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Through a fun and fascinating lens, The Power of Horses will reveal strength, majesty, and diversity in Colorado’s history. Tickets and more information about this exhibition, which will be included in general admission at no extra charge, is available at historycolorado.org/horses.

On view Nov. 20, 2021–May 9, 2022, The Power of Horses will delight visitors of all ages through a satisfying mix of captivating artifacts, pop-culture cues, and engaging activities. No stone is left unturned on this meandering journey through Colorado history, from prehistoric horses and Ute tribal traditions to contemporary Black horsemanship and therapeutic horses. Drawn from stories shared by community organizations and individuals from across the state, the exhibition fills the museum’s intimate Ballantine Gallery, sun-soaked Anschutz Hamilton Hall, and the Makerspace where all visitors are invited to create a keepsake.

Encountering horses as working animals, sources of entertainment, treasured companions, or symbols of freedom, visitors will gain insight into and appreciation for the numerous ways that horses have shaped Colorado communities.They can examine the intricate construction of a traditional charro suit, marvel at the beadwork on a Ute saddlebag, and enjoy a souvenir brochure from the 1919 National Western Stock Show. A historic 19th-century saddle and a vibrant shirt worn for the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo will delight horse aficionados and casual visitors alike.

Outside the exhibition’s gallery, a celebration of the horse’s foundational presence in American popular culture provides a backdrop for exhibition content and sets a nostalgic, enthusiastic tone. Reproductions of Bucky the Bronco and Denver International Airport’s ominous sculpture known as Blucifer greet guests to the museum’s soaring atrium. My Little Pony and the Budweiser Clydesdale are featured, as are television mainstays like Li’l Sebastian, Mister Ed, and Roy Rogers’s horse, Trigger. Young and old visitors can ride hippity-hop bouncing toys, braid toy horsehair, and create a make-and-take leather craft among other activities. 

All fourth graders in Colorado and their families are invited to receive a free membership to History Colorado, which includes free admission to all History Colorado museums, including the History Colorado Center. More information is available at historycolorado.org/historybuff.

Hosted in collaboration with CSU Spur—a new campus at the National Western Center, open to all and focused on food, water, and health—History Colorado will showcase different elements of The Power of Horses at the 2022 National Western Stock Show on Saturday, January 15, 10:30 a.m.–7 p.m. Guests can enjoy youth activities and discover projects from the Museum of Memory Initiative created by students from the nearby Bruce Randolph School.

SPONSORS AND CREDITS

The Power of Horses is made possible in part by Dea Family Foundation, Cathy Carpenter Dea and Peter Dea. The exhibition’s development was supported by the Join Up Program Series at History Colorado. History Colorado thanks participants Paul Andrews, Cassandra J. Atencio (Southern Ute), Laura Barraclough, Billy Jack Barrett, Marjorie Berry (Southern Ute), Leisl Carr Childers, Eleise Clark, Adam Daurio, Jerry Diaz, Keith Fessenton, Nina Ekholm Fry, Marcie Moore Gantz, Andrea Glessner, Santiago Ivan Guerra, Kenda McConnell, Debbie Mogor, Lynn Phillips, Juliette Salazar, Sophie Salazar, Jeanne Springer, Erwin Taylor (Southern Ute), and Leon Vick.

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 142-year-old institution that operates Colorado’s oldest museum, ten additional museums and historic sites, a free public research center, the Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, and the History Colorado State Historical Fund (SHF), which is the nation’s largest preservation program of its kind. More than 70% of SHF grants are allocated in rural areas.

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 nine 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.