Longmont Legacy

with Erik Mason,
Longmont Museum Director

The Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute were among the first peoples to live in what would become the St. Vrain Valley beginning thousands of years ago. In the 1800s, they began trading with people traveling through the region, including Latinos from New Mexico along the Trappers’ Trail.

The arrival of gold seekers in 1859 brought growing conflict and, ultimately, the military removal of the three tribes to reservations in Wyoming, southwestern Colorado and Oklahoma.

Starting in the 1950s, Indigenous peoples began returning to their ancestral homelands, and today Longmont is home to peoples from many tribal nations. The City’s relationship with the Northern Arapaho Tribe is one important effort to acknowledge this painful history and rebuild connections.

Latino and Indigenous communities continue to shape Longmont through their leadership, culture and presence.

In the Spotlight:

Indigenous and Latino History in Longmont 

Captions:

1. Members of the Ute Nation in Roosevelt Park (then called Riding Park) in 1898.
2. A sepia tone photograph of three women and two native American Indians on horses circa 1905-1920.
3. Eloyeda Cardenas seated at an office desk, with a telephone, a filing cabinet, a bouquet of flowers, a coffee pot, and stacks of coffee cups visible. Published in the Times-Call on March 27, 1971.
4. Black and white copy print of Ben Rodriguez at KLMO radio station. Ben is at the controls with a microphone in front of him. He is wearing a dark shirt with sleeves rolled-up.