Tigiwon Community House recalls the Mount of the Holy Cross pilgrimages

Up Tigiwon Road above Minturn, on the White River National Forest, stands a large log building called the Tigiwon Community House. It was built in the 1930s, during the Depression-era era of public works, and it was not just a backcountry shelter. It was tied to a tradition of pilgrimages.

The draw was the Mount of the Holy Cross, a peak whose snow-filled couloirs form a cross shape on its face. In the early 20th century the mountain became a destination for religious pilgrimages, and people gathered in this area to view it and to hold services. The community house gave them a place to assemble in the high country.

This is a quieter piece of Eagle County’s history than the mines and the ski resorts, and it points to a different reason people came into these mountains, one of faith and gathering rather than work or recreation. The building and the road still carry the name Tigiwon today.

The structure sits on public forest land and is a historic resource, so it is something to treat with care. For the documented history of the Tigiwon Community House and the Mount of the Holy Cross pilgrimages, History Colorado’s register listings and the White River National Forest are the sources to start with.