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“WE HAVE RECEIVED A QUOTE from Calvin Smith, retired Baylor University History Professor and Museum Curator, about the importance of Charles Goodnight in Pueblo, CO. It has been well documented that Charlie would have stayed in Pueblo if he hadn't had financial problems in 1873. Calvin is researching Goodnight's time in Pueblo and his importance to our state. His research will be highlighted when we put into place interpretive information at the Barn. Here is his quote:
"You have in Pueblo a unique opportunity to build a major educational and tourism facility along one of the most heavily traveled Interstate Highways in the nation. The City and County of Pueblo has a fortuitous, but brief, occasion to gain a great deal of very positive recognition for saving one of the most endangered structures in the western portion of the U. S., not just Colorado.
Charles Goodnight built his legacy while he was creating Rock Creek Ranch and became a legend when he moved into Palo Duro Canyon in the Panhandle of Texas.
His persona is the major attraction at the Panhandle Plains Historical Museum in Canyon, at the TIC in Amarillo, the National Ranching Heritage Center at Texas Tech University in Lubbock and at every State Park in Texas. His image appears in brochures and travel guides throughout the region and Pueblo can take advantage of that marketing to enhance its own place in the life of the most recognized REAL frontiersman and cattleman who settled and created his and his new wife's permanency along the Arkansas River.
Few chances to develop a barn into a bonanza come along this late in the history of a community but by saving, restoring and interpreting the 1870 Goodnight Barn the existing leaders can and should make every effort to accomplish this goal for the benefit of this and future generations."
Calvin B. Smith, Consultant
6TH ANNUAL GOODNIGHT BARN DINNER AND FUNDRAISER
The Goodnight Barn Preservation Committee held its 6th Annual Goodnight Barn Dinner and Fundraiser at the Historic Union Depot on Sunday, October 21st.
It was a roaring success, and our goals for the fundraiser were exceeded by quite a bit! We are so grateful to all who sponsored, underwrote and attended this event. The City of Pueblo announced that we are in the top running for a Tier II DOLA grant that will, if received, finish the actual restoration of the barn building! We will know in early December. Hopefully, we will have good news.
We will then begin our campaign to build an interpretive center, parking lot, bathrooms and all else that is needed to finish our WESTERN HERITAGE CENTER. We are proud and happy and can honestly say that the last 5 ½ years of fundraising and raising awareness is coming to a joyful stage.
BIG THANKS!
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