Yet the museum remains true to its origins, providing an active and varied educational youth program focusing on American Indian culture, art and traditional dances. Working with Otero Junior College, training and mentorship prepares youth for future leadership. Scouting is also an important part of the program.
The museum serves as a troop meeting location, a youth center, an overnight hostel for thousands of scouts and school youth throughout the year, a center for many local Scouting and civic activities, and a performing arts center, not only for the famous Koshare Indian Dancers, but for other artists as well.
To provide additional benefits for the museum visitor, the Koshare Trading Post is located within the museum and provides a huge selection of beautiful items ranging from authentic Native American jewelry, pottery, kachinas and other items to novelty items for children of all ages.
Included in this selection are a wide variety of books, videos, CDs and cassettes for adults and children.
The Koshare Indian Museum is a unique and diverse organization, consisting of many parts. The museum is unusual in that it was built by a Boy Scout troop under the inspired leadership of our founder, James Francis "Buck" Burshears, and the original 1949 structure is a registered state historic site of the Colorado Historical Society, housing a collection of Native American art and artifacts considered to be among the finest in the world.
Many visitors nearly faint when they discover that a group of kids have collected artwork created by the Taos Founders and other noted artists from Taos and Sante Fe.
Architectural Background
Architectural Background
Completed in 1949, the ceiling of the Koshare Kiva is the largest self-supported log roof anywhere in the world.
