"The Magic Dog"
Los Caminos Antiguos Scenic & Historic Byway
The Utes of Colorado, lived in semi-isolation among the San Luis Valleys most spectacular scenery, until Spanish explorers entered the valley in 1596. The Utes encountered the Spaniards riding the “magic dog”, or horse.
Possession of horses opened new territories and hunting grounds for the Utes to explore. Ute warriors rode with great skill, arousing fear in their opponents. Good horsemanship allowed the Utes to defend their hunting grounds from intruders. In fact, no permanent settlements were made in the San Luis Valley between 1596 and 1851. With the aid of the horse, the Utes resisted European conquest until the eve of the twentieth century.
"We believe that all living things have a spirit or soul and should be respected like people of the universe. Only when necessary were plants harvested and animals kiled. Animals, too, went to the Happy Hunting Ground.”
-People of the Shining Mountains
“The Utes of Colorado”
[Background photo caption reads]
When the Spanish arrived here, they found a valley floor covered with numerous wetlands and swamps. They called this place “la ciιnega de San Luis”, the marsh of the San Luis Valley.
[Lower left photo caption reads]
Historic 1869 Map of San Luis Parc of Colorado and Northern New Mexico by Brayer W. Blackmore. "Sawatch Lake" to the west of the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range reveals the abundance of water in the San Luis Valley in the 1800s compared to present day. Indications are that in earlier times the entire valley floor was covered by an even larger lake.
[Lower right photo caption reads]
The wetlands of this valley host an abundance of species, including 20,000 sandhill cranes during spring and fall migrations.
Erected by Sangre
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Indigenous Peoples and Communities. A significant historical year for this entry is 1598.
Location. 37° 28.654′ N, 105° 36.124′ W. Marker is near Blanca, Colorado, in Alamosa County. It is on State Highway 150 0.2 miles north of U.S. 160, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Alamosa CO 81101, 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 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: On Sacred Ground (here, next to this marker); Welcome "Caminante" to ... (here, next to this marker); Los Caminos Antiguos (here, next to this marker); Lt. Zebulon Pike's Southwestern Expedition (within
Another marker is no longer nearby. Fort Garland (was approx. 10.1 miles away but has been permanently removed).
View to north along State Route 150
Credits. This page was last revised on November 23, 2020. It was originally submitted on February 19, 2014, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,243 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 23, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 2. submitted on February 19, 2014, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. 3. submitted on November 23, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 4, 5. submitted on February 19, 2014, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas.
