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From once-in-a-generation exhibitions to scenic train rides, free family-friendly events, intriguing author talks, immersive tours, illuminating glimpses at history, and so much more – History Colorado is offering something for everyone in May.

This May, the Freedom Plane National Tour: Documents That Forged a Nation is landing in Denver – bringing with it a unique opportunity to see some of our nation’s founding documents including an annotated draft of the Constitution of the United States. Archaeology & Historic Preservation Month offers a chance to honor the year-round work of the people and projects that protect the Centennial State’s historic places and archaeological treasures. Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month invites reflection on the cultural pride and persistence of Colorado’s AAPI communities in the face of a history of discrimination, state sanctioned imprisonment, and racially motivated violence.

History Colorado museums across the state are also connecting communities with fascinating events and exhibitions throughout May – honoring the stories of Colorado’s soldiers-on-skis, domestic workers who kept Fort Garland going, 150 years of Trinidad history, and beyond.
 

New Exhibitions:

Votes & Dreams | Denver, CO
Center for Colorado Women’s History | Now Open!

Colorado’s women have long been trailblazers charting a way forward – from securing women’s voting rights decades before the rest of the country to pursuing economic justice and civil rights. In Votes & Dreams, a fascinating mix of artifacts show the struggles and triumphs of Colorado’s women activists and leaders who organized at the ballot box and beyond to implement their vision for a better future. 

12 Tablecloths | Fort Garland, CO
Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center | Now Open!

Created by renowned artist and historian Chloé Duplessis, 12 Tablecloths is a transformative art installation that honors the extraordinary contributions of Black women and the significance of domestic service at Fort Garland and other western military outposts during the Civil War era. This exhibition is the third iteration of 12 Tablecloths, which Duplessis previously created site-specific versions of for the Center for Colorado Women’s History and the Trinidad History Museum.

The Unquiet Utes | Montrose, CO
Ute Indian Museum | Now Open!

Through a series of historic photographs, The Unquiet Utes traces the journey of the “Absentee Utes” through Wyoming in 1906 as photographed by T. W. Tolman. This traveling exhibition from the Campbell County Rockpile Museum explores the Ute frustrations with US land policies and other reasons for their journey. It also covers the path taken across Wyoming, their meeting with US Cavalry including Buffalo Soldiers, their withdrawal to Fort Meade and later Thunder Butte, South Dakota, and their eventual return to Utah in 1908.

 

Exhibitions Opening Soon:

Freedom Plane National Tour: Documents That Forged a Nation | Denver, CO
History Colorado Center | Opening May 28

For the first time ever, a collection of remarkable documents from our nation’s founding are going on tour together on the Freedom Plane. History Colorado Center is one of only eight museums across the country receiving this special collection – on display for a limited time from May 28 through June 14. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the most fundamental documents in our country’s history – from an original engraving of the Declaration of Independence to a rare draft printing of the US Constitution. Visitors must reserve timed tickets in advance. History Colorado members may book tickets for member-only hours on most mornings throughout the exhibition’s run. 

Winter Warriors: The 10th Mountain Division in World War II | Leadville, CO
Healy House Museum & Dexter Cabin | Opening May 22

Winter Warriors explores the history of the US Army's first winter warfare division from its training at Camp Hale in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains through their crucial breakthrough against the Nazi German Army in the mountains of Italy. Experience this incredible story of ingenuity, perseverance, heroism, and sacrifice in a deeply personal way – through photos, accounts, videos, and objects from the soldiers themselves.

 

Archaeology & Historic Preservation Month Exhibitions & Events:

Keeping Place: Colorado Heritage for All | Denver, CO
History Colorado Center | Now Open!

Keeping Place shares a snapshot of History Colorado’s ambitious and ongoing Colorado Heritage for All initiative, which aims to add at least 150 historic sites from previously excluded histories to the State Register of Historic Places. Through photos and stories, this exhibition highlights a few of these newly honored places and explores how buildings and landscapes witness our experiences, anchor our communities, and shape the stories we pass down.

Shavano Valley Petroglyph Tours | Montrose, CO
Ute Indian Museum to Shavano Valley | Tours available every Sunday in May, 5:30 – 7:30 pm

Shavano Valley – located just outside of Montrose, Colorado – is one of the most picturesque and important rock art sites in western Colorado. The Archaic and Ute peoples created more than two dozen rock art panels thousands of years ago. The Ute Indian Museum is offering tours throughout the spring and summer led by a trained Shavano Valley Petroglyph Docent. To reserve your spot, call (970) 249-3098.

