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

Spook-tacular events for the Spooky Season:
Victorian Death Experiences | Denver, CO
Center for Colorado Women’s History | Multiple dates to choose from
Victorian Death Experiences at the Center for Colorado Women’s History is returning for 2024! Building off of its sold-out first year, Victorian Death Experiences provides an eerie and educational tour through the depths of time that contextualizes the practices of yesteryear through grisly artifacts, hair-raising rooms, and stories of death’s presence in Denver.

Victorian Death Experiences is recommended for adults with events scheduled from 6 - 7:15 p.m. every Thursday and Friday in October. There will also be daytime offerings on Saturday, October 19 and 26 at 1 and 3 p.m. Tickets ($20 for History Colorado Members and $25 for non-members) are limited, and likely to sell out, so make sure to purchase yours now!

Haunted Tea Party | Trinidad, CO
Trinidad History Museum | October 19, 1 – 3 p.m.
Tickets ($10-15) and additional information available here.
Celebrate the spooky season at Trinidad History Museum’s October Victorian Tea Party in the Bloom Mansion on Saturday, October 19 at 1 p.m. We will be serving teas from the Trinidad Tea Company and light tea foods. Reservations are required; purchase a ticket online or contact Millie Duren at emily.duren@state.co.us or 719-846-7217 to reserve your tickets.

Pumpkin Party | Trinidad, CO
Trinidad History Museum | October 19, 3 – 6 p.m.
Tickets ($10-30) and additional information available here.
Join the staff at Trinidad History Museum for pumpkin decorating, carnival games, and more on the Bloom lawns! Win fun prizes, take a spooky tour of the Bloom Mansion, and stay late to watch a classic Halloween movie. Admission is $10/person or $30/family of 4 (children 5 and under free) – this includes a pumpkin to decorate, popcorn and sodas, a ghost tour of the Baca House and Bloom Mansion, and all the carnival games you can play! All proceeds from this event will go toward education programs at the Trinidad History Museum.

Makerspace Workshop: History of Halloween | Denver, CO
History Colorado Center | October 26, 3 – 4:30 p.m.
Tickets ($20-25) and additional information available here.
Have you ever wondered why we trick or treat or carve pumpkins on Halloween? This workshop explores where some of the famous Halloween imagery and customs came from, so join us for a spooky history lesson, learn the story of Stingy Jack, and make your own original Jack-o-Lantern out of a turnip! 

Artisan's Harvest Market at Fort Garland | Fort Garland, CO
Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center |  October 26, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Join the Fort Garland Museum and Cultural Center for the Artisan's Harvest Market on Saturday, October 26th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. With food, arts and crafts vendors, music, and fall carnival games, there is tons of fun for the whole family! Applications for vendors are still open and interested vendors may apply online. Paper applications are also available at the museum. The deadline to apply as a vendor for Fort Garland’s Artisan's Harvest Market is October 18. 

New Exhibitions and Featured Attractions in October:
Dia de los Muertos Community Altars | Multiple Locations
Several of History Colorado’s museums will have Dia de los Muertos Community Altars up during the month of October. An important observance of Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, altars are places where family members may leave offerings (ofrendas) for their honored ancestors. Community members are invited to share stories, poems, photos, and newspaper clippings at History Colorado’s community altars.

Museum that will have community altars include:

• History Colorado Center throughout the month of October
• El Pueblo History Museum from October 1 – November 2
• Center for Colorado Women’s History from October 9 – November 3
• Trinidad History Museum from October 21 – November 2 
• Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center from October 1 – November 2

New Exhibition – Aultman Studio: Portraits of Trinidad | Trinidad, CO
Trinidad History Museum | Opens October 4
The Trinidad History Museum is excited to announce the opening of its newest exhibition Aultman Studio: Portraits of Trinidad. A “then and now” style exhibition, Aultman Studio: Portraits of Trinidad showcases residents of Trinidad through historical portraits taken by Oliver E. Aultman alongside modern community portraits by artist Daryl Oh. 

Opened in Trinidad in 1890, the Aultman Photography Studio saw thousands of southern Colorado residents come through the doors to have portraits taken and documented the diversity and uniqueness found in southern Colorado. Inspired by Aultman, Oh continues the work of reflecting the community through portraits and captures the lives and personalities of Trinidad residents in the modern day.

To celebrate the opening of Aultman Studio: Portraits of Trinidad on October 4, from 5 – 8 p.m. as part of Trinidad’s First Fridays Art Walk. This free reception features light refreshments as well as a chance to view artifacts from Aultman and take a photo in the museum’s very own recreation of his portrait studio!

