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History · Walsenburg

A history of Walsenburg,
since 1873

Postcards, papers and photographs of Walsenburg from public archives, woven together by decade. Neighbors fill in the gaps.

1873established
16old images & papers
8recent photos
From Walsenburg’s archive · credits on each photo

The story

from WikipediaRead it all ↗

Walsenburg was originally settled under the name of La Plaza de los Leones in 1859. The settlement was named after settler Don Miguel Antonio de Leon, who came along with others from New Mexico.

A post office called Walsenburg has been in operation since 1870. The community was named after Fred Walsen, an early settler. Robert Ford, the famous gunman, operated a combination saloon and gambling house in Walsenburg; his home at 320 West 7th Street still stands. The town is also remembered in sports history due to a famous newspaper gaffe ("Will Overhead") after the 1933 Indianapolis 500.

Colorado Coalfield War1927-1928 Colorado Coal Strike21st century

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

built from the dates on the items below
1873Established
1890s2 items · Public schools, Welsenburg, ColoLOC
1910s5 items · Parade atCommons
1939Ernest L. Blumenschein - Spanish Peaks. MuralCommons
1940s3 items · Colorado [Adams County - Las Animas C…Commons
1950–1989Nothing in the archives yet
1990s5 items · Anchor Motel signCommons
Help out

Finish Walsenburg’s story

Most archives stop around 1920. The photos from after that are in family albums, not libraries.

4 of 10 decades since 1900 have photos 🔁Retake an old viewPublic schools, Welsenburg, Colo, 1890: stand where they stood+15 📦Share a family photoSign in to add one+10

Famous people from Walsenburg

See all 6 →
Matthew G. MartínezMatthew G. MartínezBusinessXavier AtencioXavier AtencioFilm, TV & StageKCKim CoutureWriting & ArtsFSFloyd SalasWriting & ArtsDGDebora GregerWriting & ArtsUmberto LenziniUmberto LenziniSports
By decade

Walsenburg, decade by decade

1890s2 items
Public schools, Welsenburg, ColoLOCPublic schools, Welsenburg, Colo1890Memorial School, Welsenburg, ColoLOCMemorial School, Welsenburg, Colo1890
1910s5 items
Parade atCommonsParade at1913White City inCommonsWhite City in1913Newspaper articleDocumentNewspaper article1914Food Administration - Education - Walsenburg, Colorado. War activities. School gardenCommonsFood Administration - Education - Walsenburg, Colorado. War…1917J.R.C. members of nationalities who gave circus. Mt. Div. Walsenburg, Colo. Wash. School. Italian, Austrian, American, …LOCJ.R.C. members of nationalities who gave circus. Mt. Div. W…1919
1930s1 item
Ernest L. Blumenschein - Spanish Peaks. MuralCommonsErnest L. Blumenschein - Spanish Peaks. Mural1939
1940s3 items
Colorado [Adams County - Las Animas County (part)]CommonsColorado [Adams County - Las Animas County (part)]1940Colorado [Adams County - Las Animas County (part)]CommonsColorado [Adams County - Las Animas County (part)]1940Colorado [Adams County - Las Animas County (part)]CommonsColorado [Adams County - Las Animas County (part)]1940
1950s–
1980s
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
📷 Add from your album
1990s5 items
Anchor Motel signCommonsAnchor Motel sign1991Fireside Cafe Canopy and sign, Main StreetCommonsFireside Cafe Canopy and sign, Main Street1991Five storesCommonsFive stores1991Gulf Gasoline sign, decayed, Main StreetCommonsGulf Gasoline sign, decayed, Main Street1991Moon Glow Cafe sign, B-25CommonsMoon Glow Cafe sign, B-251991
Today8 photos
An old wrecker service's garage inCommonsAn old wrecker service's garage in2015"Gray Cottages," a style, not a color, of humble homes inCommons"Gray Cottages," a style, not a color, of humble homes in2015Thank You Fire Fighters, God Bless You, We Love You sign, East Peak Fire, Walsenburg, Colorado, June 2013CommonsThank You Fire Fighters, God Bless You, We Love You sign, E…2013Sign thanking firefighters, East Peak Fire, Walsenburg, Colorado, June 2013CommonsSign thanking firefighters, East Peak Fire, Walsenburg, Col…2013Old gas stationCommonsOld gas station2012Huerfano County High SchoolCommonsHuerfano County High School2012Huerfano County Courthouse and JailCommonsHuerfano County Courthouse and Jail2012NearCommonsNear2007

Then & now

No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as Public schools, Welsenburg, Colo (1890) and it appears here side by side.

🔁 Retake this view · +15

Stories next door

nearby towns’ history
📜 La Veta📜 Aguilar📜 Rye📜 Cokedale

From Wikimedia Commons (21) and the Library of Congress (3). Images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.

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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/18 · 2025-01-01
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