PRESS CONTACT
Rachel Cella, Philosophy Communication 
720.556.0871 | rcella@philosophycommunication.com

History Colorado is commemorating the historic month with the award-winning photojournalist exhibition, Return of the Corn Mothers, a visual showcase of multi-generational women of the Southwest who embody the essence of a Corn Mother. Available from Sept. 2022 - Sept. 2023, the project highlights the stories and voices of Corn Mothers who are believed to symbolize growth, life, creativity, community and creation, and signify the domestication of maize as life-giving food. The idea for the exhibition was born in 2007 with a small grant from the Rocky Mountain Women’s Institute to feature eight local women. Now, 15 years later, the exhibit returns recognizing 22 women from across cultures and generations through written histories and photographs. The exhibit is on view at the History Colorado Center in Denver and included with museum admission. 

Return of the Corn Mothers Opening Reception
History Colorado Center | October 21, 5:30-9 p.m. 
History Colorado invites the public to celebrate the “Return of the Corn Mothers” exhibition. The opening reception will recognize all previous Corn Mothers and formally induct the 2022 new Corn Mothers into the series by sharing their stories of perseverance, compassion and grit. The event will include light food and entertainment as guests partake in the exhibit. The reception is free to museum members and the general public. Registration is encouraged here.

Exploring el Día De Los Muertos
Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center | October 7, 2-4 p.m. 
Join History Colorado for a free event exploring el Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, which originated in Mexico but is celebrated all over Latin America and many other parts of the world. El Día de los Muertos is a historical cultural celebration that takes place in the fall to honor the lives of beloved deceased family members. Participants will have an opportunity to engage in a short lecture to learn about this iconic tradition and create their own sugar skulls, papel picado and crepe paper marigolds. Space is limited, please RSVP at 719.379.3512 or antonia.ortiz@state.co.us.

Community members are also invited to contribute to Community Altars for Día de los Muertos at El Pueblo History Museum in Pueblo and Trinidad History Museum in Trinidad. Visitors may leave mementos, photographs, or letters to loved ones who have passed away. The altars will be available for free to the public through November 2.

Latino Heritage Month
In addition to “Return of the Corn Mothers,” History Colorado has programming available throughout the state, including its “Borderlands of Southern Colorado” and Museum of Memory initiatives, the “Santa Fe Trail” exhibit at Trinidad History Museum, “El Hecho en Colorado” exhibit at El Pueblo History Museum, and “El Movimiento” exhibit at the History Colorado Center. For more information about all Latino heritage programming please visit historycolorado.org/latino-history-heritage.

International Archaeology Day
Roxborough Intermediate School | October 15, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
The 11th annual International Archaeology Day Expo is a free outdoor event that will have hands-on activities, demonstrations and interactive discussions. Explore musical lithophones, ancient skills, pottery, indoor lectures, site tours, artifacts from the area, food processing, careers in archaeology, local / state archaeology organizations, animals hunted for food and clothing, Ute STEM, archaic snacks, grinding on a metate, kids archaeological dig and arts and crafts. For more information and a chance to win valuable prizes, visit the IAD 2022 Website. This event is sponsored in part by History Colorado and the State Historical Fund.

Black LGBTQ+ Colorado History
Cleo Parker Robinson Dance | October 22, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
The memories, personal experiences and stories of our Black LGBTQ+ community are important to History Colorado. This free workshop will help us to better understand the moments and places of importance through storytelling and fellowship. With your input and feedback, we hope to better document, preserve and share the history and stories of Colorado.

Black History Trail on the History Colorado App
History Colorado is thrilled to announce that a brand new, state-wide mobile guide to exploring heritage and Colorado history has officially launched. This app currently features the Black History Trail which highlights the stories and places of Black historical significance throughout Colorado. The interactive mobile app highlights important locations, artifacts and photographs alongside oral histories from History Colorado’s collections. This initiative provides the unique opportunity, both virtually and in-person, to trace the history and contributions of Black communities across the state of Colorado from pioneer days to modern times.

The app’s technology presents easy navigation by category allowing users to explore specific regions of the Black History Trail, from learning about the legacy of Barney L. Ford to accessing information about the vibrant Denver neighborhood of Five Points. Future updates will encourage deeper engagement through multimedia content, games and augmented reality features. The Black History Trail will be the first of many trails on the History Colorado app which will continue to expand to honor and share stories from other marginalized communities across our state. The free app is available for Android and iOS devices and can be downloaded from your preferred app store.  

State Historical Fund General Grant and Mini Grant Applications 
Through the State Historic Preservation Office, History Colorado provides non-competitive and competitive funding opportunities to provide much needed financial aid for historic preservation projects large and small across Colorado. These grants vary by purpose, requested amount, application deadline and review process. The 2022 application deadline for the two competitive grants, General and Mini, is 12 p.m. on Oct. 3. General grants are offered once a year and Mini grants are available two to three times annually. For more information and to submit your application you may click here. 

New Events and Programs! 
To learn more about History Colorado’s events and programs visit HistoryColorado.org. Explore historical places, events and people through lectures, guided tours and online or in-person classes. Other upcoming events include the House Museum Book Club at the Center for Colorado Women’s History and History Buff Day at the Trinidad History Museum. 

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 143-year-old institution that operates eleven 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 of the state.

History Colorado’s mission is to create a better future for Colorado by inspiring wonder in our past. It serves 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 ten 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.