San Luis in Costilla County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)

San Luis Valley

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 12, 2025

1. San Luis Valley Marker

Inscription.
Commemorating the historical importance of the pioneers who were responsible for the first permanent settlement in Colorado.1851
———
This tablet is the property of the State of Colorado
———
Erected by the State Historical Society of Colorado
from the Mrs. J. N. Hall Foundation
and by the citizens of the San Luis Valley.
1951

Erected 1951 by State Historical Society of Colorado.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the History Colorado series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1851.

Location. 37° 11.919′ N, 105° 25.573′ W. Marker is in San Luis, Colorado, in Costilla County. It is on Main Street (State Highway 159) just south of Archie Street, on the left when traveling south. The marker is located near the sidewalk, at the northwest corner of the Costilla County Courthouse grounds. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 304 Main Street, San Luis CO 81152, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains

and in the San Luis Valley.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also the Republic of Texas.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Costilla County Courthouse (a few steps from this marker); R & R Market (within shouting distance of this marker); Plaza de San Luis de la Culebra (about

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300 feet away, measured in a direct line); San Luis and Costilla County Veterans Memorial (about 400 feet away); San Luis Valley Country (about 800 feet away); Acequias (about 800 feet away); San Luis (about 800 feet away); Hispano Folkways (about 800 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Luis.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Also see . . . San Luis Valley (Wikipedia).

Excerpt: The San Luis Valley was ceded to the United States in 1848 after the Mexican–American War in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Hispanic settlers began moving north and settling in the valley after the United States made a treaty with the Utes and established a fort in the early 1850s. Prior to the Mexican war the Spanish and Mexican governments had reserved the valley to the Utes. Extensive settlement began in the San Luis Valley, primarily by Hispanic farmers and ranchers from New Mexico, in the 1850s. Early settlers built a church in the village that is now called San Luis and dedicated it on the Feast of Saint Louis, 21 June 1851.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 12, 2025

2. San Luis Valley Marker
Looking southeast from Main Street; the Costilla County Courthouse is in the background.
The San Luis Valley became part of the Territory of Colorado in 1861. At present, the San Luis Valley has the largest native Hispanic population in Colorado; many families are directly descended from the original New Mexican settlers.

(Submitted on August 13, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Costilla County Courthouse (<i>west/front elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 12, 2025

3. Costilla County Courthouse (west/front elevation)

The marker is just inside the fence, near the left/north edge of this image.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 15, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 13, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 92 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 13, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.