FOR FAMILIES

Hands on History Family Fun Days - Sat June 9 and July 14 - 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Join us for our Hands on History Family Fun Days! On the second Saturday of each month, families have the opportunity to explore and create their own history, art, and culture through hands-on, immersive activities like adobe brick making, building log cabins, live performances, and role playing in our exhibits. In accordance with our newest exhibit Play Ball!, June's activities will be baseball-themed. 

Low Sensory Morning - Sat June 16 - 8 a.m. - 10 a.m.

The History Colorado Center is happy to open its doors for families who prefer a lower sensory museum environment. The museum will be closed to the general public, attendance limited and sounds in the exhibits turned down. Come and enjoy! Admission is free and space is limited. RSVP is required.

LEGO Building Workshops - Sat June 30 and/or July 28 - 9 a.m. - 10 a.m. 

Build (and keep!) your own Colorado-style LEGO set, then take a special guided museum tour based on your creation! On June 30, we'll build the Lego City Mountain Fugitives Kit together, then tour the part of our Living West exhibit about mountains and take a look at our LEGOrado exhibit before it opens to the public. On July 28, we'll build the Lego Creator Blue Express Train Kit together, then tour the Railroad Depot in our Destination Colorado exhibit and take a look at our LEGOrado exhibit before it opens to the public.

Bikes and Big Wheels - Sat July 21 - 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Join us for Bikes and Big Wheels where kids (and adults!) can speed through our Big Wheel racetrack, and saddle up for a Bicycle Rodeo to learn the skills to ride a bike safely! Vintage bikes, video games, and exhibit scavenger hunts will highlight the history and evolution of bicycle travel. Visitors are encouraged to bike to History Colorado Center, and children 17 and under will get free admission by showing their bike helmet at the front desk.

Check out this blog to find out more fun things for families to do at History Colorado this summer!

 

TOURS AND TREKS

History Hounds: Dinosaur Ridge - Sat June 2 - 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Walk your dog and learn about history! History Colorado invites you and your friendly canine companion to join us for our walking tour series History Hounds: Walking Tours and Treks. We will take a two-mile historic walking tour of Dinosaur Ridge. This tour will explore the epoch of the dinosaur bone rush. See where the first stegosaurus fossil was discovered, observe where the ocean once flowed through Colorado, and learn about the discoveries and contributions of Arthur Lakes as well as the current preservation struggles along the ridge. 

Forgotten Denver: Northeast Denver by Bus - Thu June 14 - 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

When William Larimer platted the city of Denver in 1858, he felt the growth of the city would naturally lead to the northeast. It’s time to turn our eyes northeastward too; there’s fascinating history to learn—from the gates of City Park and the traces of rails and runways to the ABCs of armor, bison and carillon. Includes bus transportation and a break for lunch on your own dime.

Cheyenne Mountain State Park Hike - Wed June 27 - 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Nestled between NORAD and a bustling city, Cheyenne Mountain State Park offers something quiet and green. On our hike of the park, we’ll see views of both the eponymous Cheyenne Mountain and the city of Colorado Springs. The intersection of several ecological zones, the park is rich in diversity equal to its views. Provide your own transportation to starting location and pack a picnic lunch.

Downtown Denver Scavenger Hunt - Sun July 1 - noon - 5 p.m.

A series of cryptic clues and shifty characters lines up before you as you unravel the mysteries of the Denver Code for our first annual Scavenger Hunt! No running involved, just a chance to use your skills of observation and investigation as you walk the streets of downtown or take the Mall Shuttle. Where are those floating doors? Did George Washington really leave his initials in downtown Denver? Those sleuths who navigate successfully will find a celebratory meal at the end and the chance to claim the title of Breaker of the Denver Code! Provide your own transportation to starting location. Includes guide, interpretation and snack. 

History Hounds: Red Rocks Park - Sat July 7 -  9 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Walk your dog and learn about history! History Colorado invites you and your friendly canine companion to join us for our walking tour series History Hounds: Walking Tours and Treks. We will take a dog-walking tour of the legendary Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre. We'll meet at the Trading Post and take the Trading Post Trail loop around the park, catching views of the amphitheatre, red rock formations, and the Front Range. Enjoy a fun hike with your canine friend while learning about the history of the best musical venue in the world.

The Burroful Bonanza of 285: South Park and Fairplay - Sat July 28 8 a.m. - Sun July 29 6 p.m. - RSVP by June 29 

Connecting the metro area with the breathtaking scenery and rich history of Fairplay is Highway 285. It’s a corridor of change as the region draws more people. The highlight of our exploration will be the annual Burro Days, celebrating its 70th year. They race most everything they can think of—from burros and llamas to outhouses—while serving up food, crafts and fun. Between Fairplay and the Front Range, we’ll hunt up the history of the past and the developing stories of today, with stops in Conifer, Alma and Como. Includes bus transportation, one night’s lodging in Fairplay, guides, entrance fees and two meals, including a welcome dinner. 

