Chronology

1598		Spanish trade begins with Utes
1626		Spanish scribe in New Mexico writes first account of Utes
1640		Mouache and Capote bands probably acquire the horse from Spanish
1650-60		Each of the seven Ute bands hold well-defined territory
1670		Acquisition of the horse allows Utes to travel in large bands
1670		Spanish officials conclude first peace treaty with Utes
1760-70		Utes grant Spain the right to trade up the Gunnison River
1776		Dominguez and Escalante expedition travels through Ute territory
1811		American fur trappers encounter Utes
1819		Adams-Otis Treaty sets Spanish-American boundaries along upper Arkansas River
1821		Mexico gains independence from Spain and part of present Colorado becomes Mexican domain
1821		William Bucknell opens Santa Fe Trail; passage of goods through Ute territory becomes common
1828		Robidoux builds Fort Uncompahgre on Gunnison River in the heart of Ute country
1833		Ouray born near Taos
1834		Bent, St Vrain, and Company completes Bent's Fort on Arkansas River
1842		Fort Pueblo settlement founded
1844		Fort Uncompahgre on Gunnison destroyed by Utes
1848		Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ends Mexican-American War. New Mexico and southern Colorado ceded to U.S.
1849		First U.S. treaty with Utes made at Abiquiu, New Mexico; Utes acknowledge U.S.authority while U.S. agrees to pay the Utes $5000 per year the keep the peace
1850		First Ute agencies established in Taos
1852		Fort Massachusetts built in San Luis Valley as military garrison to control and protect Utes
1854		Utes attack and destroy Fort Pueblo
1855		Col. Thomas Fauntleroy and U.S. Troop defeat Utes at Poncha Springs
1855		Peace treaty concludes U.S. - Ute War
1858		Fort Garland replaces Fort Massachusetts as military post in San Luis Valley
1859		The great Colorado Gold Rush begins
1859-79		Ute population falls from 8000 to 2000 due to disease and diminished hunting grounds
1861		Territory of Colorado created
1863		Tabeguache cedes San Luis Valley to U.S.
1868		Utes confined to western third of Colorado Territory by treaty
1871		Denver Indian's agency established to provide Utes with food
1873		Gold and silver rush occurs in San Juan Mountains
1873		Utes cede San Juan mining area to U.S.; one-fourth of their remaining lands
1878		Fort Lewis established at Pagosa Springs to protect and control Utes
1878		Nathan Meeker named Ute agent at White River
1879		En route to White River agency, Major Thornburgh and 13 men killed in Ute attack
1879		At White River agency, Meeker and 11 others killed by Utes
1880		Ouray goes to Washington, D.C. for treaty negotiations
1880		Ouray dies at 47 years of age
1880		Uncompahgre, Yampa, White River, and Grand River Utes forced out of Colorado into eastern Utah
1880		Reservation established in southwestern Colorado for Southern Utes, a 15 by 100 mile strip of land
1881		Delta and Grand Junction founded on former Ute lands
1887		Colorow leads White River Utes of old Colorado hunting grounds prompting attack by cowboy posse
1888		U.S. takes more Ute lands, paying $50,000 to be divided among the Southern Utes
1895		Hunter Act repeals 1888 treaties and establishes permanent reservation as outlined by 1880 treaties
1896		Land allotments distributed to Southern Utes
1906		Agreement to trade Utes out of Mesa Verde National Park for land on Utah border
1910		Ignacio founded
1918		Consolidated Ute Indian Reservation established
1924		American Indians become U.S. citizens
1934		Wheeler-Howard Act inaugurates the "Indian New Deal"
1936		Buckskin Charlie, one of the last traditional chiefs dies at 96
1936		Southern Utes adopt a constitution and tribal council
1937		Restoration Act returns 222,000 acres to Southern Utes
1938		30,000 acres returned to Ute Mountain Utes
1940		Ute Mountain Utes adopt constitution
1950		U.S. Court of Claims awards the Confederated Bands of Colorado and Utah almost $32 million
1971		Chief Jack House dies - the last traditional chief of the Utes
1986-88		Colorado Ute Water Settlement