rgmuseum@riograndecounty.org 

SAN LUIS VALLEY — For retired Rio Grande National Forest archaeologist Ken Frye, the study of rock art has been a lifelong pursuit, rooted deeply in the history of the San Luis Valley. In his personal account, documented by Frye, he details his extensive work with the Rio Grande County Museum and his commitment to preserving the region's ancient heritage. 

Frye first began volunteering at the Rio Grande County Museum more than 43 years ago, when the institution was still located at the county courthouse. It was upon the museum's move in 1987 that he helped curate one of its signature displays. 

"When I got involved as a volunteer at the new Rio Grande County Museum in 1987, one of the first exhibits was on rock art, that includes of one the only known Native American rock art exhibits in the San Luis Valley area," stated Frye. 

Ruth Marie Colville, local historian and museum founder, had been locating and documenting rock art in the San Luis Valley for decades. She was very important factor in establishing the museum and the rock art exhibit. 

The impetus for the exhibit was both historical interest and urgent preservation. "The area consists some amazing rock art, with many being vandalized, so we felt it was important to put together exhibits to educate the public about how valuable they are to our heritage". 

The current photographic exhibit was established in honor of Ruth Marie Colville, a local historian and museum founder who spent decades documenting valley sites.  

Frye recalled how his own enthusiasm for the subject was solidified after he reached out to Colville regarding a specific discovery. 

"I was told of a panel near Del Norte, so I went and looked at it. I was puzzled by the symbols, so I contacted Ruth Marie and took her to the site at the top of a large cliff near Del Norte," Frye recounted. "After that visit, I was totally amazed by rock art and ending going to hundreds of sites in 9 different states throughout the west". 

The museum’s efforts to document these sites eventually garnered regional acclaim, including the Colorado Historical Society’s Hart Award in 1989. “Ruth Marie was selected as Colorado Historian of the Year by the Colorado Historical Society. We had a celebration and reception at the Rio Grande County Museum to honor Ruth Marie. Also, The Rocky Mountain News from Denver wanted to do an editorial about her, so they contacted us and so we took them to the Carnero Creek pictographs and did a photo shoot for the magazine article”. 

“We went there on a cold winter day, with over a foot of snow on the ground. We wanted to photograph her at the pictograph panel, and she was reluctant to climb up to the panel on a steep hill side. I asked if I helped her, would she agree to attempt the climb. She agreed to give it a try, and I was helping her to maneuver through the snow. A reporter from the Rocky Mountain News saw me helping her and took a photo. Weeks later, I saw the photo in the article and was very honored to be featured in the magazine article. Ruth Marie was also on national television at the Carnero Creek rock art site, along with Kathy Puckett, our assistance director at the time. Channel 7 from Denver came and filmed them, and it later aired on CBS Sunday Morning, with a segment called On the Road with Charles Curalt.” 

The San Luis Valley’s rock art, which includes petroglyphs carved by early Archaic people dating back 5,000 years, continues to be a point of research. To gain a deeper understanding of the symbols, museum staff consulted with tribal elders from the Ute, Apache, Navajo, Comanche, Hopi, and northern Pueblo nations. 

Frye remains dedicated to the museum’s mission, hoping to spark similar passion in younger generations. 

"Seeing young people from local schools so interested in rock art makes me optimistic that future generations will hold them to be invaluable and important," Frye stated. 

The museum is currently hosting the fifth iteration of its rock art exhibit, which features photography from J.D. Marston and original paintings by local artist Yvonne Halburian. Staff members plan to conduct an educational tour of local sites in the early fall. 

To see the exhibit and receive a tour by Ken Frye or museum staff, please call the museum to make an appointment at 719-657-2847 or by emailing rgmuseum@riograndecounty.org.