RBC | As Rio Blanco County reflects on America’s 250th anniversary and Colorado’s 150th anniversary, we are invited to do more than celebrate. We are invited to remember.
Long before Colorado achieved statehood, this region was home to the Ute people, who maintain deep ancestral ties to the White River region. The valleys and rivers that shape our landscape were not empty frontiers—they were homelands rich with culture, knowledge, and tradition.
Events such as the Meeker Incident of 1879 dramatically altered the course of this region and led to the forced removal of the White River Utes. Responsible preservation means acknowledging this history fully and respectfully.
As settlement expanded, ranching, agriculture, commerce, and education shaped the county we know today. Meeker’s historic downtown—still home to more than 30 historic structures—reflects the craftsmanship and determination of earlier generations.
Institutions such as the White River Museum and preserved rural schools provide physical connections to this layered story.
“Historic preservation is not about nostalgia. It is about stewardship.”
When we preserve buildings, landscapes, and artifacts, we protect the evidence of who we have been. In doing so, we give future generations the opportunity to understand where they live—and why it matters. Our history is not a single chapter. It is a continuum. And it deserves care.
By TERESIA R. REED