The history of the name Ignacio is rather interesting. A Spanish or Galician word that is derived from the Latin Ignatius, from ignis or fire. However, a Basque translation of the same has it as “my little one.” In the early days of Christianity in Europe there were two saints, Ignatius of Antioch and Ignatius of Loyola which helped popularize the name. In the latter part of the 19th-century Ignacio was also the name of a chief of the Weeminuche band of Utes in southern Colorado. It has probably been lost to history as to how this great leader was given the name Ignacio, whether it was due to a fiery personality or if he was someone’s little one. What we do know is that our little town is named after this important historical figure, which to some extent is ironic since Chief Ignacio was instrumental in the move to Towaoc in 1895. 

As the Ignacio region has always been part of the traditional homelands of the Ute Tribe the U.S. Government established an Indian Agency along the Los Pinos River in 1877. Maybe by that time they were aware that the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad were building a line from Alamosa to Durango and would be passing just south of the location picked for the agency. Then in the early 1900’s a Catholic church was built and a few years later, in 1908, lots were merged to form the town. 

To help promote and explore these historical events, the State of Colorado, along with New Mexico, created the Tracks Across Borders Scenic Byway in 2015. The main route from Durango to Chama roughly follows the path of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad line. After passing through Ignacio and Arboles the route diverts from pavement to follow gravel and dirt roads along the San Juan and Navajo rivers to Chama, N.M. The gravel road section of the route and the crossing of state borders is unique for a scenic byway, as is having a spur that takes travelers to Chimney Rock National Monument. However, full implementation of this byway is still underway while additional funds are sought for signage and historical markers. For more information check out the Tracks Across Borders Scenic Byway website where you can download an app that describes points of interest and other important information. 

As with most places in Colorado, the detailed history of Ignacio is filled with fascinating characters and movie worthy events. The Ignacio Community Library, which has its own relatively brief history, is a great place to dive deep into the past. The library features special   Native American and Southwest collections which include many books, some DVDs, pamphlets, and more detailing this region’s past and present. Under the resources tab on their website, you can find databases that can assist your search into the past including the History Reference Center and Colorado Historic Newspapers. Also on the website is Voices of Ignacio, a collection of audio recordings documenting the personal lived history of our residents. Drop by the library and let our engaging staff assist your historical journey.  

Let’s end with the well-known quote from one of my favorite science fiction authors Robert Heinlein, “A generation which ignores its history has no past and no future”.