PRESS CONTACT
Luke Perkins, Manager of Communications and Public Relations 
303-866-3670 | luke.perkins@state.co.us 

Ways to Expand your Horizons at History Colorado in 2024:
Blaxplanation Event Series
The Blaxplanation series explores the stories of Colorado’s Black diaspora—outside the context of slavery—with national or international impact. Reclaiming its name from the Blaxploitation genre of the 70s, this program addresses racist and discriminatory understandings of Black life while focusing on the contributions and achievements of the Black community to our society. These events are generally free and open to the public and feature an array of opportunities—from film screenings to recreational activities—that center community conversations about the accomplishments of the Black community past, present, and future. Some upcoming events from the Blaxplanation series include:

• On January 11 from 6 - 8 p.m., Askkanwii: Diasporic Community of Colorado Series #1 presents the coming-of-age film Evalo, followed by a panel discussion with the producer and directors of the documentary
• On February 7 from 6 - 7 p.m., History Colorado’s Blaxplanation team joins forces with the Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center to unveil their behind-the-scenes documentary called The Making of buffalo soldiers: reVision, focusing on the research and development of the buffalo soldiers: reVision exhibition, and a follow-up discussion about the process
• On April 13 from 1 - 3 p.m., Redlining the Outdoors: Environmental Racism and Outdoor Access hosts a discussion from Parker Bushman, an influencer and inclusive guide, who will talk about the disparity of outdoor offerings provided to marginalized communities as well as the broader histories of inequitable access to natural resources 

Bold Women. Change History. Season Four
Inspired by the ambitious, innovative spirit of Colorado, where voters were the first in the nation to eliminate gender discrimination at the ballot box, the Bold Women. Change History. Series features authors, scholars and history makers who illustrate the innovations that happen when women have a seat at the table. Lead by the Center for Colorado Women’s History, Bold Women. Change History. generates new knowledge and understandings of women’s role in history by sharing their stories and sparking adventurous dialogue that builds pathways to new understandings.

Season four of Bold Women. Change History. kicks off on January 25, 2024, from 1 - 3 p.m. with the first of four workshops surrounding the National Endowment for the Arts “Big Read in Denver” pick, Postcolonial Love Poem by Natalie Diaz, which centers discussions about postcolonial living and practices of decolonializing. Additional workshops will be held on February 1, 8, & 15, from 1 - 3 p.m.

Lost Highways: Dispatches from the Shadows of the Rocky Mountains
History Colorado’s critically acclaimed podcast, Lost Highways: Dispatches from the Shadows of the Rocky Mountains, expands the history of the American West by exploring how overlooked stories from the past have shaped current world events and continue to impact our lives today. Available anywhere you listen to podcasts, Lost Highways acts as a meaningful way of interacting with the Centennial state’s growing history. With dozens of episodes available, such as “Mesa Verde of the Mysteries”, “Going Back to Trinidad”, and “Game Changers”, there’s bound to be a story that resonates with you. 

Tours & Treks 2024
History Colorado’s Tours & Treks has been offering a grand assortment of travels to enrich your understanding of our state’s history and beyond. Walk in the footsteps of those who came before and learn the stories behind the sights. In 2024, the series is returning to its roots with the ever-popular Organ Crawl, as well as an international trek and a pair of train adventures!  Participants will see how the past has informed the present, ponder how art helps us understand our history, and so much more on a series of trips specially designed to inspire wonder!

A complete list of the Tours & Treks for 2024 can be found here.

January Events
First Friday of the Month Coffee | Leadville, CO
Healy House Museum & Dexter Cabin | January 1, 10 - 11 a.m.
Connect with the Leadville community over the comforts of coffee and biscuits. Continuing on January 1, and through May 3, Leadville’s own Healy House Museum & Dexter Cabin will host a free social gathering meant to exchange stories, make new friends, and eat delicious food. First Friday of the Month Coffee is open to the public and each cup of coffee is on us!

How-To: Research and Order History Colorado Images | Online 
Online | January 9, 12 - 1 p.m.
Tickets ($3-$5) and additional information available here. 
Looking for eye-catching Colorado imagery to add to your home, publication, website, research project, or even give as a gift? Join Stephen H. Hart Research Center Collections Access Coordinator Jori Johnson for a virtual overview of our photography and image collections! In addition to the comprehensive virtual tour of our online assets, Johnson will demonstrate helpful tips and tools for researching online. By the end of the session, you’ll understand how to order reproductions and utilize History Colorado’s database for all of your future needs! Tickets are available to purchase online, and the event will be held over Zoom. 

Museum Basics: Exhibits and Loans | Online
Online | January 10, 5 - 7 p.m.
Tickets ($25-$325) and additional information available here.  
Join History Colorado’s museum professionals for six new courses that demystify some of the behind-the-scenes operations that help cultural institutions run. Starting with exhibition development and maintaining collections, and ending the year with archival and paper collections work, these essential workshops provide expert insight into the inner-workings of the museum world. 

Ticketing options for the 2024 Museum Basics Series include discounted annual passes for students, tribal citizens, individuals, and institutions. For any questions or additional information, please contact Mark Nelson at HC_Museumbasics@state.co.us or visit the event listing here. 

Vecinos Community Coffee | Fort Garland, CO
Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center | January 11, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center invites you to join them for warm beverages, good platica, and a conversation with neighbors. This is a free event to provide space for community sharing and gathering. This event is located in the Mess Hall at Fort Garland Museum with parking and an entrance available at the rear of the building.

