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

Opening April 25 at the History Colorado Center, The Disappearance of Thomas Riha features never-before-displayed declassified documents from the Central Intelligence Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for sleuths to wade through. With a scope that spans from Boulder and Washington, DC, to Moscow and Prague, this exhibition tasks visitors with examining the evidence and trying to crack the case of this lasting mystery.

“Thomas Riha’s disappearance is a Boulder tale of true crime that sent shockwaves through the CU community and his family,” said Katherine Mercier, exhibition developer and historian at History Colorado. “This is a Cold War mystery with twists and turns that will have you questioning who, what, when, where, and most importantly—why?”

Brought to life by History Colorado’s unique archives relating to this case — including the journals of a woman who may or may not have been involved with the vanishing of Riha — The Disappearance of Thomas Riha transports visitors to the crucible of Cold War espionage and true crime

“Riha’s disappearance received an abundance of media coverage in the 1970s, but it has never been investigated in a museum setting like this,” Mercier said. “It's a dramatic case that involves real people whose families were forever changed, and we hope that learning this history and viewing the publicly available evidence will encourage visitors to develop a theory about the disappearance as they gain new insights into Cold War concerns in Colorado.”

The Disappearance of Thomas Riha opens to the public on April 25 at the History Colorado Center in Denver. The History Colorado Center is located at 1200 N Broadway and is open daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Admission for kids 18 and under is free every day.

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 146-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