All About Archaeology: Arch for Dummies | Montrose, CO
Ute Indian Museum | May 16, 12 – 2 pm

Gain an understanding of what archaeology is in this afternoon All About Archaeology workshop at the Ute Indian Museum. This popular session previously offered for high school students is now open for adults! Learn how to get involved in volunteer and career possibilities, while hearing from professionals who work in the field. Registration costs $20 per person. To register, call (970) 249-3098.

 

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Exhibitions & Events:

Meet the Collection: 20th-Century Japanese American Visual Artists in Colorado | Denver
History Colorado Center | May 5, 12 – 1 pm

Experience the recently donated art of Japanese American visual artists Frank Muramoto and Tokio Ueyama with a behind-the-scenes look at the collection. Connected by their Japanese backgrounds but divergent in their trajectories, these artists left indelible marks on Colorado history through photographs shot in Pueblo and resilient oil paintings created at the Amache internment camps during World War II. Tickets are free with museum admission!

Big Dreams in Denver’s Little Saigon, a mezzanine exhibition at the History Colorado Center, celebrates decades of resilience, creativity, and community. Created in partnership with Colorado Asian Pacific United, this exhibition showcases the sights, sounds, and smells that define Little Saigon. This is a snapshot of the multi-year Little Saigon Memory Project through History Colorado’s public history initiative, the Museum of Memory. 

Moments That Made US – a remarkable exhibition at the History Colorado Center tracing 800 years of US history –  explores moments that have tested the ideals set forth in the Declaration of Independence. In the late 1800s, this “nation of immigrants” closed its doors when the Chinese Exclusion Act banned new Chinese immigration and made those already in the United States permanent foreigners who could not become citizens. Later legislation required Chinese men and women to carry papers proving their legal residency or face deportation. 

Zoom In: The Centennial State in 100 Objects at the History Colorado Center includes pivotal moments in Colorado’s Asian American history. A traditional Chinese wedding dress belonging to the daughter of community leader Chin Lin Sou represents the violent discrimination that erupted with the 1880 anti-Chinese riot in Denver’s Chinatown. A collection of handpainted wooden pins, known in Japanese as gaman, represents the imprisonment of Japanese Americans at the Amache internment camp during World War II. Dr. William Wei, a member of the State Historian’s Council, was the lead advisor on this exhibition.

Confined Citizens: The Amache-Granada Relocation Center, 1942–1945 –  an exhibition inside Colorado Stories at the History Colorado Center – explores how after Pearl Harbor, 120,000 Japanese and Japanese Americans were forced into internment camps, including one in Colorado called “Amache.” Half of Colorado’s newly imprisoned population were children. Two-thirds were American citizens. None were accused of a crime. This exhibition showcases the acts of resilience the interned Japanese Americans engaged in during this time, such as making art and publishing a newspaper.

Keeping Place: Colorado Heritage for All at the History Colorado Center includes the story of the Tower of Compassion in Longmont, which was built in the style of a traditional Japanese temple. The influential Kanemoto family donated the tower to the people of Longmont as an expression of gratitude.

 

May Events and Attractions:

Mother’s Day Weekend Georgetown Loop Railroad Rides | Georgetown, CO
Georgetown Loop Railroad | May 1 – 3, 8 – 10 am

Celebrate Mom with a memorable mountain experience. Ride through towering evergreens, over iconic trestles, and along mountain vistas aboard the Georgetown Loop’s historic narrow-gauge railroad. Mothers will receive a rose during their ride, and guests can enjoy two-for-one mimosas in the premium cars. Each reservation also includes a custom 2026 Mother’s Day Faro Chip, a perfect keepsake for a special day. Hop aboard the Mother’s Day Train or plan ahead for the many themed rides coming up this year. Tickets sell out quickly so be sure to reserve yours now!

Heritage Arts Series: Colcha Embroidery Workshop | Trinidad, CO
Trinidad History Museum | May 2 – 23 on Saturdays, 10 am – 12 pm

Join local artist Sandy Dolak for a 4-week course on the art of colcha embroidery. Learn about the history of this folk art and the materials, stitches, and techniques needed to make it possible. All materials are included for you to create your own colcha art. Classes will be held at the same time each Saturday through May 23 in the Barglow History Room at 312 E. Main St. Reserve your spot online for $60 (History Colorado Members receive a 20% discount). For more information, contact Millie Duren at emily.duren@state.co.us.

