Explore the American Southwest—On Screen and in Downtown Cortez
Make your visit to downtown Cortez even more memorable with our new partnership with the Sunflower Theatre!
This summer, catch The American Southwest: A River Ran Through It, an award-winning documentary narrated by Quannah ChasingHorse that celebrates the rivers, wildlife, and remarkable landscapes of the Four Corners region. Featuring stunning cinematography and unforgettable encounters with otters, elk, jaguars, birds of prey, and more, this inspiring film offers a fresh perspective on the places we call home.
Screenings: Fridays at 7 p.m. throughout July and August (except August 7).
Make It a Combo!
For just $20, enjoy:
Simply show your emailed Sunflower Theatre Combo Package receipt at the Montezuma Heritage Museum and Bitterblossom Games to redeem your offers. Combo package benefits are valid for one month from the date of purchase, so you can enjoy all three experiences at your own pace.
Explore the American Southwest—On Screen and in Downtown Cortez
Make your visit to downtown Cortez even more memorable with our new partnership with the Sunflower Theatre!
This summer, catch The American Southwest: A River Ran Through It, an award-winning documentary narrated by Quannah ChasingHorse that celebrates the rivers, wildlife, and remarkable landscapes of the Four Corners region. Featuring stunning cinematography and unforgettable encounters with otters, elk, jaguars, birds of prey, and more, this inspiring film offers a fresh perspective on the places we call home.
Screenings: Fridays at 7 p.m. throughout July and August (except August 7).
Make It a Combo!
For just $20, enjoy:
Simply show your emailed Sunflower Theatre Combo Package receipt at the Montezuma Heritage Museum and Bitterblossom Games to redeem your offers. Combo package benefits are valid for one month from the date of purchase, so you can enjoy all three experiences at your own pace.
Cortez Location & Date Coming Soon!
In celebration of the 120th anniversary of Mesa Verde National Park, this program explores the lasting impact of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Discover how CCC crews helped shape the park—building routes like Knife Edge Road and completing key preservation and infrastructure projects that still define the landscape today.
Presented by interpretive ranger Eric Sainio, this program offers a compelling look at the CCC’s enduring legacy.
POSTPONED until Spring 2027
Explore the history and significance of pinto bean farming on the Great Sage Plain with Bob Bernhart and Steve Garcher. Drawing on personal experience and regional knowledge, they will discuss the role pinto beans have played in shaping the agricultural economy and cultural identity of the region.
Saturday, September 12, 2026
Join the Montezuma Heritage Museum and the Cortez Cultural Center for an evening of delicious food and western-themed entertainment.
More details coming soon!
Saturday, September 19, 2026 | 2 PM
Join members of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, Aldean Ketchum, Helen Munoz, and the Whiskers Family for Circle of Culture, a program sharing traditional knowledge, arts, and lifeways.
Saturday, October 17, 2026 | 1 PM
Explore Mitchell Springs’ rich prehistoric and historic past with Dave Dove and Barbara Stagg. The program will include a guided field trip to Mitchell Springs.
Capacity will be limited, register in advance.
Saturday, November 7, 2026 | 12:30 PM
Join us for a delicious meal as we share highlights from the past year and vote in the annual board election. It’s a chance to connect with fellow supporters and celebrate the many ways our members make preserving local history possible!
All public programs are free unless otherwise noted. A $5 suggested donation supports future programming.
Programs are typically held at the museum, 35 S. Chestnut Street, unless otherwise specified.
We, along with our regional partners, have a variety of wonderful resources in development and programs planned for America’s 250th and Colorado’s 150th celebrations in 2026! Click on the images above to learn more about what is going on and gain access to resources from across the region, state, and nation.
Want to get a head start? Enjoy the Mountains and Mesas: A Southwest Colorado Regional Reading List
Bookmark this Calendar of Events to keep up with all the exciting initiatives planned by the museum and our regional partners all year long!
Checkout the Southwest Colorado Passport online – This pocket-sized guide, modeled after a travel passport, will enable you and your children, or grandchildren, to travel to places that will bring our history and heritage to vibrant life! All 4th graders will get a physical copy at school, homeschool parents can pick up a copy at the museum or local libraries.
More to Commemorate – Here in Montezuma County, we will also be celebrating Cortez’s 140th and Mesa Verde National Park’s 120th anniversary
CO150 Film Festival Comes to Montezuma County
The CO150 Film Festival is a statewide celebration featuring films connected to Colorado’s landscapes, people, and stories. Grab your friends, revisit an old favorite on the big screen, and experience the charm of two historic venues!
Sunflower Theatre
For more information on the venue and to purchase tickets visit sunflowertheatre.org.
Mancos Opera House
For more information on purchasing tickets visit their Facebook page.
Learn more about the CO 150 Film Festival initiative by visiting their website.
Heritage Days 2026 | Friday, May 1 & Saturday, May 2
This two-day event celebrates the rich history, culture, and community of Cortez, Montezuma County, and the surrounding region. Featuring iconic local exhibitors, hands-on demonstrations and activities, live music, guided walking tours, and engaging educational programs, the event offers something for the whole family!
This readers theater performance, featuring fifteen local actors, was inspired by a 1920s poem, In Memory of Pioneers, by early Yellow Jacket homesteader Augustus “Gus” Stevenson. The script was developed from oral histories, memoirs, letters, and more from the museum’s archives.
