We are Colorado. Together, our generational work centers communities, deepens knowledge, and catalyzes the transformative power of history.

Established in 1879, History Colorado is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and an agency of the State of Colorado under the Department of Higher Educations. 

We are committed to serving all Coloradans and offer access to our state’s history through enriching experiences at eleven museums and historic sites, with dynamic and relevant exhibits and activities. We steward about 15 million objects, photographs, and archival resources that make up the State’s collection, and serve tens of thousands of learners of all ages through dynamic programs. We work with school groups and youth through field trips, day camps, and traveling programs across the state of Colorado. We’re home to a free public research center, Colorado’s Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (OAHP), and the Colorado State Historical Fund (SHF), the nation’s largest preservation program of its kind. 

We strive to be a place of belonging for all Coloradans and serve as a community connection platform. We’re committed to Colorado’s diverse communities and we know we’re succeeding when more voices, perspectives, and experiences are part of History Colorado.

We carry these values through the work of our Strategic Plan, which includes four pillars:

• Strengthening Colorado through Education
• Telling the Diverse Stories of Colorado
• Investing in Rural Prosperity
• Building Long-term Sustainability

We hope you will join us in this work- because we’re stronger when we do it together. You can explore our online resources and come visit us at our American Alliance of Museums accredited museums and historic sites, including the History Colorado Center, the Center for Colorado Women’s History, El Pueblo History Museum, the Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center, the Georgetown Loop Historic Mining & Railroad Park®, the Healy House Museum and Dexter Cabin in Leadville, the Trinidad History Museum, and the Ute Indian Museum.

At History Colorado Every. Light. Shines.

Board & Leadership →

Land Acknowledgment

We acknowledge that the land currently known as Colorado has been the traditional homelands of Indigenous peoples since time immemorial. We are grateful to work in partnership with the 51 sovereign nations who continue to call this land home. Together, we plan exhibits; collect, preserve, and interpret artifacts; do archaeological work; tell the stories of Colorado's original peoples in our publications; and create educational programs to share the history of Colorado.