Blaxplanation Presents - Askkanwii: Diasporic Community of Colorado Series #1- Documentary and Panel Discussion | Location
History Colorado Center | January 11, 6 – 8 p.m.
The Blaxplanation team invites you to a special screening of the coming-of-age documentary: Evalo. The first of several events created in close partnership with Askkanwii Film Hub and the Aurora History Museum, this screening is designed to inspire community, curiosity, and connection within the African diaspora present in Colorado. After the documentary screening, attendees are invited to a panel discussion with the producer and directors of the film. 

This free event is open to the public, but reservations are appreciated. In addition to all the valuable discussions, water, tea, and light snacks will be provided.

Family Yoga Class | Fort Garland, CO
Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center | January 12, 5 – 6:30 p.m.
Tickets ($5-10) and additional information available here.
The Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center is proud to offer a monthly Family Yoga Class that is open to all ages and abilities. Class will take place in the museum's Mess Hall while parking and entrance for this will be located in back of the museum. Participants are welcome to bring their own equipment but yoga mats will be available. Use promo code YOGA1 when purchasing tickets online to get your first class FREE! 

History Buff Day | Denver, CO
History Colorado Center | January 13, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
History Colorado’s iconic mascot, Billy the Bison, invites you and your family for a day full of exciting games, crafting, and exploring! Using your free History Buff membership, you’ll have access to the History Colorado Center’s five floors of exhibitions as well as kid-centered activities to celebrate History Buff Day. This event is free with general admission (and members like History Buffs are free), but plan on RSVPing in advance.

Have a Colorado fourth grader who isn’t a History Buff member yet? Sign up here for your free membership– granting you (and five other people) access to all History Colorado locations around the state! 

Rocky Mountain Map Society presents: "Mapping the Cherokee Trail: Colorado’s Forgotten Highway" with Larry Obermesik | Denver, CO
History Colorado Center | January 16, 5:30 – 7 p.m.
Join the Rocky Mountain map Society for a free lecture from local trail researcher, Larry Obermesik, on a journey through a forgotten chapter of Colorado’s past. Uncover the overlooked legacy of the historic Cherokee Trail, a pivotal route from the Gold Rush era, which altered the course of America’s westward expansion. Additionally, explore the profound significance of the Cherokee Trail in Colorado's history, learn about ongoing trail preservation efforts, and see how a deep-dive into Colorado’s pre-territorial Claim Clubs has revealed new insights into the lives of this region’s earliest settlers. For additional information about the event, Obermeisk, or to reserve a spot, please visit the event listing here. 

Rosenberry Lecture: Changing of the Guard: Colorado’s Toppled Civil War Monument | Denver, CO
History Colorado Center | January 17, 1 – 2 p.m. & 7 – 8 p.m.
Tickets ($5-15) and additional information available here.
Jason Hanson, History Colorado’s chief creative officer and director of interpretation and research, explores the intersectional history of Colorado’s toppled Civil War monument. Through this particular monument, currently displayed at the History Colorado Center, Hanson discusses the roles monuments play in transmitting stories, knowledge, and values for future generations. However, Hanson asks an important question: what happens when generational values shift about who, or what, deserves to be commemorated? 

Tickets for these events can be purchased in advance for either the 1 p.m. or 7 p.m. lecture times.

Women Disregarded Soiled Doves of Leadville | Leadville, CO
Healy House Museum & Dexter Cabin | January 22, 6 p.m.
Who were the ‘Soiled Doves’ of Leadville? Join the Healy House & Dexter Cabin in discovering– and honoring– those women who occupied busy establishments on the notorious State and Chestnut Streets. Avoided and shunned by day, the Soiled Doves’ nightly business exploits funded charities, financed the local police force, and united the mountain town community. 
This free event is open to the public, does not require reservations, and includes complimentary refreshments.

Postcolonial Love Poem and People: a Reading Circle and Conversation | Denver, CO
Center for Colorado Women’s History | January 25, 1 – 3 p.m.
Join the Center for Colorado Women’s History, as well as facilitator and artist Franklin Cruz, for a reading circle and discussion of the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) “Big Read in Denver” title of the year: Postcolonial Love Poem by Natalie Diaz. This is the first of four independent workshops to be held surrounding Postcolonial Love Poem, and leads up to Diaz’s lecture for Bold Women. Change History. in April of 2024. During this first session, take part in a guided reading and reflection about postcolonial living in a modern era and practices of decolonializing. 

For those interested in participating, there are several ways of picking up a free copy of Postcolonial Love Poem, including through distribution centers like the History Colorado Center. For additional information on how to receive a copy, what the NEA “Big Read” is, or to reserve your free spot, please visit the event listing here. Have any questions? Please contact Cat Jensen at cat.jensen@state.co.us. 

Tea Blends for Winter Wellness with Convivio Café | Denver, CO
Center for Colorado Women’s History | January 25, 4 – 5:30 p.m.
Tickets ($15-$20) and additional information available here. 
Join the Center for Colorado Women’s History for a special-tea event meant to nourish and inspire. Hosted in collaboration with Convivio Café, this event is a great opportunity to glean expert knowledge from the owners of this Guatemalan-inspired, bilingual café located in Northside Denver. During the event, Convivio Café owners Kristin and Vivi will teach attendees about what herbal blends can be used for menstrual care, self-nourishment, and combating winter blues. Attendees will also sample and sip the blends featured alongside antojitos (snacks) made in-house at Convivio Café. Tickets will sell fast, so make sure to reserve your spot for this exclusive and informative event as soon as possible! 

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 144-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