Fort Garland Museum and Cultural Center in the San Luis Valley is joining a coalition committed to highlighting violence and atrocities from the past and discussing what to learn from them.
The International Coalition of Sites of Conscience helps visitors all over the world make connections between historic events and present human rights issues. That’s done by preserving the past, including the most traumatic stories, in transparent ways.
“Being part of this global network strengthens our commitment to presenting history with honesty and nuance,” said Eric Carpio, director of Fort Garland Museum and Cultural Center.
“It also reinforces the work we do in partnership with our community: creating space for dialogue, lifting up diverse voices, and ensuring that the past helps inform a more just and informed future.”
The 19th-century military fort includes five of the original adobe buildings, and the museum often explores themes of historically silenced narratives. That includes the enslavement of Indigenous people in Southern Colorado.
More than 400 sites in 80 countries are part of the international coalition. Sites of Conscience are intended to inspire empathy and to help reduce violence and injustice by being honest about the sometimes dark and ugly histories behind these locations. The hope is that it will build more equitable communities through historic understanding, arts and culture.
That’s as President Donald Trump and his administration have taken steps to remove various references to certain parts of U.S. history from places like national parks.
Fort Garland’s commitment comes as the museum prepares for the 150th anniversary of Colorado's statehood and the 250th anniversary of the nation.
As a part of the celebrations, the museum is partnering with Harwood Museum of Art in Taos, New Mexico. They’re collaborating on Unearthing Futures / Desenterrando Futuros, which opens on June 28. The exhibit explores adobe as a living practice.
