In 2016, a quarter-million-dollar donation made possible the establishment of the Salazar Rio Grande del Norte Center internship for the Adams State University Luther Bean Museum, as well as a scholarship fund. This generous donation was made by the Salazar Family, in memory of their parents, Emma and Henry Salazar.

As the Salazar Rio Grande del Norte Center developed, the mission became focused on the importance and conservation of water in the region. This allowed the Center to establish a director and pursue additional funding sources.

The Salazar Center relationship with the Luther Bean Museum continues through the Salazar Center-Luther Bean Museum Intern and other collaborative efforts.

Salazar children include former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, former U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar. He also served as the Colorado Attorney General and then as a U.S. Senator for Colorado. Their son John Salazar, former Commissioner of the Colorado Department of Agriculture and former U.S. representative from Colorado, is a 1982 graduate of Adams State. Their son LeRoy served three separate terms on the Adams State Board of Trustees. Other surviving children include Adams State alumna Margaret ‘88, Elaine, Elliott and June.

The Salazars continue to farm and ranch in the San Luis Valley, where their ancestors were among the first settlers. The original $250,000 donation in 2016 included a $100,000 contribution to the Emma & Henry Salazar Memorial Scholarship Fund for first generation Adams State students, which was established by the family. An additional $100,000 funded the development of the Salazar Center. Through the years the Salazar Rio Grande del Norte Center director has pursued additional funding sources to grow the program, including developing courses related directly to water resources in the San Luis Valley. The Salazar Center continues to fund the Salazar Center-Luther Bean Museum Internship.

Established in 1976, the Luther Bean Museum houses collections that represent the history of the San Luis Valley and its Native American, Hispano, and Anglo cultures.

The Luther Bean Museum is open1 p.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, closed major holidays and from December 24 through January 1, every year
Contact information: lutherbean@adams.edu, 719-587-7151.