The Colorado State University San Juan Basin Research Center
is located five miles south of Hesperus, on the original site
of the Fort Lewis U.S. Army Post (1881-1891). In 1891, when military
presence was no longer required, an Indian school was established
on the site. The Indian school operated until 1911 at which time
it was closed and the property was transferred to the State of
Colorado for use as a school of agriculture, mechanical and household
arts. The school later (1927) became Fort Lewis College and in1956,
it was relocated to its present location in Durango. Since that
time, the old Fort Lewis site has been a research center under
the Colorado State University Agricultural Experiment Station.
History of the San Juan Basin Research Center - Old Fort
Historical Restoration
In conjunction with Ken Francis, Office of Community Service at Fort Lewis College, we recently received a structural assessment grant for the Library from the Colorado Historical Society. The $9,700 grant will allow architect Michael Bell to perform this work in 2006-2007.
Additionally, we submitted a LaPlata County Historical Society designation application in June, 2006. This would designate approximately 225 acres as a historical district.
