Now that the Town of Mancos has put signs on Highway 160 that say Historic Mancos and they show our cowboy on them too, the visitor center is hearing lots of questions.
What is historic about Mancos?
Why is there a cowboy on the signs?
The signs are generating some curiosity about our community and apparently people are coming into town and staying around long enough to find someone to give them answers. But, we need to give these folks good answers. I have discovered that some of the newer folks in town arent always prepared to give a good answer.
The Town of Mancos, as we are all well aware, is a small town. According to the most recent census there are 1,300 residents in the town limits. And yet, within this tiny community are five structures on the State Historic Register with four of them are also on the National Historic Register.
The Bauer House, corner of Main and Bauer, is on the State Historic Register only. Originally, Bauer House had a widows walk that skirted the top floor of the home. However, in the 1940s the Ansel Hall family was living there and they needed more room for their growing family. The widows walk was removed from the top floor, large dormers were added, and additional living space was created. Because the house does not retain its original appearance the home could not be placed on the National Register. However, State guidelines for historic places are not quite as rigid. Besides, I think we would all agree that the home is beautifully built, lends historic character to our community and was built by George Bauer an important historic figure to our town. It certainly deserves recognition and preservation.
The four structures on the National Historic Register include The Bauer Bank Building, corner of Main and Grand; the Opera House, above the VFW on Grand; the Wrightsman House, corner of Bauer and Mesa; and the Mancos High School, on Grand. The people of Mancos take a great deal of pride in their historic buildings. Few people are aware of the months and years of dedication it takes to seek historic designation and the amount of financial commitment it takes to restore and maintain these beautiful, old buildings. The Opera House remains a work in progress to this day. There are numerous other buildings in Mancos that possess historic importance in the town but have not sought historic designation. For a list of the historic structures in Mancos and a map with information about each building come by the visitor center and pick up a copy of the Tour Historic Downtown Mancos brochure.
The slogan used by the Mancos Valley Chamber of Commerce states, Where the old west meets the new. The Chamber and Visitor Center use the cowboy as a logo. The cowboy is also seen in Boyle Park and now the Town of Mancos uses him on the signs along the highway. The community acknowledges the influence that cowboy culture and heritage have had on the development of Mancos. Farming and ranching remain important economic mainstays for the entire Mancos Valley. The cowboy image is uniquely American. The style of dress, from the cowboy hat to the boots, is recognized around the world. Tourists come to Mancos not just for Mesa Verde. They come here to experience the West.