Trujillo Homestead facts for kids
The Trujillo Homestead is a special old ranch near Mosca, Colorado. It's not far from the amazing Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. This place tells a story about early settlers in Colorado. It shows how people lived and built homes a long time ago.
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Trujillo Homestead
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 Location in Colorado
Location in the United States
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| Location | Mosca, Colorado |
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| Area | 11.2 acres (4.5 ha) |
| Built | 1879 |
| NRHP reference No. | 03001544 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | February 4, 2004 |
| Designated NHLD | February 1, 2012 |
Contents
What is the Trujillo Homestead?
This historic site covers about 11 acres (around 4.5 hectares). It's in a quiet, rural area northeast of Mosca. The site includes where Pedro Trujillo built his first log cabin. It also has the ranch house that still stands today. There is also an old corral area from when the Trujillos owned the land.
Who Lived Here?
The area was first settled in the 1860s. A man named Teofilo Trujillo, a Mexican sheep farmer, moved here. His son, Pedro, started building a log cabin house in 1879. They also built other buildings for the ranch. These buildings helped them run their farm.
What Happened to the Homestead?
In 1902, Teofilo Trujillo's home was sadly destroyed by fire. This happened during a time of disagreements. There were conflicts between English-speaking cattle ranchers and the Spanish Trujillos. The Trujillos were important landowners in the area by then. After the fire, the Trujillos sold their land. This land became part of the Medeno Zapata Ranch. Today, the Nature Conservancy owns this ranch.
The homestead area is very important. It includes the ranch house that survived. It also has the remains of the house that burned down. In February 2012, this area was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it's a very special place in American history.
Exploring the Buildings
The main ranch house is a two-story building. It is made of logs and has a modern metal roof. The walls are built from logs that are not perfectly smooth. They are joined at the corners using a special "V" shape cut. Mud or clay fills the spaces between the logs. This helps keep the house warm.
The Unique Log House
The front of the house faces east. It has three sections. There are windows on the sides and a simple wooden door in the middle. A smaller section extends from the back of the house. This house is quite special. Spanish settlers in this region often built homes using adobe. Adobe is a type of sun-dried mud brick. But the Trujillos built their home with wood, which was less common.
