Have you lived in Colorado long enough to remember when the State Museum was located at 14th and Sherman, in what is now the Legislative Services Building? The State Historical Society was established in 1879 and its earliest museum exhibits were located in the State Capitol. By the early 1900s, however, the Society wanted its […]
One of the newer additions to our library collection is Navajo Textiles: The Crane Collection at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Published in 2017 by University Press of Colorado in conjunction with the museum, the book explores one of the world’s largest collections of Navajo textiles. “Bringing together the work of anthropologists and […]
Near Milliken, Colorado is the Dent Site, one of Colorado’s oldest and most significant archaeological sites. It was discovered in 1932 by a railroad foreman, who spotted some very large bones sticking out of the mud near the railroad tracks. Construction of the tracks, combined with heavy spring rains, had exposed a site that had […]
Nestled between the looming structures of the Denver Art Museum is a hidden treasure, the Byers-Evans House Museum at 1310 Bannock Street. Built in 1883 for Rocky Mountain News founder William Byers and owned for over 90 years by the Evans family, this lovely Italianate house is now a museum property owned by History Colorado. […]
Now through November 17, you can vote for your favorite historic Colorado artifact or document as part of the Colorado Collections Connection’s campaign to highlight the importance of our state’s historic and cultural heritage. Artifacts were nominated by their owning institution and include items from museums and libraries large and small. The nominees come from […]
Did you know that several Colorado universities have museums and art galleries open to the public? Whether presenting student and faculty artworks, traveling shows, or natural history collections, Colorado’s university museums are worth visiting: Adams State University, Alamosa: Luther Bean Museum (history and culture of the San Luis Valley) Edward M. Ryan Geology Museum Silver […]
Our library collection contains a number of biographies on Colorado fine artists. Titles of interest in our collection include: “The Art of ‘Nettie’ Bromwell,” by Maria Matthews, Colorado Heritage, Spring 1997. “C. Waldo Love: Denver Artist,” by Stan Cuba, Colorado Heritage, Jan/Feb 2012. “The Cowboy, the Indian, and the Buckaroo: Alexander Phimster Proctor in Colorado,” […]
Now through November 30, you can vote for Colorado’s Most Significant Artifacts. This is the second annual campaign by Colorado Collections Connection (formerly Colorado Connecting to Collections, and of which the Colorado State Library is a part) that seeks to bring awareness to the unique treasures held in Colorado’s libraries, museums, and archives. The artifacts […]
One of History Colorado’s regional museums, the Byers-Evans House Museum, currently is holding an exhibit of artworks by Colorado artists who were members of the Denver Artist’s Guild. Founded in 1928, the Guild included such well-known artists as Vance Kirkland and Allen True. Our library has recently acquired a gorgeous new book from History […]
History Colorado recently launched a database of selected items in its collection, including artifacts, photographs, and archival materials. The database launched with images of 80,000 items and is continuing to grow. This database is an excellent resource for researchers to find primary sources on Colorado’s history. Of course this database represents only a small percentage […]
Did you know that you can visit the History Colorado Center’s exhibits without ever leaving your chair? They have set up an Online Exhibits website where you can go to view exhibits on Colorado History which tie in with the actual exhibits in the museum. The online exhibits are fun and interactive, and while geared […]
October is American Archives Month, celebrating the rich array of historical treasures found in American archives. In Colorado, most museums and many libraries have archives both large and small that store the record of American, Colorado, and local history. The Colorado Historical Records Advisory Board “serves as a central advisory body within Colorado for historical records planning […]
With recent flooding it is hard to believe that Colorado is prone to devastating drought, such as occurred during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. Colorado Heritage Magazine has a fascinating article in the current issue, which you can check out from our library. “The Living West,” A new exhibit at the History Colorado Center […]
History Colorado has temporarily closed their exhibit on the Sand Creek Massacre due to complaints from descendants that the Indian tribes were not adequately consulted (see the news story here.) The Sand Creek Massacre occurred on November 29, 1864, when soldiers of the Colorado Volunteers killed more than 160 Cheyenne and Arapaho, the majority of […]
Be sure to visit the History Colorado Center to view their exhibit “The American Soldier” before it closes on September 2! This poignant exhibit explores through photographs the lives and experiences of American soldiers from the Civil War to the present day. Soldiers’ experiences have also been preserved through letters and diaries. On the History Colorado website you […]
This Saturday, May 18, is International Museum Day. Established in 1977 by the International Council of Museums, the day is set aside to encourage the public to visit and support their local museums. No matter what you’re interested in, there’s probably a museum somewhere that would interest you. On Saturday, many museums around the world […]
If you’ve visited the new History Colorado museum since its opening last April, you might have wondered what happened to the Early Denver Diorama. Among the old museum’s most popular features, the large diorama with tiny details of 1860 Denver streets was always surrounded by viewers, and many have been asking where it is now. Well, […]
Colorado’s new history museum has been open for about a month, to great reviews. You can read about the brand-new History Colorado Center in a new commemorative publication of that title available from our library. The new museum at 12th and Broadway is the fourth home for the Colorado Historical Society and its museum. They were originally […]
Tomorrow, May 18, is International Museum Day. Many museums will have free admissions or other enticements, so check your favorite museum online to see what’s happening! Whether you’re interested in history, art, or science, Colorado has some terrific museums. Wherever you find yourself in our state, you can probably find a museum – from large […]
During the Depression of the 1930s many federal programs were set up to help get Americans back to work. One of these was the Works Progress Administration or WPA. Although the Depression was a difficult part of our country’s history, we can thank the WPA for some very interesting projects that might not have come […]
Colorado has a rich history of mining and mineral extraction; in fact, if not for the 1859 Pikes Peak Gold Rush and silver boom of the 1870s and 1880s, Colorado might not be what it is today. Some of these mines still operate to this day, but many of the boom years’ mines and mine […]