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

Known as centuries-old cultural strongholds that explore the interesting lives of mining millionaires, the Healy House Museum & Dexter Cabin have long served as epicenters of Leadville social life. While museum visitors can still expect to see lavish Victorian decor and period-appropriate furnishings, this reopening once again allows the site to be a hub for social gatherings, educational opportunities, and community celebrations.

Under the leadership of Charlotte Vesel, director of Healy House Museum & Dexter Cabin, the museum will be actively engaging with the community to ensure their stories are represented in the halls of this historic property. These efforts are buoyed by Vesel’s extensive background in education– and fluency in English, Spanish, French and German– which are vital in developing multicultural accessibility for Leadville’s diverse population. 

“Right now I am focused on bringing people into the Healy House Museum & Dexter Cabin and sharing this history in as many languages and ways as possible so everyone can feel like this very special place is a space where they belong too,” said Vesel. 

In conjunction with the reopening of the Healy House Museum & Dexter Cabin on May 27, Leadville artists will come together to present a new Latinx Art Exhibition. Featuring everything from classical paintings to solar powered lights and locally made stickers, this exhibition will highlight art that is uniquely Leadville, and give the community a chance to support its homegrown artists by purchasing their creations. This event is free and open to the public. 

In addition to its grand reopening, the Healy House Museum & Dexter Cabin is hosting a number of community events throughout the summer including:

Victorian Tea and Top Hat | July 14, 1 - 4 p.m.
A Victorian themed tea time and sprawl-about at the Healy House. Don your finest Victorian garb, indulge in a scone, and enjoy the historic setting of the Healy House porch and lawn with friends and family. This free event includes tea and goodies, with tours of the museum available for the price of admission.

Ye Olde Flea Market/Arts and Crafts Sale | August 5, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Join the Healy House Museum & Dexter Cabin for a community market featuring everything from antiques and vintage memorabilia to arts and crafts! Held on the Healy House Museum lawn, this outdoor market invites people of all ages and interests to see what Leadville residents and beyond have to offer. This event is free to the public and interested vendors can contact Charlotte Vesel at charlotte.vesel@state.co.us or 719-486-0487 for registration details and fees 

History Buff Day | September 2, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
The Healy House Museum & Dexter Cabin is hosting Billy the Bison, official mascot of History Colorado, on September 2, 2023. Come down to meet a new friend, enjoy a day of family friendly activities and tours, as well as register for our History Buffs program which provides all Colorado fourth graders with a free family membership so they can learn about the history of the Centennial State!

Additional details about the Healy House Museum & Dexter Cabin site can be found here. 

About the Healy House Museum & Dexter Cabin
History Colorado’s Healy House Museum & Dexter Cabin is located at 912 Harrison Avenue, Leadville, CO. Built in 1878, the Healy House looks out over historic and scenic treasures of the storied mining town of Leadville. The grounds also include a historic garden with a gazebo, and the historic Dexter Cabin, built in 1879, which served as the Leadville residence for mining investor and businessman James V. Dexter. 
Healy House Museum & Dexter Cabin reopens to the public May 27, 2023. The museum is open Wednesday-Sunday with tours at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. Visit www.HealyHouseMuseum.org or call 719-486-0487 for more information.

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 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