Trinidad in Las Animas County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)
The Aultman Studio
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 10, 2025
1. The Aultman Studio Marker
Trinidad is uniquely blessed to have over 100 years of its history preserved in photographs taken by a father-son team of camera artists, Oliver and Glenn Aultman, ably assisted by their wife and mother, Jennie. Through the years, their camera recorded the changing street scenes, celebrations, historic events, and, most importantly, the diverse and revealing faces of Trinidads polyglot population. Native Americans in war bonnets, Asian miners, Italian immigrants, Hispanic cowboys in fleece chaps, and dozens of other races, ethnic groups, and cultures posed stiffly for the cameras.
The Aultman Studio began in 1889, when young Oliver, a bank loan officer who knew nothing about photography, took over the studio to keep-out-of-default a loan he had made to a photographer who skipped town. He proved to be a natural camera artist, as did his son Glenn, born in 1905.
Originally located four blocks west of here, the Aultman Studio moved in 1901 to the second floor of the stone Romanesque two-story Plested Building, directly across the street. In 1990, the First National Bank incorporated the building and remodeled, preserving
this page online
The Aultman Museum of Photography is housed on the mezzanine level of the A. R. Mitchell Memorial Museum of Western Art, farther east in the same block. On display are the award-winning Faces of Trinidad exhibit as well as an illustrated time-line history of photography.
Erected by Trinidad Historical Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Arts, Letters, Music • Immigration • Indigenous Peoples and Communities. A significant historical year for this entry is 1889.
Location. 37° 10.119′ N, 104° 30.334′ W. Marker is in Trinidad, Colorado, in Las Animas County. It is on East Main Street (Business Interstate 25) just west of North Commercial Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 107 East Main Street, Trinidad CO 81082, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the American Mountain West, on the Great Plains, on the Southern Plains, and on the Santa Fe Trail Corridor. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 10, 2025
2. The Aultman Studio Marker
Looking south across East Main Street. The former Plested Building and home of the Aultman Studio is on the left. It has been annexed and restored by the First National Bank, which is located on the right. At the time of this photo, a sidewalk dining table was positioned in front of the historical marker.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A Capital of Open Range Ranching (here, next to this marker); The Santa Fe Trail (within shouting distance of this marker); Corazσn de Trinidad National Historic District (within shouting distance of this marker); Invasion by the United States Army (within shouting distance of this marker); The Mountain Called Fisher's Peak (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Coal Miners' Memorial 1996 (about 400 feet away); The Coal Miner's Canary (about 400 feet away); Trinidad Schools and the Sisters of Charity (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Trinidad.
Also see . . .
1. Aultman Studio (History Colorado).
Excerpt: Oliver E. Aultman opened the Aultman Photography Studio in Trinidad, Colorado in 1890. Using glass plate negatives and, later, film, Mr. Aultman made studio portraits of thousands of southern Colorado residents. The portrait collection reflects(Submitted on August 23, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)the ethnic diversity of southern Colorado at the time. Aultman also photographed the city of Trinidad and surrounding areas.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 10, 20253. Former Plested Building (left)The Aultman Studio occupied the second floor in 1901.Following O.E. Aultman's death in 1954, his son Glen Aultman operated the studio until his death in 2000. History Colorado purchased Aultman Studio negatives from Glen Aultman during the 1960s. Glen Aultman later donated additional materials including photographs, studio equipment, and furniture.
Today, the collection includes approximately 50,000 negatives, as well as studio registers, which provide a record of individuals and families who sat for and purchased Aultman photographs.
2. Aultman Studio (Wikipedia).
Excerpt: The Aultman Studio was a commercial photographic studio that operated from 1889-2000 in Trinidad, Colorado. It is considered to be one of the longest running photography studios in Colorado. In 1901, Aultman hired a young woman, Susan Jane Rowland Snodgrass (1875-1961), known as Jennie, as a receptionist and hand-colorist. Aultman and Snodgrass were married in 1902 and had one son, Glenn Aultman (1904-2000). He would later work alongside his parents in the studio. After high school, Glenn Aultman attended the Anderson Business College of Trinidad. In 1925, he formally joined his father at the Aultman Studio as a darkroom assistant. After Oliver Aultman suffered a stroke in 1952, Glenn Aultman took over the business and remained its chief photographer for the next fifty years.(Submitted on August 23, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)In 1990, The Aultman Museum merged with the A.R. Mitchell Western Art Museum with both collections sharing the historic Jamieson Building on East Main Street in Trinidad. The Aultman Studio's photographic archives are currently housed at the History Colorado Center in Denver, Colorado.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 23, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 23, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 214 times since then and 59 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 23, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
