ALAMOSA — “Except for its magnificent setting, --- Alamosa, with its assortment of hand-me-down buildings and deeply rutted streets was no beauty spot.” 

In the Spring of 1878, a muddy bend in the Rio Grande among some cottonwoods became Alexander Hunt’s new railroad town in Conejos County.

Hunt was the president of the Rio Grande Railroad Construction Co. at the time, and he’d filed the plat in May 1878. The river would have been 400-500 feet wide and crossed by rope ferry before a stable railroad bridge could be safely built.

Survey and construction crews had been building tracks west from Garland City (present Ft. Garland) the previous winter and spring, following a route that met the river at the bend underneath the triangular peak to the west.

Once the tracks and bridge were complete, the town was moved over a couple of days, and officially incorporated on July 4, 1878.

At least four buildings were brought over on that first narrow-gauge train, the Perry Hotel, the Broadwell House, the Occidental Hotel, and the Gem Saloon. Breakfast was served in Garland City at the Perry Hotel and the hotel was reconstructed in time to serve dinner on the same day in Alamosa. Prosperity closely followed the addition of tracks south to Santa Fe, southwest to Durango, and northwest to Wagon Wheel Gap in the following years.

By the 1920’s, Alamosa became the place to go to the doctor, buy clothes, insurance, borrow money, get a haircut, get your picture taken, see a movie, buy furniture, get a watch fixed and purchase flowers for a funeral. Big top circus tents would pitch up in the alkali fields south of town. You could go to the Carnegie Library, Adams State Normal School, watch a ballgame, or learn to tap dance.

There have been multiple efforts over the years to celebrate the founding of Alamosa. One was called the Alarado Celebration in 1935 and another Golden Jubilee commemorating the 75th anniversary in 1953. The Alamosa Uptown River Association tried another series in the 2000s. This summer, Board members of the Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area, Alamosa Historic Preservation Commission and other inspired folks are keeping this new annual tradition alive.

On Saturday, June 24, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Colorado Welcome Center, we will celebrate the founding of Alamosa in June 1878. There will be a brief ceremony and re-enact the moving of the Gem Saloon. To add fun, color, and accuracy, event participants should come dressed in period clothing representing miners, ranch hands, homesteaders, Union soldiers, and other characters. A photo booth will be set up at the Welcome Center and we will be collecting stories, photos, and memorabilia about the founding of Alamosa.  

With excerpts from “Alamosa” by Leland Fietz, Copyright 1976, Little London Press.