DEL NORTE - The Rio Grande County Museum will be hosting a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of the Barlow and Sanderson Stage Office. The event will kick off on June 21 at 11 a.m. with a ribbon cutting and dedication beginning at 11:30. There will be light refreshments and an open house following the ribbon cutting. 

The museum, along with several volunteers, donors, Rio Grande County and Creek Water Construction have spent the past year working diligently to preserve the 1875 Barlow and Sanderson Stage Office.  

According to the 1874 San Juan Prospector on May 16, “A new line of coaches has been established to Del Norte Passengers bound to that place or Fort Garland will take the coaches of the Southern Overland Company at this place and connect at the Huerfano crossing with the Seabring & Lane’s Line to Del Norte. Passengers will leave Pueblo on Thursday, Thursday or Saturday.” 

Before the Barlow and Sanderson Stage, the Del Norte and San Luis Valley area was serviced by Miller, James and Company stage line who, after trying to create a line connecting the San Luis Valley with the Silverton, decided it was time to sell and let a larger company take over. That was when Barlow and Sanderson, the last of the Overland Stage Company. 

“The end of the railroad was the beginning of the stage line.” Was the motto of the times and with these amazing stagecoaches came even more amazing men, drivers, agent, horse handlers and the pioneers of the entire western United States. The earliest road in the San Luis Valley was comprised of the old Spanish Trail and was established around 1859 when 14 families established Loma de San Jose which was located on the north side of the Rio Grande adjacent from where Del Norte sits today. 

The preservation project started in 1972 when local historian Ruth Marie Colville and a team of dedicated volunteers saved the building from being torn down and moved it from its original location at the west end of Del Norte to the city park. During that time, the building was in decent condition and was moved in one solid piece.  

Jump forward over 50 years and the condition of the building was in dire need of repair. Ruth Marie Colville’s daughter Suzanne Off and local resident Patty Kelley began looking for ways to save the building once again, hoping to preserve it for future generations.  

With the help of the Rio Grande County Museum and the Windsor Hotel, the two establishments set a goal to raise funding to help restore the building and plans to rebuild it behind the museum took form. With the help of Rio Grande County and many donors, the museum raised $31,750 to begin the project. 

On a spring morning in April of 2024, volunteers and Creek Water Construction tore down the 150-year-old building and transported it to the museum to be rebuilt. Throughout the summer several steps were taken to preserve the building and by the end of fall, the once proud stage office was back on solid ground. 

Almost one year to the day, the Barlow and Sanderson Stage Office was fully restored, and now it is time to celebrate such a wonderful community project.  

Come join the Rio Grande County Museum in honoring this pivotal historic moment and celebrating a community that shows passion and dedication to its historic roots. For more information, visit www.riograndecountymuseum.org or by calling 719-657-2847.