PRESS CONTACT:
Luke Perkins, Manager of Communications and Public Relations
303.866.3670 | luke.perkins@state.co.us 

A tradition dating back to the 1300s, Tamburitzans have become synonymous with the Balkans of Southeastern Europe and have a deep tie to the community of Pueblo thanks to local Tamburitzan groups. More than just musical expression, Tamburitzan performances are a form of communal storytelling which helps Croatian and Slovenian descendants maintain a connection to their homelands.

In addition to learning about the origins of Tamburitzans, visitors to Tamburitzans: On Tour will explore the story of Pueblo’s Tamburitzan groups, the longest standing of which dates back multiple generations and is one of few such groups west of the Mississippi River. The history of the Tamburitzans is a part of Pueblo culture known to audiences locally and internationally. 

“The story of Pueblo’s Tamburitizans goes back three generations. It is one of Pueblo’s many traditions which has a deep connection to the Croatian and Slovenian descended residents of the Eilers neighborhood as well as those who worked at the Steel Mill,” said Dianne Archuleta, director of El Pueblo History Museum. “Tamburitzans: On Tour is an incredible opportunity to celebrate both the rich cultural traditions of the Tamburitzans and the people behind it who have maintained this artform for generations in our community.”

Central to the history explored in Tamburitzans: On Tour is the display of different forms of tamburitza as well as a number of handmade Tamburitzan costumes, which play a crucial role in the stories told by groups like Okolitza Tamburitzans through their performances.

“Pueblo’s Tamburitzans are very meticulous about their costumes and each one is handmade with different materials and techniques depending on which region the performance originates from,” Archuleta said. “The variations in this attire can range from traditional embroidery designs, elaborate hand-sewn trims, or a number of decorative embellishments which all together help relay the story being told through the performances and authentically connecting them to their homelands in the Balkans.”

Tamburitzans: On Tour opens to the public on May 17, 2024, at the El Pueblo History Museum, located at 301 N. Union Avenue. El Pueblo History Museum is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

To mark the occasion the museum will host an opening reception on Saturday, June 8, 2024, from 4 – 6 p.m.This celebration will feature a live performance by Pueblo’s Okolitza Tamburitzans and is free and open to the public with no RSVP required.

About El Pueblo History Museum
History Colorado’s El Pueblo History Museum is located at 301 N. Union Avenue in the heart of the city of Pueblo, part of the Historic Arkansas Riverwalk District and the Pueblo Creative Corridor. The museum stands on the site of the original El Pueblo trading post, constructed in 1842. The museum site features beautiful galleries, a gift shop, bookstore, gardens, an active archaeological dig, and a recreation of the 1842 adobe trading post. 

El Pueblo History Museum is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit ElPuebloHistoryMuseum.org or call 719-583-0453.

Sobre El Pueblo History Museum
El museo de historia El Pueblo es parte de History Colorado y está ubicado en la 301 N. Union Avenue en el corazón de Pueblo, parte del Distrito Histórico Arkansas Riverwalk y el Pueblo Creative Corridor. El museo se encuentra sobre el sitio del puesto comercial llamado El Pueblo, que se construyó originalmente en 1842. En el museo se encuentran bellas galerías de arte, una tienda de regalos y libros, jardines públicos, un sitio arqueológico, y una recreación del puesto comercial de adobe como se veía originalmente en 1842.

El Pueblo History Museum está abierto de lunes a sábado de 10 am a 4 pm. Para ver más información por favor visite ElPuebloHistoryMuseum.org o llame al 719-583-0453.

About History Colorado
History Colorado is a division of the Colorado Department of Higher Education and a 501(c)3 non-profit that has served more than 75,000 students and 500,000 people in Colorado each year. It is a 144-year-old institution that operates eleven museums and historic sites, a free public research center, the Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation which provides technical assistance, educational opportunities, and other access to archaeology and historic preservation, and the History Colorado State Historical Fund (SHF), which is one of the nation’s largest state funded preservation programs of its kind. More than 70% of SHF grants are allocated in rural areas of the state. Additionally, the offices of the State Archaeologist and the State Historic Preservation Officer are part of History Colorado. 

History Colorado’s mission is to create a better future for Colorado by inspiring wonder in our past. We serve as the state’s memory, preserving and sharing the places, stories, and material culture of Colorado through educational programs, historic preservation grants, collecting, outreach to Colorado communities, the History Colorado Center and Stephen H. Hart Research Center in Denver, and 10 other museums and historic attractions statewide. History Colorado is one of only six Smithsonian Affiliates in Colorado. Visit HistoryColorado.org, or call 303-HISTORY, for more information. #HistoryColorado