We visited three sites in this area, all located between our two AirBnB locations:

Dennis Weaver Memorial

Dennis Weaver is fondly remembered for his portrayal of the limping Chester Goode on the TV western “Gunsmoke”—a role that made him a household name in the 1950s and early 1960s. I loved Gunsmoke…so I was really interested in seeing his memorial located in Ridgeway, CO, the community where he lived.

Visiting the Dennis Weaver Memorial Park near Ridgway was a peaceful and unexpectedly moving experience. Tucked along the Uncompahgre River, the park felt more like a sanctuary than a public space—quiet, open, and filled with a kind of gentle energy that invites you to slow down and just be.

At the heart of the park stands a striking bronze eagle sculpture—about 2,800 lb with a 21‑ft wingspan— dedicated in 2007.

This towering bronze eagle, wings outstretched against the backdrop of the San Juans, is breathtaking.  It perches atop a medicine wheel of stones, surrounded by cairns or “prayer stones” left by visitors for reflection.

Visitors are invited to add a prayer stone…….The medicine wheel and surrounding stones gave the space a sacred feel—more than just a monument, it felt like a place of intention.

We wandered through the sagebrush and cottonwoods, with the river murmuring nearby. It’s hard to imagine a better place to reflect or just take a deep breath. Dennis Weaver’s legacy was much more than his character Chester from the Gunsmoke series that we loved as kids.  We have now learned that he was also an environmentalist, spiritual thinker and an animal rights activist. 

We also played the charming outdoor music installation—a whimsical xylophone!

This memorial is not flashy or touristy—it’s humble, heartfelt, and beautifully connected to the land. The combination of music, prayer-stone cairns, wildlife, and riverside paths makes it feel like a peaceful soundscape integrated into the landscape that he called home.

We did not do a drive-by, but his former home called Earthship was nearby. It incorporated into its construction various recycled materials, such as old automobile tires and discarded cans, and featured passive solar power and other ecotechnologies.

Ute Indian Museum

The Ute Indian Museum, located in Montrose, sits on the homestead of Chief Ouray and his wife, Chipeta. Originally opened in 1956, the museum has been expanded and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

This unique museum is dedicated entirely to the history and culture of the Ute people. Indoors are two spacious exhibit galleries filled with authentic artifacts like Chief Ouray’s personal belongings and Chipeta’s beaded buckskin dress. 

The outside areas include traditional tepees, walking trail, native plant garden and the crypt of Chipeta.

Visiting the Ute Indian Museum is more than a history lesson—it’s really an immersive tribute to the Ute legacy.  It was impressive the way the stories were told in the voices of the Ute people,  rather than through the lens of outsiders.

We did not have enough time or energy to spend enough hours here.  But, it did not take long to be moved by the items belonging to Chief Ouray and Chipeta; seeing her beautifully beaded clothing and learning more about their leadership.

The museum gives one a sense of the strength and dignity of the Ute people, one of the oldest Indigenous groups in the United States, and of whom we knew nothing about before this museum visit.

Like other tribes of Indians, the arrival of Europeans brought devastating changes to the Utes. Treaties in the 1800s repeatedly reduced Ute landholdings, often under duress or deception.  Today there are three federally recognized Ute tribes in Colorado, New Mexico and Utah, each of whom govern their own lands.

Every time I visit these Native American sites—whether a museum, a burial ground, or ancestral land—I’m struck by a sadness. There’s a weight to these places, not just because of what they preserve, but because of what was lost. Standing on land that was once fully theirs…with the knowledge of centuries of broken promises, forced removals, and cultural erasure they’ve endured at the hands of the U.S. government…it is sobering to think how much wisdom, tradition, and freedom was taken in the name of expansion.

And yet, there’s also resilience here—dignity, beauty, and pride that still live on in the people, the stories, and the land itself.

Museum of the Mountain West

This was a Step Back in Time at the Museum of the Mountain West.…….

Just off the highway in Montrose, Colorado, the Museum of the Mountain West surprised and delighted us with an immersive, guided walk through frontier history. It also taught us the lesson of “Don’t judge a book by its cover!” What, from the highway looked like it might be some type of museum ripoff…turned out to be probably the most authentic museum we have ever entered!!

This isn’t your typical “look-but-don’t-touch” museum—it’s more like stepping onto the set of an Old West movie, minus the Hollywood gloss and adding a whole lot of authenticity.  (Our guide said there were only 4 things in the museum that were not authentic, and he pointed them out to us!!)

We wandered through a lovingly reconstructed Western town, complete with original buildings relocated from around the region. There’s an 1890s saloon (with bullet holes still in the door!), a Victorian dentist’s office that made us thankful for modern anesthesia, and a general store brimming with vintage goods.

Each space is packed with real artifacts—everything from antique firearms to household items that reveal the gritty, creative, and often tough lives of the early settlers.

Our guide was a treasure himself, spinning stories and pointing out details we never would have noticed on our own.

It’s clear this museum is a passion project. It was founded by Richard Fike, an archaeologist and historian, who has spent decades preserving and sharing this slice of Western heritage.  (Our guide mentioned that Mr. Fike started his first museum in his home at age 4!)

The main museum contains over half-a million artifacts in 10 recreated stores and offices… a whole western town!

This tour was both educational and thoroughly entertaining. It brought the past vividly to life—and gave us a whole new appreciation for the rugged spirit of the Old West.