Press Release

History Colorado Hires New Director for Trinidad History Museum

History Colorado Hires New Director for Trinidad History Museum

Trinidad, Oct. 23 --The Trinidad History Museum has hired a new director effective immediately.  Jeff Johnson, who had left the museum to attend to personal business several weeks ago, has returned as assistant director for the museum.  "We are delighted to have lured him back," says Todd Topper, Director of History Colorado's regional museums.

Johnson has more than 20 years of experience in managing complex facilities, maintenance and grounds keeping.  He also worked in management at several retail and hotel operations.  

According to Topper, The Trinidad History Museum became part of History Colorado in the 1960s.  The block-big complex contains the Baca House, Bloom Mansion, Santa Fe Trail Museum and Baca-Bloom Heritage Gardens.  Located on one city block in El Corazon de Trinidad National Historic District, the museum is a primary tourist attraction for Trinidad and Las Animas County.  Annual attendance for museum tours and special events averages 8,000, but Topper says that there is a desire and commitment to accommodate more people for events and expanding collections.  

While the museum is closed for the season and will reopen in late Spring 2015, History Colorado says that it will be meeting with local citizens, community members and business leaders to determine how the Trinidad History Museum can provide the kind of support, services and programming that Trinidad wants.    These meetings are in the process of being scheduled.

"We are very committed to Trinidad and to this community," says Topper.  "It's a beautiful museum and one of our Colorado treasures.  And it also is a site that is very important to the larger history of Trinidad and the American West."

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History Colorado's mission is to inspire generations to find wonder and meaning in our past and to engage in creating a better Colorado. We serve as the state's memory, preserving the places, stories, and material culture of Colorado through our museums, educational programs, historic preservation grants, research library, collections, and outreach to Colorado communities. Find History Colorado on all major social media platforms. Visit HistoryColorado.org or call (303) HISTORY for more information.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Deborah Radman
deborah.radman@state.co.us
303-866-3670 (direct)