Koshare Indian Museum

One of the things we wanted to do while here in La Junta was visit the Koshare Indian Museum.  Located on the Otero Junior College, this little gem is amazing.  In 1925 a James Frances "Buck" Burshears became the first Eagle Scout in the Arkansas Valley.  He was mighty impressed with the Boy Scouts and what they stood for and as he became an adult, he wanted somehow to give back to the community.  After college he became scout master until his death in 1987, his group was the Rocky Mountain Troop 232.  The focus of the group was Native American crafts and lore and the group became a dance group who honored Native Americans through their interpretation of tribal dance and music.  Calling them selves the Koshare Indian Dancers, Koshare is a Hopi word meaning playful.

Over the years Bucks group acquired many artifacts and with the help of friends and artists, the museum because well renown over the world.  As we toured the museum we first came into a kiva which is a structure where ceremonies and rituals and dances are performed.  Very impressive.

Inside the kiva, beautiful pictures adorned the walls

Multi-level museum, you stroll from one room to another.  Paintings, sculptures, dresses, beadwork, pottery, arrowheads, guns, tools, so much to look at.  Well documented.  Many, many artifacts.

This painting looked just like a photograph

And then.........

Huh?  Done by Frederick Mizen?

Went to the lower level and was looking at prints of southwest scenes from calendars.  Dave called me over to look at one of the prints - hey!   I recognize that signature!  That was signed by my great-uncle!!!

We counted 8 prints that the museum had that were done by Frederick Kimball Mizen, my father's uncle, who had been commissioned by the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad's advertising department to paint scenes of the southwest.  In all the advertising department commissioned over 60 artists from the Eastern United States to paint and those pictures helped the railroad boost tourism for the railroad to the Southwest.  Dave said he remembered those calendars - was something to see!

History of the calendars

What an amazing thing to see and witness! Small world!!  I took pictures of all 8 that were shown, not sure how more were used in the advertising campaign.  Obviously, I passed the prints and info on to the rest of my family.  Hah!