On the land that was once the home of Ute Chief Ouray and his wife Chipeta, this marvelous museum is a look at the native American Ute Indian's culture. On the grounds is a museum with classrooms, media centers and exhibits...Chipeta's crypt...the Chief Ouray Memorial Park...and native plants from which the Ute people used in all aspects of life.
There are teepees set up for a glance at how they were constructed. Inside the museum, we were shown a fantastic exhibit of cradleboards. The belief that a soul is reborn in the life of a new baby, the coming of a child was extremely important to the family. Children were carried in these protective, often elaboratly decorated cradleboards for many years. Often, the umbilical cord was saved and placed in an amulet or bag to be carried in the cradleboard or on the belt of the child. The grandparents would make small beaded bags in the shape of lizards or turtles for the cord, to symbolize endurance and longevity and protect the child during the growing years. A white cradleboard would represent a male child and the ochra color would be a female child.
Other displays housed the actual items owned by Chipeta, Chief Ouray and other figures that worked for the preservation of the native Americans' soul beliefs. Ceremonial robes, eagle feather headresses, knives, pottery and adornments.
It's worth the trip to the museum...it is only 3 miles out of Montrose, on Chipeta Road.
The museum is open year-round with the exception of Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
Summer Hours (May 15 - October 15):
Monday through Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Winter Hours (October 16 - May 14):
(November 1 - December 31): Monday through Saturday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Closed Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.
(January 1 - May 14): Tuesday through Saturday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Closed New Year's Day.
Admission is $3.00 for adults, Seniors $2.50, Children $1.50
Leave a Comment
Phone: 970-249-3098
Address: 17253 Chipeta Road, Montrose CO 81401
Directions: Take 550 South out of Montrose (towards Ouray) about 3 miles on the right, you will see teepees set up...right there...
Website: http://www.coloradohistory.org/hist_sites/UteIndian/ute_Indian.htm
email me
add as friend
on Sep 5, 2007
Comments for KiKitC about Montrose