Montezuma Heritage Museum

Montezuma Heritage Museum Local and regional history museum in downtown Cortez, CO.

Our mission is to educate, enrich, and inspire our residents and visitors through the preservation, presentation, and interpretation of the county’s and region’s rich and diverse history.

Wagon loads of lumber roll into Cortez during the community's early building boom, circa 1915. Visible in the background...
06/10/2026

Wagon loads of lumber roll into Cortez during the community's early building boom, circa 1915. Visible in the background is the Brown Palace Hotel, later known as the Hotel Cortez.

As we celebrate Cortez's 140th Anniversary this year, photos like this remind us of the determination, vision, and hard work that transformed a young frontier community into the city we know today. Every board, brick, and building helped shape Cortez's story...

Now on display through December 2026! "Moments That Made Us" explores the ideas behind the Declaration of Independence t...
05/29/2026

Now on display through December 2026!

"Moments That Made Us" explores the ideas behind the Declaration of Independence through key moments in American history, with a special local adaptation connecting our own community stories to these broader historical events.

Special thanks to History Colorado, who developed the core exhibit, and to the Ballantine Family Fund for their financial support.

Did you miss the Heritage Days walking tours? We’ve got you covered! Join us on the first Saturday in June or for Colora...
05/23/2026

Did you miss the Heritage Days walking tours? We’ve got you covered!

Join us on the first Saturday in June or for Colorado Day on Saturday, August 1. Register today!

Check out this week’s installment of Yesterday’s Stories, read by Lola Eckhart and sharing the story of Mary Jelly!
05/20/2026

Check out this week’s installment of Yesterday’s Stories, read by Lola Eckhart and sharing the story of Mary Jelly!

In honor of National Bike Month and Bike to Work Day, here’s a look back at the Dolores Bicycle Club gathered in front o...
05/15/2026

In honor of National Bike Month and Bike to Work Day, here’s a look back at the Dolores Bicycle Club gathered in front of the Harris Store in the late 1890s

(From the Lawrence W. Pleasant Collection)

This week on Yesterday’s Stories, local reader Brian Bartlett shares a colorful 1934 oral history from early settler Elb...
05/13/2026

This week on Yesterday’s Stories, local reader Brian Bartlett shares a colorful 1934 oral history from early settler Elbert Nunn, featuring tales of shotgun weddings, horse thieves, frontier justice, and life in early Montezuma County. The series is a collaboration between KSJD and the Montezuma Heritage Museum celebrating the region’s past through the voices of today’s community.

https://www.ksjd.org/podcast/yesterdays-stories/2026-05-12/freighter-cattleman-elbert-al-nunn-read-by-brian-bartlett

Looking for a meaningful short-term job?We’re hiring a seasonal team member at the Montezuma Heritage Museum! Come spend...
05/12/2026

Looking for a meaningful short-term job?

We’re hiring a seasonal team member at the Montezuma Heritage Museum! Come spend some time with us preserving and sharing the stories of our community.

This is a temporary position—perfect for someone looking for a flexible opportunity or a foot in the door with museum work.

📄 Learn more + apply: www.montezumamuseum.org/about-2/
📅 Applications reviewed starting: May 26th

Know someone who’d be a great fit? Tag them below or share this post!

Start your weekend with a story from the archives 📻Our latest Yesterday’s Stories episode, Teaching in the Disappointmen...
05/09/2026

Start your weekend with a story from the archives 📻

Our latest Yesterday’s Stories episode, Teaching in the Disappointment Valley, is now available to listen to anytime on KSJD’s website—or find the link on our website.

Then, join us Tuesdays at 8:51 AM for 26 weeks of stories on KSJD.

Listen now, tune in Tuesdays, and stay connected to the stories that shaped our community!

Then and now - caregivers and educators at the heart of our community.Happy Nurses & Teachers Appreciation Week!
05/07/2026

Then and now - caregivers and educators at the heart of our community.

Happy Nurses & Teachers Appreciation Week!

☀️ Summer Hours Are Here!We’re now open Tuesday–Saturday, 10 AM – 4 PM for the season.Join us on the first Friday of eac...
05/06/2026

☀️ Summer Hours Are Here!

We’re now open Tuesday–Saturday, 10 AM – 4 PM for the season.

Join us on the first Friday of each month (May–September) when we stay open late until 6:30 PM as part of Cortez First Fridays—perfect for an evening visit!

Come explore, cool off, and connect with local history all summer long.

Address

35 S. Chestnut Street
Cortez, CO
81321

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+19705161100

Website

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