New Exhibition – Where is Denver’s Chinatown? Stories Remembered, Reclaimed, Reimagined | Denver, CO
History Colorado Center | Opens October 10
On October 10,  History Colorado Center will open Where is Denver’s Chinatown? Stories Remembered, Reclaimed, Reimagined, a new exhibition inviting visitors to uncover the history of Denver’s Chinatown, discover what happened to it, and help imagine what it might become. Created in collaboration with Colorado Asian Pacific United (CAPU) and the University of Colorado Denver’s College of Architecture and Planning, Where is Denver’s Chinatown? Stories Remembered, Reclaimed, Reimagined shares this undertold history through personal family photographs and objects, artifacts from the museum collection, a portrayal of a typical home, and artistic reimaginings of the neighborhood.

New Exhibition – The Unquiet Utes | Fort Garland, CO
Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center | Opens October 11
The Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center is pleased to announce it will be opening a traveling exhibition provided by Campbell County Rockpile Museum in Gillette, Wyoming, on October 11. Entitled The Unquiet Utes, this exhibition consists of 30 framed photographs taken by photographer T. W. Tolman from Collier’s magazine as he covered the journey of the “Absentee Utes” through Wyoming in 1906. The exhibition discusses the Ute frustrations with U.S. government land policy and other reasons for their journey. It also covers the path taken across Wyoming, the Ute’s meeting with U.S. Cavalry units– including Buffalo Soldiers – their withdrawal to Fort Meade and later Thunder Butte, South Dakota, and their eventual return to Utah in 1908.

New Exhibition – The Dry: Black Women's Legacy in a Farming Community | Pueblo, CO
El Pueblo History Museum | Opens October 16
El Pueblo History Museum will open The Dry: Black Women’s Legacy in a Farming Community on October 16. Previously on display at the History Colorado Center in Denver, this exhibition recounts a story of Black agricultural excellence through the little known history of The Dry, a predominantly Black farming community in southeast Colorado, as well as the legacy of the powerful women who built and sustained this close-knit community. 

The Dry: Black Women’s Legacy in a Farming Community will be on display at the El Pueblo History Museum from October 16 through March 28 and is included with general admission to the museum.

New Exhibition – ¡Viva La Causa! Long Live the Cause!: The Art of Change | Denver, CO
History Colorado Center | October 18
¡Viva La Causa! Long Live the Cause!: The Art of Change, a History Colorado exhibition highlighting the intersections of art and activism, is moving to History Colorado Center on October 18. Using artwork created at the peak of two social justice movements – the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s and ʼ70s and the Black Lives Matter movement in the early 2020s – ¡Viva La Causa! Long Live the Cause!: The Art of Change explores themes of identity, equality, and courage in the face of injustices. 

Previously on display at the Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center and the El Pueblo History Museum, ¡Viva La Causa! Long Live the Cause!: The Art of Change includes more than two dozen pieces of art – spanning multiple mediums and materials – and features bold declarations, provocative imagery, and striking narratives. The exhibition is funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

October Events:
Trinidad History Museum Coffee & Conversation | Trinidad, CO
Trinidad History Museum | October 4, 8 – 10 a.m.
Start the first Friday of October with free coffee and tea! Held in Trinidad’s own Bloom Mansion, Coffee & Conversation provides space for community gatherings. Join us, mingle with neighbors, and meet your museum team! We look forward to seeing you!

Paint Night @ the Bloom | Trinidad, CO
Trinidad History Museum | October 4, 6:30 – 8 p.m.
Tickets ($30) and additional information available here.
Join the staff at the Trinidad History Museum in the Bloom Mansion during Trinidad’s First Friday Art Walk for a guided paint class taught by local artist Risa Phelps. Tickets for this event are $30/person, which includes all supplies needed! Light refreshments will be provided, but outside beverages and food are welcome. Reservations are required. To reserve your space purchase a ticket online or contact Millie Duren at emily.duren@state.co.us.us or 719-846-7217.

Meditation to Start Your Week with Urban Sanctuary | Denver, CO
Center for Colorado Women’s History | October 6 & 20, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
The Center for Colorado Women’s History invites you to an enriching meditation offered in partnership with Urban Sanctuary, Denver’s first Black women-run wellness studio located in the historic Five Points neighborhood. This event includes an empowering guided 30-minute meditation in the historic house by practiced Urban Sanctuary facilitators to help you start your week with intention. Afterwards, guests are encouraged to enjoy cups of our revitalizing museum signature Lady Lavender tea with citrus, vanilla, and bergamot. 

Tickets are available on a “pay what you can” basis for the October 6 and October 20 sessions.

House Museum Book Club | Denver, CO
Molly Brown House | October 6, 12:30 – 2 p.m.
Join the Center for Colorado Women's History and Molly Brown House Museum to read and discuss books related to women’s history, Colorado history, and books by women authors from Colorado! The free book club takes place on a Sunday of each even-numbered month of 2024 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. and can be attended either in-person at the host museum or online via a Zoom link that will be sent to you after you RSVP. A complete list of books and club meeting dates can be found here.

