SAGUACHE - On May 25, a beautiful parade was held in Saguache with the theme of “Honoring Our Ute Heritage.” The event marks the annual opening of the Saguache County Museum. The Grand Marshall of the parade was Jeannie Ewing. 

Beautiful horses ridden by cowgirls, holding colorful flags, trotted on the parade route, with smiling children running and skipping next to them. 

There were classic cars in the parade, many with individual business logos, a Mountain Valley Transit bus, a couple of semis, and some colorful floats, to name a few of the entries. 

Many of the riders in the vehicles smiled as they tossed candies out the window, to boys, girls, and adults alike. 

As part of the celebration, the Saguache County Museum opened its doors at 9 a.m. and offered $1 admission for adults and children until 4 p.m. The museum also hosted a $15 lunch which consisted of a barbecue sandwich, fixings, and a drink.  

At Otto Mears Park, vendors were selling their wares as part of the celebration. They were selling a little of everything from jewelry to homemade wooden signs, to tasty treats, to jars of honey and preserves, and many other exciting items.  

The SLV Antique Tractor Club was also at Otto Mears Park with antique tractors on display. Children took turns riding on the barrel train.  

Saguache County Museum Director Linda Vigil spoke about the event and the museum’s history. “We are doing really well; it’s been a good turn out so far. This was the old jail, and Saguache County had just finished building a brand-new jail in 1958, and this one, the old one, was set to be demolished. A group of church ladies, that went to church, they all got together, and talked to the county, and convinced the county to turn it into a museum rather than get rid of it.”  

Vigil explained that the museum is a historical site and is only open during the summer months from Memorial Day until Labor Day. Vigil said that she enjoys the opening day celebration every year and enjoys seeing people come in with smiles to visit the museum.  

The museum has many beautiful artifacts in it, including butter churns, military rifles and muskets, chalk boards with writing, old-fashioned apparel, worn by historical men and women alike, and there are many arrow heads on display from across the Valley. 

The museum has a new collection of items in honor of Wilma Lewis, a board member, and an active member of the museum, who passed away recently. Lewis collected many beautiful things in her lifetime.  

Monte Vista resident Beatrice Gallegos was at the museum with some of her family. She said they were visiting the museum in honor of her dad, Cipriano Pacheco, who was raised in Saguache, and passed away last year, and in honor of her dad’s father, her grandfather Lucas Pacheco, who helped build the horno (oven) that is in front of the Saguache County Museum.  

Gallegos said that it was her father’s wish every year that the family would meet and gather at the museum. Her father was proud of the horno and of their family’s heritage and culture, as they were all part Southern Ute, which was another reason they were excited about the celebration this year, as the parade theme was “Honoring Our Ute Heritage.”  

For more information about the Saguache County Museum, call the museum directly at 719-655-2557.