Creede, Colorado

We arrived in Creede to sunshine and frigid, below zero temperatures. Nevertheless, we had to get outside to enjoy the tiny town's rustic charm and unique mountain features.

The requisite pic in front of Creede Repertory Theatre. Cold but happy.

The rock outcroppings remind visitors of Creede's history as a silver mining town.

Never seen anything like the local fire department, built into the rocky side of the mountain. 

Creede Repertory Theatre (CRT), next door to the Creede Hotel, has its mainstage theatre in an old movie theatre, originally built in the 1930s to entertain local miners. It was transformed into a theatre in 1966, and has since built a modern black box space a few doors down on Main Street.

Wolf Creek Pass

Winter wonderland driving over the Continental Divide from Durango to Creede over Wolf Creek Pass, elevation 10,856 ft.

Place Research: Delores, Colorado

The reason we drove all this way in winter was to participate in the National Winter Playwrights' Retreat in Creede, Colorado, and to research the history and culture of the Four Corners area for my play ALBERT PORTER: BOY EXPLORER, which will tour the five-state region with Creede Repertory this fall. Here are some highlights of our research trip to Cortez, Colorado:

Here I am interviewing Crow Canyon Archeological Center Director of Archeology Susan Ryan, PhD. Susan was the lead researcher on the excavation of the Albert Porter Pueblo.

Susan explains the Crow Canyon display on atlatls.

In the curatorial room, we learned about Crow Canyon's project to grow various kinds of corn in much the same way as ancient people have been doing in this area for close to 2,000 years.

Susan describes using a bow drill to start a fire.

Corrugated pottery that contains fingerprints of its ancient maker.

Manos and metate, used for grinding corn into flour.

Sandal made from yucca leaves.