Are You an Art, History or Nature Enthusiast in Trinidad? There are numerous museums to discover here! Here are a few of the top ones.
The Mitchell Museum, housed in an early 1900’s Western-style building featuring original pressed tin ceilings and wood flooring, showcases art by Arthur Roy Mitchell and his contemporaries.
The National Museum and Art Gallery
The National Museum and Art Gallery in Trinidad and Tobago serves as its cultural institute, housing an impressive collection of art and history that tells the tale of this Caribbean island nation and its two sister islands. Housed in an attractive 19th-century two-story building, its first floor covers history from Spanish and British colonialism through independence in 1962 as well as dedicated to Amerindians who were once dominant indigenous population but are now nearly extinct.
This captivating attraction lies in the south western region of Trinidad Island. Featuring a lake filled with birds, mammals and other animals as well as lush trees and plants that thrive there, Pitch Lake offers visitors a tranquil respite that offers rejuvenation and rest – perfect for family outings!
The Trinidad History Museum
Trinidad, Colorado is a town steeped in history. From its coal mining origins to being known as the “Sex Change Capital of the World”, its past has much to tell us. To gain more insight into this southern Colorado town’s heritage visit Trinidad History Museum today!
The museum is housed in a restored home and features five exhibit rooms that explore Tsurai Village, Yurok traditions, European contact, whaling, fishing, logging transportation Trinidad Head Lighthouse commerce as well as more. Furthermore, two beautiful gardens surround it – one designed to replicate historic home gardens while the other contains local plant species native to this region.
Trinidad Historical District offers much more than museums; visitors will discover historic homes and other interesting sights worth seeing like the Baca House, Bloom Mansion and Santa Fe Trail Museum here. Camping is also popular here at Trinidad Lake State Park which provides year-round recreational boating, swimming and fishing activities as well as breathtaking views of Purgatoire River Valley.
The Purgatoire River Trading Company
Purgatoire River is one of Colorado’s oldest named rivers. Situated in its namesake Colorado county of Las Animas in southern Colorado, it flows through Trinidad and Las Animas County towns like Tercio before ending at Simpson’s Rest on its historic bluff, where George Simpson rests buried.
The Purgatoire River is a favorite fishing spot, particularly for rainbow and brown trout fishing. The river flows through Comanche National Grassland where dinosaur tracks have been discovered on public land; on its western edge is Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site, an army base whose expansion plans have raised local concerns.
Purgatoire River Trading Company can be found in Trinidad’s McCormack Building and features over 500 individual Native artists’ works ranging from silversmith jewelry, pottery, rugs, woven baskets and leather craft for sale in an impressive selection. Come visit this shop in downtown Trinidad today!
Trinidad was an integral stopover in their travels from Denver to Santa Fe across the Rocky Mountains. Due to its high elevation and proximity to Raton Pass and Santa Fe Trail, travelers – first on foot then via horse- and ox-drawn wagons and railroads – used it as a key waypoint.
Art Cartopia Museum
My recent rural land photography trip included a visit to Trinidad, Colorado’s Art Cartopia Museum – it offers over 25 whimsical transporting treasures sure to leave visitors confused! A van covered with eyeballs, dentist nightmare car and giant skeleton riding atop of another car are just a few examples of bizarre sights you may witness here!
ArtoCade began ten years ago as an annual art car parade and festival held by the city, drawing large numbers of artists, children, quilters, cops and prisoners together in one town known for hard-scrabble mining, cannabis tourism and having once been considered “sex change capital” of the United States. When ArtoCade first started it quickly gained national renown; its whimsically decorated cars quickly becoming an attraction attracting all types of participants such as kids quilters cops prisoners artists even police and prisoners!
But ArtoCade and the museum it created are now closing, signaling an end to local efforts at making New Mexico border towns into cultural destinations. Their closure comes as a devastating blow for this community where entrepreneurs and preservationists invested millions into drawing hipsters, entrepreneurs and travelers down I-25 corridor. Although the city may rethink its approach to public events going forward, ArtoCade may never again receive sufficient resources or new blood to sustain itself as an event of this magnitude.