Ute Indian Museum Hosts Grand Opening of New Naturescape Playground

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Playground’s opening will coincide with
3rd Annual Community Appreciation Celebration
historycolorado.org | #HistoryColorado

MONTROSE — History Colorado’s Ute Indian Museum is happy to announce the Grand Opening of its new Naturescape Playground on June 10, 2023. Inspired by the living history of the three Ute Tribes, the Naturescape Playground is an innovative avenue for recreation, entertainment, and education that instills respect for the natural environment, outdoor stewardship and a deeper understanding of the rich culture of the Ute people.

In addition to being the first public play structure on the south side of the City of Montrose, the Naturescape playground will increase community vitality by providing greater understanding of the historical complexity of the community, and engaging multi-generational groups in outdoor museum play and learning experiences.

The Naturescape Playground will join the other outdoor offerings at the Ute Indian Museum such as the Ute Ethnobotany Garden – which features plants that Ute people use for nutritional, medicinal, and practical purposes – and the final resting place and memorial to Chipeta, the wife of Ute Chief Ouray.

In conjunction with the opening of the naturescape, The Ute Indian Museum is hosting its 3rd annual Community Appreciation Celebration on June 10, 2023, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

This celebration is an opportunity to thank the community for its many contributions and ongoing support of the museum. This event includes free museum admission, sales in the gift shop, a silent auction, Hands-on education activities, and a slate of incredible performances from Indigenous partners.

Performances include:

• An exhibition of work by Gregg Deal (Pyramid Lake Paiute) a provocative contemporary artist who challenges Western Perceptions of Indigenous people, touching on issues of race, history, and stereotypes

• Native American Hoop Dance presentations where visitors can learn about this cultural tradition’s deep roots in the Southwest and in its original form as a healing ceremony

• A flute playing and storytelling session by Ute Eldar Norman Lopez (Ute Mountain Ute)

• A “Next Generation” Kids Dance performance by the Ute Mountain Ute tribe

• Screening of Bear Dance Then and Now with a Q and A with Regina Lopez Whiteskunk (Ute Mountain Ute) who is featured in the film

• Living History presentations throughout the day on the everyday life of the tribes of the Great Plains by Clint Rides His Horse (Mohawk and Cheyenne).

In addition to these performances there will also be a number of booths and activities presented by community partners throughout the day such as:

• Various Native American Arts and Crafts vendors

• Hand painting on canvas to promote awareness of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women epidemic

• Native American Fry Bread for sale

• A dog petting booth from the Montrose animal shelter presented in conjunction with an exhibition on dog use before the introduction of horses

• Free water from the Montrose Lions Club

• Kids Bounce House

• And a book van from the Montrose Regional Library District

Additional information about the Community Appreciation Celebration can be found here.

About Ute Indian Museum
The Ute Indian Museum is nestled in the heart of Uncompahgre Ute territory, and the museum grounds include Chief Ouray Memorial Park, the grave where Chipeta was buried after her death in 1924, and a native plants garden. The Ute Indian Museum is a Community Museum of History Colorado.

The museum is located at 17253 Chipeta Road, Montrose and is open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Visit www.UteIndianMuseum.org or call 970-249-3098 for more information.

About History Colorado
History Colorado is a division of the Colorado Department of Higher Education and a 501(c)3 non-profit that has served more than 75,000 students and 500,000 people in Colorado each year. It is a 143-year-old institution that operates eleven museums and historic sites, a free public research center, the Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation which provides technical assistance, educational opportunities, and other access to archaeology and historic preservation, and the History Colorado State Historical Fund (SHF), which is one of the nation’s largest state funded preservation programs of its kind. More than 70% of SHF grants are allocated in rural areas of the state. Additionally, the offices of the State Archaeologist and the State Historic Preservation Officer are part of History Colorado.

History Colorado’s mission is to create a better future for Colorado by inspiring wonder in our past. We serve as the state’s memory, preserving and sharing the places, stories, and material culture of Colorado through educational programs, historic preservation grants, collecting, outreach to Colorado communities, the History Colorado Center and Stephen H. Hart Research Center in Denver, and 10 other museums and historic attractions statewide. History Colorado is one of only six Smithsonian Affiliates in Colorado. Visit HistoryColorado.org, or call 303-HISTORY, for more information. #HistoryColorado