 

LECTURES

Towns of Yesteryear: Colorado’s Mountain Ghost Towns - Mon June 11- 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.

During the latter half of the 19th century, the desire to obtain instant mineral wealth was on the minds of thousands of men as they flocked west in search of gold and silver. In Colorado, instant towns sprang up in the valleys and gulches where rich rare metal deposits were being unearthed. Most of these boom towns, such as Ashcroft, Independence, St. Elmo and Tincup, are today’s iconic ghost towns--once bustling towns of activity, now largely abandoned. How did this happen? Join photography team Bob and Judith Marlowe as they share their pictures and insight into the multifaceted evolution and history of Colorado’s mountain ghost towns.

Energy in Colorado: Perspectives from the Field - Mon June 25 - 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.

For decades, Colorado has served as an epicenter for extractive and natural resource dependent industries. Many of these economic sectors are prone to boom and bust cycles, given the volatile nature of global commodity markets. What impacts does this have for communities around Colorado over time, from both the stability of their economies and to the security of residents’ livelihoods and quality of life? Join Colorado State University sociologist of environment, globalization, and development, Dr. Stephanie Malin, as she examines Colorado’s energy past, present, and future through the lenses of uranium mining and milling and unconventional oil and gas production. Dynamics related to environmental justice, persistent poverty, and additional sociological impacts of boom-bust cycles will be examined.

Collecting America’s Pastime: A Passion for Baseball - Mon July 16 - 1 – 2 p.m. & 7 – 8 p.m.

History Colorado’s new Play Ball! exhibition showcases one of the greatest sets of baseball artifacts ever assembled. Why are Americans so fascinated by this sport, and why do we call it our national pastime? Marshall Fogel, owner of the collection, explores the history and legacy of baseball and shares the stories behind some of the artifacts on view. Gain insight into how to turn a passion into a collection—and maybe even sending that collection to a museum someday!

Baseball's Long & Winding Road to the Rockies - Mon July 23 - 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.

A panel of Denver's top baseball experts share stories of how Major League Baseball came to our state—in the form of the Colorado Rockies and Coors Field. Panelists include Roger Kinney, former director of the Colorado Baseball Commission and former executive director of the Rockies Baseball Club Foundation and Charity Fund; Greg Petty, University of Denver instructor and board member of the Rocky Mountain Society of American Baseball Research; and Irv Moss, longtime sportswriter for The Denver Post. They'll describe how, after thirty years, Denver finally convinced MLB that the Mile High City would have enough good weather, fan support, acceptable ownership, and the necessary funds to build a baseball-only stadium to support a team.

 

LECTURES at the Center for Colorado Women's History at Byers-Evans House

Colorado Women in Film - Thu June 21 - 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Join filmmaker Erika O’Conor at the Center for Colorado Women’s History for a screening of her documentary, “Pioneers”, which tells the stories of four Colorado women artists who courageously confronted social stigma and prejudice in their pursuit of equal opportunity and artistic expression. Helen Henderson Chain, Jean Wirt Sherwood, Muriel Sibell Wolle, and Eve Drewelowe - their stories exemplify the important influence that women have had on culture and society across the American West. Acting with intrepidity and spirits of benevolence, these women serve as role models for those who champion social progress and value artistic expression today.

The Women of Hell's Swift Alley - Sat June 30 - 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Denver was a wide-open town well into the 1890’s and very much living up to its reputation as the Wild West. Author Randi Samuelson-Brown will lead a spirited discussion on the 1890's world of prostitution, licit and illicit drugs, bad whiskey recipes and the saloon and brothel culture that flourished in Colorado. Denver’s Market Street wasn’t referred to as “Hell’s Swift Alley” without reason! A racy and lively look into the past, some of the material and resulting discussions may not be suitable for children. Books available for sale and signing. 

 

RESEARCH WORKSHOPS

This Old Home: Researching the History of Houses and Other Buildings in Colorado - Fri June 22 - 10:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

Interested in learning the history of your house or business? Whether it's a mansion or a modest dwelling, History Colorado's collections hold clues about buildings and the people associated with them. Learn how to successfully research your property with Erika Schmelzer from the Office of Archaeology & Historic Preservation and reference librarian Sarah Gilmor. After the program, stay to start your research in our collections!

Family History Resources - Sat July 14 - 10:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Use our Hart Research Library to research your family's history. History Colorado's research collections have a wealth of materials for visitors interested in their Colorado roots. Join our reference librarians to explore our family history resources in a program designed for genealogists of all experience levels.

 

Looking for more? Check out our online events calendar and Explore program pamphlet

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