Colorado Black Equity Study: Community Listening Session | Colorado Springs, CO
Gaylord Hall, Worner Campus Center at Colorado College | May 2, 12 – 2 pm

The Black Equity Study is hosting its sixth Community Listening Session. Learn about the study’s progress and contribute by sharing your lived experience in a guided table discussion facilitated by the Black Equity research team. Register for this free event to reserve your spot.

In Bloom Mother’s Day Tea | Denver, CO
Center for Colorado Women’s History | May 7, 9 or 10, 10:30 am – 12:30 pm or 1:30 – 3 pm

Celebrate motherhood with your loved ones and a delicious cup of tea. In Bloom Mother’s Day Tea begins with an hour-long Women’s History Tour followed by an hour-long tea seating. Enjoy light savory and sweet fare from local, woman-led business Miss Peabody’s Southern Tea Cakes alongside the museum’s signature Lady Lavender Black Tea with citrus, vanilla, and bergamot. Purchase tickets for your preferred day and seating time. Tickets include general admission to the museum and gardens during open hours. 

Low Sensory Tour | Denver, CO
History Colorado Center | May 9, 8 – 10 am

The History Colorado Center is happy to open its doors for families and self-advocates who prefer a lower sensory museum environment. For one morning every other month, the museum will be closed to the general public, attendance limited, and sounds in the exhibits turned down. Tickets are free, but space is limited, so reserve your spot in advance. 

Dementia-Friendly Tour | Denver, CO
History Colorado Center | May 9, 9:30 am or 10:30 am

The History Colorado Center is offering a dementia-friendly tour to promote connection and belonging for adults with dementia and their companions. This tour is designed for those who want to linger and enjoy the museum at a slower pace. Tour participants will sit down and engage in a facilitated discussion, learning new information and contributing their own observations along the way. Tickets are free but space is limited, so reserve your spot in advance. Please reach out to Emily Turner at reservations@state.co.us or 303-866-2396 with questions about whether this program is a good fit for you.

Poetry & Posole with Suzi Q. Smith | Fort Garland, CO
Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center | May 9, 12 – 2:30 pm

Renowned Denver poet Suzi Q. Smith will headline Fort Garland Museum’s 3rd annual Poetry & Posole event featuring a posole luncheon followed by a poetry reading and performance. Register in advance for this free event to reserve your spot.

Monday Morning Movement and Meditation | Trinidad, CO
Trinidad History Museum | May 11, 8 – 8:40 am

Join free yoga and meditation classes on the Trinidad History Museum’s Bloom Lawns each Monday morning between May 11 and October 5 with Jennifer Allen. Please bring a water bottle and mat or blanket. Enter through the gate on Walnut St. Please note that the class is outside and weather-dependent. RSVP to reserve your spot. For questions or more information, contact Millie Duren at emily.duren@state.co.us.

Rocky Mountain Map Society: "de Soto, Coosa, and the Creek" | Denver, CO
History Colorado Center | May 12, 5:30 – 7 pm

Stephen Hoffenberg, a Denver-based collector of North American maps, is sharing manuscript maps from early Spanish explorations that shaped cartographic knowledge of the southeast in published maps for almost two hundred years. These “Mother Maps” were the “de Soto” map of 1544, the 1701 manuscript “des Environs du Missisipi” by Delisle and the 1721 “Map of part of North America …” by Barnwell. Each map made its unique and indelible contribution. This event is free with advance registration.

Purgatoire Author Talk | Trinidad, CO
Trinidad History Museum | May 13, 5:30 – 7 pm

Author Liz Prato will read from her book Purgatoire, an historically-based novel tracing the journey of Sabé Parella from northern Italy to southern Colorado to join her husband who has gone ahead to work in the coal mines in 1910. Prato will also lead a discussion and audience Q&A, with a book signing to follow! The book will be available for purchase at the event or in the Trinidad History Museum gift store. Join this free event in the Barglow History Room at 312 E. Main St. Space is limited, RSVP to reserve your seat.

Museum Connections: Recruiting and Keeping Volunteers | Virtual
History Colorado | May 13, 12 – 1 pm

Museum Connections is a monthly series covering the fundamentals of museum work, and new and innovative solutions. For museums struggling with recruiting and keeping volunteers, this month’s virtual session shares strategies, resources and opportunities for group discussion to strengthen your volunteer projects. Each class is $10 per person and open to museum volunteers and professionals from all backgrounds and institution sizes. All classes are free for members of History Colorado’s Affiliate Network.

