August 27, 2025:
ALAMOSA:
San Luis Valley Museum:
Local history museum exploring ranch & farm life, with antiques, photos & Native American artifacts.
San Luis Valley Museum
Roots of Various Cultures Mural
Murals of San Luis Valley
Old Schoolhouse
Old Country Store/Post Office
Old Ranch Exhibit
Veterans Exhibit
Artist of the Month
Rare Book of Z.M. Pike
Japanese-Americans in the San Luis Valley
Sculpture by Joselyn Russell
CRESTONE:
Crestone has less than 200 people, located at the foot of the western slope of the Sangre de Cristo Range, in the northern part of the San Luis Valley. It is an interesting place to visit.
Welcome to Crestone Sign
The Tiny Gallery
The Cloud Station
The Cloud Market
Bliss Inn Murals
Crestone Artisans Gallery
Mural by CCS HS and Bluestarseed
Mountain Laurel Apothecary
Town Hall
Old Hardware Store
Little Shepherd of the Hills Episcopal Chapel
BACA GRANDE:
Just south of Crestone, Baca Grande encompasses approximately 14,000 acres at 8,000 ft on the western edge of the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness and the eastern edge of the Rio Grande geological rift in the San Luis Valley. It is the home to multiple spiritual centers.
This Buffalo by Will Bartley at the Baca Grande Entrance
Stupa of Enlightenment/Dorje Yudrönma Shrine:
One needn’t be a practicing Buddhist to sense that Jangchub Chorten, the Stupa of Enlightenment, is a holy place.
Jangchub Chorten, the Stupa of Enlightenment
Information Board
Detail of Stupa Buddha
Offerings
Small Statue on Base of the Stupa
A short walk on the wooded grounds leads to an enclosed, chapel-like shrine dedicated to Dorje Yudrönma, a wisdom deity who manifests as a protectress.
Walk to the Dorje Yudrönma Shrine
Dorje Yudrönma Shrine
Dorje Yudrönma Shrine Offerings
Crestone MahaLakshmi Temple:
The Mahalakshmi Temple is dedicated to Goddess Mahalakshmi, the divine consort of Lord Vishnu, who is revered as the bestower of wealth, prosperity, and auspiciousness.
Exterior of the Temple
Interior of the Temple
Tashi Gomang Stupa/Stupa of Enlightenment:
The 42-foot high Tashi Gomang Stupa is a spiritual monument built on 200 acres of pristine natural beauty. The Stupa of Enlightenment sits next to the Tashi Gomang Stupa.
Tibetan Prayer Flags
Tashi Gomang Stupa
Tashi Gomang Stupa Offerings
Stupa of Enlightenment
Stupa of Enlightenment Buddha
Stupa of Enlightenment Offerings
Information Boards
Tibetan Prayer Wheel
Crestone Ziggurat/Padmasambhava Stupa:
The unique Crestone Ziggurat, a yellow spiral tower commissioned by Syrian-American Najeeb Halaby in 1978, stands tall in the San Luis Valley. The Padmasambhava Stupa lies in an open field below the Crestone Ziggurat.
Crestone Ziggurat
On Top of the Ziggurat
Climbing Down the Ziggurat
Padmasambhava Stupa
August 26, 2025:
WALSENBURG:
Murals:
We started a Colorado road trip by exploring various murals in Walsenburg.
Insurance Office of America Mural
Heritage Park Murals
Alley Murals
Alley Murals
Cactus Mural
Dasen Coyote Culver Mural
Building behind Museum of Friends
Iconic Dental Building Mural
Robinson James Payne Studio
Old Gas Station
Murals Behind Fox Theater
Arna Miller Mural
Max Kauffman Mural
Diego Florez Mural
Birdseed Anthony Mural
Brandon Opalka Mural
![]()
In Memory of ZEHB Mural
![]()
Max Kauffman Mural
![]()
Doom and Birdseed Anthony Murals
![]()
Gub Gubs Pizza Mural
![]()
Public Health Is A Puzzle Mural by Maria Cocchiarelli-Berger
![]()
Code of the West Real Estate Mural
![]()
Spanish Peaks Regional Health Care Ambulance Mural
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
Alley Murals
![]()
Kwik Wash Laundromat Mural
![]()
San Isabel Electric Association Mural
![]()
Dorcas Circle by Yul Jorgensen
![]()
Colm Without Mural
![]()
![]()
![]()
Max Kauffman Mural
Interesting Buildings/Public Art:
Walsenburg had some interesting buildings and public art.
