Meet the Women Behind the Suites

Every suite at Tarabino Inn is named for a remarkable woman whose story is connected to Trinidad, Colorado. Their lives were very different—some were community builders, some were activists, some bridged cultures, and some lived on society's margins. Together, they represent the diversity, resilience, and spirit that helped shape Trinidad's history. We invite you to discover their stories during your stay.

Owl Woman (Mis-stan-stur), a Cheyenne peacekeeper and diplomat who served as a bridge between cultures and remains a symbol of strength and connection.

Owl Woman is recognized as a central figure in the history of Colorado and the American West. Her legacy is honored through her induction into the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame and the naming of Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain.

Cathay Williams was the only known Black woman to serve as a Buffalo Soldier after the Civil War. Later settling in Trinidad, she lived a life of extraordinary resilience, overcoming slavery, discrimination, and hardship while forging her own path on the American frontier.

Williams is believed to have died around 1893 in Trinidad. No monument marked the place. No formal record captured the full weight of what she had done. She moved through systems that did not account for her—slavery, war, military service, frontier labor—and in each, she found a way to exist on her own terms.

Maria Dolores Gonzales Baca was a respected and influential member of Trinidad, Colorado—a civic leader and philanthropist deeply involved in Catholic charities, women's organizations, education, and efforts to improve public health.

Mother Jones, the fiery labor leader and tireless advocate for miners and working families, this suite honors her powerful connection to Trinidad, Colorado, in the early 1900s. Her time in Trinidad helped galvanize workers during one of the most turbulent chapters in the region’s labor history, as coal miners fought for safer conditions, fair wages, and basic human dignity.

Mae Phelps was one of Trinidad's most well-known and enigmatic historical figures. A successful businesswoman, she built an enterprise that became part of the city's colorful—and sometimes controversial—history. Her story reflects the complexity of life in a thriving western railroad and mining town.