Custer County began like many Colorado communities, a pristine wilderness that provided Native Americans with a pleasant existence for centuries. By 1550, the Spanish Conquistadors had arrived in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to conquer lands, find riches, trade with Indians and convert them to Christianity.

Then came the great explorers: Lieutenant Zebulon Pike in 1806 and Lieutenant John Fremont with renowned Scout Kit Carson in 1845. Soon mountain men and fur trappers followed, lured by the abundant trading posts, but no permanent settlement was attempted.

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