room!

Created by: History Colorado

Activity

A Day in the Life

Take a stroll through the town of Keota and see what everyone is doing. Any guesses about what the people of Keota used for toilet paper? Click through to find out! Consider these questions as you explore the town; How was life in Keota different from life today? How is it similar?

Created by: History Colorado

Activity

Montgomery Ward Catalog

Anything you might have needed--and many things you probably didn't--could be ordered from one of Chicago's huge mail-order companies. Both Montgomery Ward (1872) and Sears (1888) catered especially to rural families. When Rural Free Delivery began in 1896, people living in towns like Keota had access to everything in the catalogs. The average family in Keota made three catalog orders a year, spending about $5 an order. Look through a selection of items from the Montgomery Ward catalog. How would you categorize the items available for purchase?

Created by: History Colorado

Activity

Keota's General Store

Check out the goods Clyde Stanley sold at the general store. Do you see any items or brands we still see on shelves today?

Created by: History Colorado

Activity

People of Keota

A black and white photograph of the Keota baseball team and their rival baseball team. The rival team is standing in dark uniforms. Keota team sitting on the ground in white with "Keota" on the uniform front.

Created by: History Colorado

Activity

Engagement #2: Cause & Effect

What national and global events shaped Keota’s history?

Created by: History Colorado

Activity

Engagement #1: Complete the Sentence

What do you think is the most important factor that led to the settlement of the town of Keota? Complete the sentence below by choosing one of the 5 options, then explain why. Use the text tool to complete this activity.

Created by: History Colorado

Activity

Technology Developments

Why was the town of Keota settled by homesteaders?

Created by: History Colorado

Activity

Timeline of Events (1910s-1930s)

What national and global events shaped Keota’s history?

Created by: History Colorado

Activity

Engagement #3: Telegraph about Life in Keota

How was life in Keota different from life today? How is it similar? Telegraphs were used to send messages in the past, use the telegraph to write your own message to a friend or family member. Explain some of the differences and similarities of life in Keota compared to life today that you've learned about. Make sure to write about at least 1 similarity and 1 difference.

Created by: History Colorado

Activity

Eastern Plains of Colorado, Late 1800s

Windmill in Watkins, Colorado. Between 1937-2000, DeHarport photographed the southwestern United States, specifically focusing on Colorado and the Four Corners region. Much of his work focused on abandoned agricultural and mining towns in Colorado, as well as landscapes of the state's eastern plains.

Created by: History Colorado

Step In, Step Out, Step Back protocol show above.

Activity

Engagement 2: Step In, Step Out, Step Back

Colorado Borderlands

Created by: History Colorado