Located on the banks of the Arkansas River, Lamar offers the down-home friendliness of rural western America. Established in 1886 the city has become an agricultural and industry center for the southeastern high plains. To keep the city free of international government, the residents of the city named it after L.Q.C. Lamar The residents of the city wanted to keep the secretary from setting up the office of interiors in their city. By honoring him in the name of the city they achieved their goal and Lamar remained untouched by international politics. Self-named the "Goose Hunting Capital of the US." Lamar welcomes hunters from all over the country who come to hunt a variety of birds and deer. Fishing is also available in the Arkansas River. Lamar is also the trade center for the southeast plains region.
The Comanche National Grassland is also near Lamar. This was the home of the Comanche Native Americans until cattlemen entered in the 1870's. The cattlemen overgrazed their cattle here, and with the combination of homesteaders stubbornly insisting on trying to grow crops, the lands are now hot, dry, and fairly inhospitable. However, in the forest there is the Picture Canyon with drawings hypothesized to be from the ancient Celts of Ireland. Also in the National Forest is the Purgatorie River which is a beautiful canyon area. The main attraction in the forest is the over 1,300 fossilized dinosaur footprints. However, limited access to this area keeps the fragile prints from being ruined.
Just a few miles north of Lamar on Hwy 287 is the town of Eads. With a population just a little over 800 and an elevation of 4,213', Eads is the gateway to the Great Plains Reservoirs. The town was founded in 1887 when railroad construction began. In the year 1919, the railroad produced $92,894.15. Today this would equal almost 1.1 million dollars. The ranchers in this area were dependant on the railroad in Eads to bring them supplies.
Be sure to visit the Big Timbers Museum as well. Here you can view pioneer memorabilia including a kitchen display, farm implements, historical pictures and period clothing.
Learn more about Bent's Old Fort - National Historic Site
- John Martin State Park
Located near Lamar, in the Lower Arkansas River Valley, offering 213 campsites, fishing, waterfowl hunting, boating and a haven for bird watchers.
For more information contact:
Colorado Welcome Center at Lamar
Lamar Chamber of Commerce