Vecinos Community Coffee | Fort Garland, CO
Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center | October 10 , 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center invites you to join them for warm beverages, good platica, and 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

Volunteer Day at Trinidad History Museum| Trinidad CO
Trinidad History Museum | October 12 & 18 ,10 a.m. – 3 p.m..
Spend the day at the Trinidad History Museum helping clean, organize, and prepare the grounds for fall and winter! Lunch will be provided. Contact Millie Duren at emily.duren@state.co.us or 719-846-7217 for more information.

Cenicero, Co - Circa 1856: Film Screening and Panel Discussion | Denver, CO
History Colorado Center | October 13, 5 –6:30 p.m.
Join us for a film screening of Cenicero, Co - Circa 1856 and panel discussion about the deep history of the Lobato-Gallegos family of the Upper Río Grande and the importance of genealogical research in the preservation and celebration of Hispano heritage and history. Moderated by Richard Gallegos, community liaison for Colorado Society of Hispanic Genealogy (CSHG), the panel includes Bobby Cordova De Trujillo, president of CSHG, and Genealogist Denise Lovato-Duran, film producer Rick Vigil, and the film’s subject, Esperanza “Hope” Lobato. 

This event is free and open to the public but RSVP is required.

Rosenberry Lecture: Democracy’s Mountain: Longs Peak and the Unfulfilled Promises of America’s National Parks | Denver, CO
History Colorado Center | October 16, 1 – 2 p.m. & 7 – 8 p.m.
The Rosenberry Lecture Series continues on October 16 with Professor of History Emerita at Colorado State University Ruth Alexander exploring the history of climbing on Longs Peak and the peak’s connections to a larger story of America’s national parks and their obligations in a democracy. Alexander will use climbers’ stories of extraordinary risk and achievement on Longs to uncover Rocky Mountain National Park’s troubled efforts to protect climbers and the alpine environment they love from harm. Simultaneously, she will use the story of Longs to disclose patterns of racial exclusion and Native American displacement in Rocky that are only beginning to change.

Tickets ($5-15) are available for both the 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. talks 

Filipino American History Month Celebration | Denver, CO
History Colorado Center | October 19, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Tickets ($5) and additional information available here.
For the second year, History Colorado Center is celebrating Filipino American History Month! Featuring vibrant cultural displays, including traditional dance performances, film screenings, and various presentations that showcase the history and achievements of Filipino Americans, the day promises to be an enriching experience for all. In addition to cultural presentations, Filipino American History Month Celebration will feature contributions from key Filipino American organizations in Colorado and provide a platform to learn more about the Filipino American experience and celebrate the community’s enduring legacy in the United States.

Meet The Collection: Philippines Collection |  Denver, CO
History Colorado Center | October 19, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.  & 1 – 3 p.m.
History Colorado invites the public to view the Filipino objects in History Colorado’s collection and learn about this unique history. Filipino belongings were first brought to the museum through the War Relic Collection of 1898, and were collected through donations that date to the mid-1930s. Located in the Stephen H. Hart Research Center, this collection will be on display from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1 – 3 p.m.  for anyone to view, comment, and/or provide feedback to help deliver the best possible care and historically accurate information about these objects. This event is free with general admission to the History Colorado Center.

Low Sensory Morning | Denver, CO
History Colorado Center | October 26, 8 – 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 exhibitions turned down to ensure an accessible experience for all. Come and enjoy! Admission is free and space is limited, so an RSVP is required.

Book Club | Trinidad, CO
Trinidad History Museum | October 26, 10 – 11 a.m.
Join the Trinidad History Museum’s Book Club for a discussion about October’s book-of-the-month: The Guide, by Peter Heller. Hosted every other month, the Trinidad Book Club comes together to talk about a book set in or related to Colorado (but varied in genre and theme). To sign up for this month’s conversation, or to learn more about Book Club, please contact Millie Duren at emily.duren@state.co.us.us or at (719) 846-7217. 

Meet the Collection: Beauty, Neuroscience, & Architecture with Don Ruggles | Denver, CO
History Colorado Center | October 29, 1 – 2 p.m.
Join History Colorado for an up-close look at the Don Ruggles Collection with creator & architect Don Ruggles, CEO Emeritus of Ruggles Mabe Studio. This collection includes architectural drawings, correspondence, and other business records pertaining to Ruggles’ work across Colorado, the United States, and beyond during his 50+ year career. Ruggles will provide a unique glimpse into several of his design projects that led to his groundbreaking research on the connection between design, neuroscience, and health. This program is free with general admission, but capacity is limited so we highly suggest reserving your tickets online in advance!

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 145-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