Fort Narraguinnep (Dolores, Colorado)
Dolores · Colorado · Indian Wars
History & Significance
The Beaver Creek Massacre of June 19, 1885 occurred between Ute Mountain Utes and white cattlemen over land use and Native American policies. Ute bands on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation faced federal failure to provide promised supplies, which led them off the reservation to secure food; this brought them into conflict with white ranchers, who accused them of cattle theft.
Some of the settlers who built Fort Narraguinnep had killed the Utes. The settlers built a ramshackle log fort at Narraguinnep Spring near Dolores, and the commander of Fort Lewis, Colonel P. T. Swaine, increased patrols in the area.
The fort was made of large pine logs with a roof of poles and dirt, and port holes were cut out of the sides for shooting. The fort stood approximately 25 miles north of Dolores and was occupied for about two weeks.
A sign was erected by the National Forest Service to mark the location. The Beaver Creek Massacre site was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 2, 1986.
Key Facts
Map
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🧳 Visiting
What you’ll see when you visit:
- Log and earth ruins of 1885 Indian Wars defensive fort
- Gun ports and construction details visible in remaining structure
- Narraguinnep Spring water source nearby
- National Forest Service historical marker on site
- Remote San Juan Mountains setting with settler-era context
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Narraguinnep
- https://coloradoencyclopedia.org/article/beaver-creek-massacre
- https://coloradoencyclopedia.org/article/dolores-county