Location: Meeker
Top Things to do in Meeker
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What to do and see in Meeker, United States: The Best Places and Tips
The Town of Meeker is the Statutory Town that is the county seat and the most populous municipality of Rio Blanco County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 2475 at the 2010 United States Census. The town is largely an agricultural community, located in the wide fertile valley of the White River in northwestern Colorado. Relatively isolated from other communities, it sits near the intersection of State Highway 13 and State Highway 64, on the north side of the White River and at the base of a long ridge, known locally as China Wall. The Bureau of Land Management has a regional office in the town. Meeker is the home of the annual Meeker Classic Sheepdog trials.
Restaurants in Meeker
1. The White River Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 29 reviews
The White River Museum is housed in two of the log buildings from the 1880's that served as officer's quarters of the federal troops stationed in Meeker, as a result of the Meeker Massacre in 1879 and the infamous Milk Creek Battle, the last Indian Tribe/U.S.Army battle in America. Named one of the last curio museums in Colorado, it is filled with collections ranging from the 1880's to the 1950's. White River Museum is a good resource for family information from the region. Tour groups welcome. Open daily year round (except for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day). Admission FREE, donations appreciated.
Reviewed By Karen D - Minocqua, Wisconsin
This is one small-town museum that you won't want to miss. It not only creates a vivid picture of what life was like back at the start of this once-bustling community, but it creates a view of what early Colorado life was like as well....MoreThank you for visiting our museum! Our goal is to preserve these artifacts to share with people like you! And we agree, the Old Fashioned Soda Fountain at Meeker Drugs is a great experience too. :)
2. Smoking River Studio Arts
Overall Ratings
5 based on 2 reviews
We are a non-profit artisan and fine craft cooperative. Our gallery is owned and operated by artists from Meeker and the surrounding areas. Occasionally, we hold workshops in painting, jewelry making, etc.
Reviewed By Kimberly G
This is an amazing little (not so little actually!!) studio totally Rocks! They have a little bit of everything! We go up to Meeker every summer for the dog trials and were so excited to see this little gem!
3. Meeker Drugs, Inc
Overall Ratings
4 based on 4 reviews
Meeker Drug is a retail pharmacy and gift shop featuring an old fashioned soda fountain and coffee. Hours for Pharmacy: Monday-Friday 10:00am-5:00pm with lunch from 1:00pm-2:00pm. Hours for Soda Fountain: Monday- Friday 7:00am-5:00pm Saturday 10:00am-1:00pm. Hours are subject to change per season.
Reviewed By Karen D - Minocqua, Wisconsin
We came up to Meeker to see the White River museum and stopped into Meeker Drugs afterwards to enjoy a delicious ice cream cone. We loved the Moose track ice cream and the espresso chip flavor was our group's favorite. We thought the shop would be a fun place for locals and tourists to come for a cup of coffee with friends. One in our party was excited to see that they sold Daz Bog coffee (a Russian brand). They had some cute gift items, some hand-crafted items, and a few sundries available, but perhaps they'll enlarge the sundry section in the future.? They have a prime retail space, for sure! The old architecture hasn't been lost, and some of the beautiful woodwork is still intact. We'll be back some day.
4. Country Raised
Overall Ratings
5 based on 1 reviews
Reviewed By Cortny T
This store has so many unique items! It's a great place to grab something new for the house or get great gifts for everyone, babies to grandparents!! Highly recommend this little gem of a store!!
5. Blanco Cellars
Overall Ratings
5 based on 3 reviews
Reviewed By SeanandLarue - Meeker, Colorado
We bought a house here in Meeker last summer and was very happy to find this place, its entrance is located in a side alley and not very big but the selections of Wines & Beers is awesome from Spain, Italy, France, Argentina, Chile and...MoreAwesome review! Thank you so much. Look forward to seeing you again at Blanco
6. Meeker Massacre Site
Overall Ratings
3 based on 2 reviews
Reviewed By ColoradoJAK - Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States
Only a roadside marker along Hwy 64 denotes the historic massacre of Indian Agent Nathan Meeker and his employees near this site on Sept. 19, 1879. Coupled with the Milk Creek Battle, which has a more prominent, preserved historic site northeast of Meeker, Colorado, brought an end to all hostilities with Native Americans in Colorado since in the aftermath the U.S. government forced the remaining Ute Indians onto reservations in neighboring Utah.
At the time, Custer's ignominious defeat at the Little Bighorn in Montana was still fresh in soldiers' minds. Meanwhile, the horrific massacre of Black Kettle's Cheyenne band at Sand Creek (Colorado) in 1864 was on the minds of the Ute Indians who lived throughout the vast mountainous regions and valleys of western Colorado. These fears came to a head in the Fall of 1879 when a narrow-minded and foolish Indian Agent, Nathan Meeker, assigned to administer to the Utes of the White River valley, tried to force the Utes to behave like white settlers by plowing the track where the Utes raced their ponies. Though other friction undoubtedly existed (including general hostility between whites and Native Americans), this destruction of tribal land was 'the last straw'.
Fearing an uprising, Meeker sought protection from the U.S. Army, and a detachment of companies from the 5th Cavalry was dispatched to aid Meeker - basically a show of force. However, the Utes saw it as a violation of their treaty when the cavalry units approached. As the cavalry approached, the Utes ambushed them, hoping for the cavalry's retreat. As soon as news of the battle reached the Utes back at the White River Agency (a matter of hours at most), the massacre of Meeker and his employees began. As the Milk Creek battle was reduced to a siege, a small reinforcing detachments from the all-black (African-American) 9th Cavalry arrived, and a larger force of about 250 soldiers was sent from the 5th Cavalry. With their arrival on October 5th, the Utes fled.
Again, in the aftermath, the Utes were forced out of their Colorado homeland. And once again, interaction between a technologically advanced "civilized" people and a stone-age culture tragically resulted in more bloodshed on both sides.