![]()
Garage Sale Building
![]()
![]()
Bowling Alley
![]()
![]()
The Fox Trot Antiques
![]()
![]()
Small Building with a Heart
![]()
Carved Wooden Bear
![]()
Blast to the Past Arcade
![]()
Fox Theater
![]()
Fraternal Order of Eagles #1187
![]()
Everlasting Discomfort Productions LLC
![]()
Gub Gub’s Pizza
![]()
Anchor Motel
Museum of Friends:
The Museum of Friends (MoF) is a contemporary art museum in Walsenburg, Colorado, founded in 2006 by Brendt Berger and Maria Cocchiarelli.
![]()
![]()
![]()
Brent Berger Exhibit
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
Miscellaneous Contemporary Art
SAN LUIS:
Murals:
Formerly known as San Luis de la Culebra, San Luis is the oldest continuously occupied town in Colorado. The population was 598 at the 2020 census.
![]()
Mexica Tiahui Mural by Local Students
![]()
Huberto Maestas Mural
![]()
San Luis-Sierras y Colores by Carlos Sandoval
ANTONITO, GUADALUPE, ROMEO, BOUNTIFUL, AND LA JARA, COLORADO:
Murals of Conejo County:
Local artist Fred Haberlein has painted murals all over the San Luis Valley, depicting the valley’s history, flora and fauna, and culture. Some of his murals follow, along with a couple of other artists.
![]()
Whooping Crane by Fred Haberlein
![]()
Silos by Fred Haberlein
![]()
Quetzalcoatl de Nuevo Aztlan (Great Water Serpent of the Rio Grande) by Fred Haberlein
![]()
Mimbres Rabbit – Conejos for Conejos by Fred Haberlein
![]()
Mimbres Trout – Tuchas de Luz by Fred Haberlein
![]()
Miracle of Tepeyec-Nuestra Señora del Valle de San Luis by Fred Haberlein
![]()
Conejos County Library Mural
![]()
Fancy Wings Mural
![]()
![]()
History of the Conejos River Region by Fred Haberlein
![]()
Volunteer Firefighters Mural
![]()
Our Lady of Guadalupe by Rogelio Briones
![]()
San Luis Valley Sunrise by Fred Haberlein
![]()
Wild Horses by Fred Haberlein
![]()
![]()
The Rams by Fred Haberlein
![]()
![]()
The Shepard’s Sunrise by Fred Haberlein (and Unknown Mural)
ANTONITO:
Cano’s Castle:
Cano’s Castle is a set of four gleaming towers, built from recycled materials single-handedly by Dominic “Cano” Espinoza, a Native American Vietnam vet.
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
Cano’s Castle
Interesting Buildings:
There were some interesting buildings in Antonito.
![]()
Steam Train Hotel
![]()
Palace Hotel
![]()
Dutch Mill Restaurant
CONEJOS:
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish is the oldest church in Colorado, its community was established in 1857, with the first church dedicated in 1863.
![]()
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish
ALAMOSA:
Firedworks Gallery:
Nancy and I stumbled across this gallery, which has a nice selection of the Oaxacan carved figures she collects.
![]()
Two Oaxacan Figures that Nancy Bought
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
Other Oaxacan Figures for Sale
Public Art:
We did a walking tour of Alamosa’s public art.
![]()
El Pastor by Huberto Maesta
![]()
![]()
![]()
‘Into Thin Air’ Cranes in Flight by Jocelyn Russell
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
San Luis Valley’s Nature Murals
![]()
Calvillos Restaurant Mural
![]()
Whooping Cranes and Wetlands by Fred Haberlein
![]()
Acoustic Guitar by Deveren Farley
![]()
Gentle by Shohini Ghosh
![]()
Chicos and Capulin by David Montgomery
![]()
![]()
Trouvaille by Kasia Polkowska
![]()
Rising Women by Dvorah Dnali
![]()
Unknown Abstract Art
![]()
Mountain Spell by Harold Linke
![]()
Sisters by Huberto Maestas
![]()
Longhorn by Amyas Maestas
![]()
Sundance by Craig Lehman
![]()
Find Your Stability by Sandy Friedman
![]()
![]()
Sweet Apple by Kyle Cuniff
![]()
![]()
The Deluxe Spray-it Fire Rocket by Jimmy Descant
![]()
Sun to Moon Rotation by Mary Angers
![]()
![]()
Pinwheel Queen by Annette Coleman
![]()
Del Mar Carpet Mural 1923-1933
![]()
Bianca Maestas Mural 1933-1944
![]()
Happy Children Mural
![]()
Choose Your Own Alamosa Adventurer Mural
![]()
Farmer, Cow and Chicken Mural
![]()
Valley Roots Food Hub Mural
![]()
Old Goat by Amyas Maestas
![]()
Songs of Joy by Charlotte Zink
![]()
![]()
Unknown Abstract Art
![]()
Unknown Abstract Art
![]()
Mi Esperanza Wellness Center Mural
![]()
Bianca Maestas Mural AHEC Building
Pages: 1 2