|
|
Hwy. 159 Box 3003
San Luis,
CO 81152
Wildlife & History
Wild horses, deer, elk and hawks are among some of the wild life here at Melby Ranch. Click on photos to enlarge. The San Luis Valley HistoryMillions of years ago, eruptions and massive earthquakes formed the largest alpine valley in the world, in which the floor lies 7,500 feet above sea level. The length of the valley from north to south is over 80 miles, and its greatest width is approximately 50 miles. Nestled high in the Colorado Rockies, protected by 14,000 foot peaks, the San Luis Valley offers breathtaking scenery year round. The San Juan Range on the west is the continental divide. The spiny Sangre de Cristo Range on the east is one of Colorado's tallest mountain ranges. Mt. Blanca, the fourth tallest peak in Colorado, at 14,345 feet, towers over the San Luis Valley. The valley floor is a semi-arid vista receiving approximately eight inches of moisture a year. Early Spanish explorers and Native Americans are known to have passed through the Valley, each establishing small encampments and bound for bad luck. When Coronado, the famous Spanish Conquistador, sought the fabled riches of Quivara, he came in contact with the Indians of the San Luis Valley, who directed him east to the fateful end of his expedition. Later, in 1708, Juan de Ulaterri claimed the San Luis Valley for the king of Spain. In 1806, Zebulon Pike, after his discovery of Pike's Peak, came into the San Luis Valley over Mosca Pass not knowing that he was on Spanish soil. At Pike's Stockade, south of Alamosa, he was captured and taken prisoner to Santa Fe. Finally, in 1848, John Fremont led an ill-fated expedition into the San Luis Valley, northwest of Alamosa, during harsh winter weather. He is known to have gotten lost during his journey and disappeared. In June of 1878 a narrow-gauge train loaded with expectant settlers chugged west from Fort Garland to settle a new town on the Rio Grande River at the center of the vast San Luis Valley. They found a protected area shaded by cottonwood trees and named their new home "Alamosa", which is Spanish for cottonwood. The Valley was settled and began growing due to increased agricultural production. Eventually, flatcars delivered lumber and hardware, and buildings went up forming the new town. Over the next ten years rails were laid in all four directions and Alamosa became a veritable center of the San Luis Valley. The little town soon grew into a rail, agricultural mining and educational center. The San Luis Valley is extremely important to Colorado and has played a key role in the settlement of the state.
San Luis: The oldest town in Colorado
At the end of the Mexican war of 1848, the United States acquired an area that was called the New Mexico Territory (part of which is now Costilla County). Spanish-speaking Americans, settled the town of San Luis and had to guard it from Indians. San Luis is the first permanent town in Colorado and was founded on June 21, 1851, the date of the annual Fiesta de San Luis. The original village was named after the Catholic Saint. The oldest continuously operated business in Colorado is located in San Luis also, a general store now called the R&R Market. The market still stands at the same site where it was founded by Dario Gallegos in 1857. San Luis is positioned 37.20 degrees North of the equator and 105.42 degrees West of the prime meridian. The population of San Luis is approximately 800. The approximate number of families is 350. More historical, current and tourist information can be found at the following links:
©2008 Melby Ranch Properties, LLC Web site design by Dock.net Design |
)
)
)
)
)
)