Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center

Named a finalist for the 2023 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center allows visitors to explore life in a 19th century military fort by walking the parade grounds and touring original adobe buildings. The museum’s creative exhibitions include the newly opened buffalo soldiers: reVision, which disrupts the common narratives of manifest destiny and settlement of the American West through a more visual interpretation of the history and impact of the all Black Army regiments that were established in 1866 following the Civil War. The exhibition was created in collaboration with eight independent artists from around the country, whose creations range from prints layering historical photos and documents with contemporary drawings, to poetry which evokes the emotional toil of this part of our shared history.

Fort Garland is located near the Great Sand Dunes National Park, a natural wonder unlike any other in the United States, and makes for a great road trip from other History Colorado sites including Pike’s Stockade.