A color photo of steam locomotive Engine 315, after restoration. The engine is under steam near Durango and hauling coal wagons. Mountains are visible behind.

Current Exhibition

State Historical Fund Retrospective

Apr 30, 2021 - Apr 30, 2022

A Building Denver Mezzanine Art Installation

Within every historic structure or project supported by the History Colorado State Historical Fund lies a vibrant community and an individual story. It’s been 30 years since voters approved a fund to flow dollars into preserving, restoring, and honoring our state’s historic fabric. And the results have been nothing short of amazing.

This exhibit explores the rich contributions of History Colorado's State Historical Fund. Heartfelt testimonials and powerful photography show how preserving history has changed lives and strengthened communities. Discover the backstories behind Colorado’s treasured places in our colorful new exhibit.

Located on the third floor mezzanine.

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Barclay Cabin sits nestled among tall pine trees. The building is a small log structure in good condition, with a steepled tile roof. Behind it a large geological formation is visible, illuminated by sunlight. — Gothic is a small ghost town surrounded by the West Elk Mountains. This structure, the Barclay Cabin, is one of the several abandoned buildings in the deserted township. The town is currently operated by the Rocky Mountain Biological Lab, and students spend the summer in Gothic to study the local ecosystem. Some of these students sleep in Barclay Cabin.

The Kit Carson Carousel up close, with the menagerie of animals visible, including horses, dogs, reindeer, and giraffes. — The 1905 Kit Carson County Carousel in Burlington is a rare surviving example of a menagerie carousel (having other animals in addition to horses). It was initially built for Denver’s Elitch Gardens but later moved to Burlington in 1928. It is the only antique carousel in the United States with its original pain, the only surviving carousel by its manufacturer- and is fully operational.

State Historical Fund grants helped finance research, repair, restoration, and rehabilitation of the carousel, as well as interpretive exhibits and rehabilitation of the carousel building.

The facade of the Egyptian Theater in Delta. The building is newly restored to its original Egyptian Revival style, with Ancient Egyptian iconography covering the walls. The second story windows are stained glass, and the building is shaped like an Egyptian temple. — In 1928, the Denver-based Dickson & Ricketson chain of movie theaters decided to build a modern, luxurious movie house in the newly booming town of Delta. Architect Montana Fallis designed a two-story theater in the Egyptian Revival style, popular at the time because of the 1922 discovery of King Tutankhamen’s tomb.

Historic restoration work returned the Egyptian to its 1928 appearance. The theater held a special screening to mark the completion of the projects on October 1, 1997, the sixty-ninth anniversary of its opening.

Facade of the Tabor Opera house in Leadville, CO. The three story building has shops in the bottom floor, and a large flagpole on the roof. It is constructed of red sandstone in a neoclassical style. On the facade are the words "TABOR OPERA HOUSE" in tall letters. — The Tabor Opera House in Leadville was constructed in 1879 by the famous silver mining tycoon Horace Tabor. Throughout its history it has been owned by a succession of private owners until 2017, when it was purchased by the City of Leadville. It has been the subject of several preservation and restoration efforts since.

The facade of Temple Emanuel, an eastern style Jewish synagogue in Denver. — Temple Emanuel in Denver is the only synagogue in Colorado designed in the Eastern-Islamic Style. The State Historical Fund work at the Temple was the first official project of the initial round of grant awards in 1993 and featured work to improve ADA accessibility.

State Historical Fund Retrospective

Location

History Colorado Center

39.735281, -104.9873965

Tickets