Free Family Day | Trinidad, CO
Trinidad History Museum | May 16, 10 am – 3 pm
 

Free Family Day at the Trinidad History Museum includes free museum admission, lawn games, and a petting zoo! Local 4-H members will be at the museum with their animals. Attendees also receive 10% off tuition for the Hands-On History Summer Camp at the Trinidad History Museum. The Bloom Mansion is currently closed for planned maintenance, but the Baca House and Santa Fe Trail Museum, as well as all grounds, will be open for visitors. Tickets are free with advance registration. For questions or more information, please contact Millie Duren at emily.duren@state.co.us.

Celticfest Train | Georgetown, CO
Georgetown Loop Railroad | May 16 – 17, 10 am – 2:25 pm

Experience the spirit and traditions of Celtic culture aboard the Georgetown Loop Railroad. Guests are encouraged to dress in Celtic-inspired attire and enjoy a festive mountain ride celebrating this rich heritage. The Celticfest Train has three opportunities varying in pricing and tours. RSVP to these events to reserve your space, as tickets sell out quickly! Each reservation will receive a custom 2026 Celtic Fest Faro Chip. 

How Maps Reveal (and Conceal) History | Denver, CO
History Colorado Center | May 20, 1 pm or 7 pm
 

For more than five hundred years, America has been defined through maps. Above all, maps remind us that the past is not just a chronological story, but also a spatial and visual one. Join author and professor Susan Schulten to explore key maps that have shaped our shared history, ranging from iconic battle plans to unknown treasures by ordinary Americans. You can buy tickets here for this and other lectures in the Rosenberry series.

Music on the Lawn | Trinidad, CO
Trinidad History Museum | May 21, 5:30 – 7 pm
 

Bring a blanket, lawn chair, and snacks to enjoy live music on the Bloom Lawns at the Trinidad History Museum. This evening will feature a performance by Christa and Todd Franks. Enter through the gates on Walnut or Chestnut Street. RSVP in advance for free admission. This event is recurring every Third Thursday from May through September, and admission is free! 

“Aurora: The World in a City” Food Tour | Denver, CO
History Colorado Center | May 22, 9 am – 4 pm

Join this tour around Aurora – Colorado’s third-largest city – to learn about the history, food, and cultures of this special place. Emily Miner, education specialist at the Aurora History Museum, will guide this visit to historic sites significant to the city’s story – all while stopping along the way to taste delectable food from different communities. The registration deadline to reserve your spot is May 7. Check out more adventures in the 2026 Tours & Treks series.

“150 Framed: A Visual History” Mural Exhibition Opening | Trinidad, CO
Trinidad History Museum | May 29, 4 – 6 pm
 

Celebrate Trinidad’s 150 year anniversary with the unveiling of an outdoor art installation created in collaboration between local school students, artists, and the Trinidad History Museum. Local artists created 14 murals, each depicting a different decade in Trinidad’s past, offering a visual timeline of the area’s history. A final mural panel will offer visitors the chance to add their vision for the next 150 years. The exhibition opening will offer light refreshments and is free to attend when you RSVP in advance.

250-150 Community Horno Build: Adobe Brick Building | Trinidad, CO
Trinidad History Museum | May 30, 10 am – 3 pm

The Trinidad History Museum is inviting the community to help build an adobe horno, a traditional mud-built outdoor oven. In this first workshop of the four-part build, you can help make the adobe bricks. Lunch will be provided. Volunteers must be 18 years or older to participate. Reserve your spot through the volunteer application form. 

Telling the Full American Story: A Conversation with Brent Leggs | Denver, CO
History Colorado Center | May 31, 1 – 2 pm

Explore the importance of protecting Black history landmarks in Colorado and across the nation, through this conversation with Brent Leggs, executive director of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund. This event is part of History Colorado’s Blaxplanation series, which explores the stories of Colorado’s Black diaspora. Register for free tickets to reserve your spot.
 

About History Colorado
History Colorado is a 146-year-old institution that offers access to our state’s history through enriching experiences at eleven museums and historic sites. As an agency of the State of Colorado and a non-profit organization, History Colorado is committed to serving all Coloradans through generational work that centers communities, deepens knowledge and catalyzes the transformative power of history.

History Colorado is also home to a free public research center, people-centered preservation work done by the State Historical Fund and the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of the State Archaeologist, the State Historians Council, and many other community-driven public history projects such as the Museum of Memory. History Colorado stewards more than 15 million objects, photographs, and archival resources that make up the State’s collection, and serve tens of thousands of learners of all ages each year. History Colorado is one of only six Smithsonian Affiliates in Colorado. Visit HistoryColorado.org, or call 303-HISTORY, for more information. #HistoryColorado