Prowers County: Amache, Lamar, and Santa Fe Trail History

When looking for a hotel in Prowers County, you can first consider whether you want to focus on Amache and the history of the Santa Fe Trail or on recreational opportunities in Lamar. Interests vary and include historic sites, a self-guided tour, and a loop route for several activities. You can plan your trip around the topics you’d like to explore further.

Amache and its history

Amache, near Granada, is a National Historic Site on the Santa Fe National Historic Trail and is also known as the Granada Relocation Center. From 1942 to 1945, more than 10,000 people were incarcerated there, most of them American citizens. The period and number convey the historical context of the site; the alternative name Granada Relocation Center is also useful when considering Amache in its historical context.

Visitors to Amache will find informative kiosks, a museum, and a driving tour of Amache. These offer different ways to explore the site. When planning your visit, you can treat them as separate parts of the experience rather than equating them with the historic sites in Lamar.

The Santa Fe Trail and historic sites in Lamar

The Big Timbers Museum is located on the Santa Fe Trail in an area once known as “Big Timbers.” It helps visitors understand the history and heritage of Southeast Colorado. The museum focuses on regional history, while Amache is a separate, clearly designated National Historic Site near Granada.

The Lamar Welcome Center includes a visitor center, a history museum, and the Madonna of the Trail Statue. The statue honors women who traveled the Santa Fe Trail. The Welcome Center marks the end of the Santa Fe Trail era. This connection offers two distinct aspects to consider when planning your trip: the history of the women who traveled the trail and the historical context of the end of its era.

The AT&SF Railway Passenger Depot in Lamar is also a historic site with a specific date: it was built in 1907. Willow Creek Park was Colorado’s first Civil Works Administration project and Lamar’s first planned park. These details add the history of a railway station and early park planning in Lamar to the story of the trail.

A tour of Prowers County

A self-guided tour in Prowers County takes visitors to 16 properties and districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It broadens the view beyond individual sites such as Amache or Lamar and provides a county-wide perspective on historic exploration. Because the tour is self-guided, you can fit the stops into your travel plans according to your own interests. U.S. 50 and U.S. 287 also cross Prowers County, providing geographic orientation.

Activities around Lamar

The Lamar Loop is a 6.2-mile (10 km) route that loops around the city of Lamar. It is intended for jogging, cycling, and walking dogs. The distance refers to the entire loop. As route details may be updated, check them before making plans. This gives you a specific option for exercise without confusing the loop route with the individual activities.

Dogs may run off leash in the fenced area of Maggie Stanley Dog Park. This rule applies to the fenced area; it is not a general statement about the entire park. Park rules may change. If you’re planning to visit the park with your dog, check the current rules before your visit.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Lamar, Mineral County, La Plata, Chaffee, Grand, Delta, Custer, Teller County.

Return to the main travel guide: Colorado.