History Colorado Center Ignites Imaginations Of All Ages

by Laura Lieff

History Colorado (formerly the Colorado Historical Society) opened its brand new $110 million, 40,000 square-foot History Colorado Center seven months ago. Getting the new Center open wasn’t an easy task as it was thrown out of its old haunts at 13th and Broadway in order to make way for the recently opened Colorado Judicial Center. After several false starts, including a widely panned proposal to build on Civic Center Park itself, space and funds were found with a big assist from the Obama stimulus program.

“The History Colorado Center is more than a new museum — its development served as the impetus to transform the 132-year-old Colorado Historical Society into History Colorado and launch the organization into a new era,” said Ed Nichols, History Colorado President and CEO. “Our goal is to meet and then exceed the expectations of a savvy, modern, museum-going audience with original high-tech and hands-on interactive multimedia along with authentic artifacts and evocative stories of Colorado’s diverse people.”

The reviews are in and the new Center has for the most part garnered rave reviews with architect David Treba’s neo-modernistic building design earning particular praise. While some visitors have expressed the wish that there were even more exhibits, History Colorado has on the books a planned expansion allowing an additional 40,000 square feet of exhibition space at the cost of an additional $33 million.

Even The New York Times sent out reporter Edward Rothstein to provide a review for its “Arts and Design” section of the newspaper. Rothstein initially questioned whether a state that has been a state less than 140 years could possibly have enough history to fill Treba’s extremely impressive looking building.

Rothstein finally decided that Colorado did have sufficient history, particularly after excitedly viewing exhibits of the non-indigenous population acting badly. These exhibits include the 1864 Sand Creek Massacre, the Klu Klux Klan rise to power in Colorado in the 1920s and the Second World War Amache Internment Camp that housed forcibly removed Japanese Americans from California. He complained about what he viewed as insufficient coverage of the poor treatment accorded to the Ute Indians by pioneer families and the military. While generally impressed, Rothstein hoped that the planned additional space could provide even more depth and breadth to the “failings of the past” and “real reinterpretation” of the state’s history.

For those interested in more than just increasingly in-depth looks at the “failings of the past” the Center already appears to have a great deal to offer all ages.

From A-Z

The newest addition to the History Colorado Center’s core exhibition program, Denver A to Z: Adrenaline to Zombies and (almost) Everything in Between, taps into the essence of Denver letter by letter — “A” for adrenaline, “Z” for zombies. The family-friendly exhibit features fun interactives such as digital “throw down matches” between Denver icons including Mary Elitch, Molly Brown, John Elway and Tom Shane, among others (“K” is for Knockout). A reproduction of Lawrence Argent’s Blue Bear gives visitors an opportunity for a photo opportunity with the full bear and to learn more about Denver’s public arts program (“B” is for Blue Bear). A wall of beer bottles from local breweries honors this growing Denver tradition, past and present (“M” is for Microbrews).

“We love this city and this exhibit is a celebration of Denver’s unique people, places and events and character,” said Bill Convery, state historian and director of exhibits and interpretation at History Colorado. “No institution is better situated to engage visitors about Denver’s past, present and future.”

Our Stories

Another current exhibit is Colorado Stories which features eight galleries filled with media and artifacts that explore the many ways Coloradans create community. Visitors will discover eight compelling stories related to different Colorado communities representing a diverse collection of times, places and perspectives. Each story addresses the common theme of how the courage, resilience and interdependence of these Coloradans helped them create successful communities in challenging circumstances.

In addition to providing the historical narrative, Colorado Stories also gives guests the opportunity to experience the history. For example “Jumping for Joy: Steamboat Springs, 1915” tells the story of how mountain men, mail carriers and miners roamed the Rockies on skis. Shortly thereafter people figured out that skiing was fun and Norwegian ski champion Carl Howelsen taught Steamboat’s children to fly. And now, at the History Colorado Center, exhibit guests can experience what it was like to soar through the air by trying out the virtual ski jump.

What It Was Like

Introducing visitors to what life was like in our state in the 1920s, Destination Colorado journeys back to Colorado’s eastern plains to the town of Keota, a place residents called “the Arcadia of the West.” Guests will enter the town through the train depot and explore recreated environments — complete with more than 500 authentic artifacts from the original town — including the high school, a homestead house and barn and the general store.

Town residents, who are based on actual residents of Keota and are presented on oversized media screens, greet visitors in each location and share the stories of their lives while text panels provide a national and international context to this local story. While visiting Keota visitors can enroll in the town’s high school and get a yearbook picture taken, shop from a Montgomery Ward catalog and select goods from a general store. One of the most popular aspects of the Destination Colorado exhibit is taking a virtual joy ride down a bumpy country road in a Model T Ford.

The Great Map Of Colorado

& Time Machine

While some historical museums have yet to embrace technology, the History Colorado Center has made technology an integral part of its design. Exemplifying the importance of technology is the 40-by-60-foot terrazzo tile map of Colorado imbedded into the floor of the museum’s atrium. Created by nationally acclaimed artist Steven Weitzman, the map functions as both a work of art and an interactive exhibit component.

The map comes to life with History Colorado’s own “Time Machine” as visitors push an H.G. Wells-inspired device across 12 time zones to activate place-based stories from Colorado’s past. Each designated “hot spot” will trigger the time machine to play a one- to two-minute program that combines film, music and still images relating to these stories.

Looking Ahead

During the next two phases of development — which will at least double the current exhibition space — the History Colorado Center will add even more displays. Slated to open in 2013, Living West will explore how Colorado residents have made their homes on this state’s land and will focus on stories related to three distinct Colorado environments: Mesa Verde, the Dust Bowl-affected plains and today’s mountains. It will also demonstrate how the natural environment has shaped human history and how human choices have shaped the land.

Two other highly-anticipated exhibits include the Denver Diorama and The American Soldier. Created by the Works Progress Administration, the Denver Diorama depicts the Mile High City in 1860, complete with the old Rocky Mountain News building and an Arapaho Indian camp. Like the other dioramas on display at the old museum, the Denver Diorama needed to be restored and will soon be back on display at the History Colorado Center. Additionally, a traveling exhibition called The American Soldier will run from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Featuring 116 pictures, the exhibit honors American soldiers in the Civil War, Spanish-American War, Boxer Rebellion, World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, Afghanistan and Iraq. This tribute is traveling the United States in a multi-year tour.

Even before the new exhibits open you can explore historical places, events and people through lectures, guided tours and online or in-person classes. Upcoming events at the History Colorado Center include:

And Many Wore Moccasins: The Ute, Navajo, and Blackfoot Nations and World War I — Tuesday, January 15, 1 to 2 p.m. and 7 to 8 p.m.

American Cowboy (“C” is for Cow Town) — Friday, January 25 from 1 to 2 p.m.

A Misplaced Massacre: Sand Creek in History and Memory — Tuesday, February 19 from 1 to 2 p.m. and 7 to 8 p.m.

“The History Colorado Center was developed with our audiences in mind,” added Kathryn Hill, Chief Operating Officer and overseer of the new exhibits and programs. “We had to start from scratch to create a destination that helps us to better understand our present in the context of the past, supported by exhibits and programs that tell very human, emotionally-engaging stories that provoke us to ask tough questions and explore our own contributions to Colorado’s future.”

For more information on the History Colorado Center call 303-447-8679 or visit www.historycolorado.org.