ColoradoColorado HistoricalHistorical SocietySociety 2005–2006 Annual Report The Year of the Museum: The Colorado Historical Society’s 2005–2006 Annual Report From Colorado Senate Joint Resolution 06-030: “…Whereas…Colorado’s museums have been serving the public since 1879, encouraging curiosity and providing a source of enjoyment and education for every generation; and… Whereas, Each year, museums devote more than $1 billion and more than 18 million instructional hours to elementary and secondary education programs...across the United States…and… Whereas, Museums forge relationships with community partners such as schools, libraries, public broadcasting, and neighborhood and social service organizations to foster civic participation and cultural understanding; Be it Resolved by the Senate of the Sixty-fifth General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the House of Representatives concurring herein: That we, the members of the Colorado General Assembly, declare 2006 as “The Year of the Museum” and invite all…members of the public to recognize and celebrate the contributions of…museums as they serve communities, the state, the nation, and the world.” For more information about Colorado’s State Historical Fund, call 303/866-2825 to request a copy of its annual report or go to www.oahp.org and follow the links to the State Historical Fund. Credits: Annual report design: State of Colorado’s Integrated Document Solutions (IDS) Design Photos: All images from the Colorado Historical Society, unless otherwise noted Cover: A ride on the Georgetown Loop Railroad offers spectacular scenery and an experience with Colorado’s railroading past. Facing page background: Untitled, c. 1933 by Arthur Roy Mitchell. Contents Letter from the Chairman and President & CEO . 2 Colorado History Museum . 4 Georgetown Loop Historic Mining & Railroad Park . 6 El Pueblo History Museum . 7 Fort Garland Museum/Pike’s Stockade . 8 Ute Indian Museum . 9 Byers-Evans House Museum . 10 Fort Vasquez Museum . 11 Trinidad History Museum . 12 Healy House & Dexter Cabin . 13 Grant-Humphreys Mansion . 14 Preservation . 15 Awards . 16 Board of Directors . 17 Colorado Historical Society by the Numbers, 2005–2006 . 18 2005–2006 Attendance . 19 Financial Summary . 20 Colorado Historical Society Staff . 21 Staff Professional Activities . 23 Volunteers . 26 Community Support . 30 A NNUAL R EPORT 2005–2006 1 Letter from the Chairman and President & CEO The Colorado Historical Society, through our statewide system of museums that focus his year the United States Congress and on Colorado history, is proud to play an the Colorado State Legislature each important role in the preservation and sharing T passed legislative resolutions declaring of our state’s heritage. Founded in 1879 by 2006 the Year of the Museum. Other state and legislative invitation to collect, preserve, and municipal legislatures throughout the country exhibit the materials of Colorado history, followed suit. Museums hold in trust historical today’s Colorado Historical Society is a documents, photographs, art works, ethno- multi-dimensional state agency and a non- graphic artifacts—in fact a vast array of mate- profit educational institution governed by a rials documenting every aspect of our nation’s volunteer board of directors elected by the cultural history and identity—and they share institution’s membership. these materials through research, exhibitions, As a full-service history agency, we cater publications, and educational programs. to the needs of many clients and audiences. Surveys show Americans view museums as one Our Office of Archaeology and Historic of the most important resources for educating Preservation, State Historical Fund preservation children, and they consider museums one of grant program, educational programs, website, the most trustworthy sources of information. publications, and the Stephen H. Hart Library Georgianna Contiguglia, President & CEO of the Colorado Historical Society, and Philip H. Karsh, Chairman of the Board of Directors. 2 C OLORADO H ISTORICAL S OCIETY But, in this Year of the Museum, keep in mind that history continues to be made every day, and it is our responsibility to ensure that in another hundred years, your story and ours can be told through the artifacts and materials we have left behind. Museums’ holdings docu- ment our common goals and diverse opinions. They illuminate trends and identify differences. They speak of our aspirations, failures, and accomplishments. We create this legacy by sup- porting our museums through personal visits, donations, and membership. Our museums, after all, hold the collective memories of Colorado for all to share and enjoy. Sincerely, Georgianna Contiguglia President & CEO Volunteers teach museum visitors to pan for gold. State Historic Preservation Officer all provide public access to information on Colorado’s past. But perhaps the most successful vehicles Philip H. Karsh we have to engage the public in Colorado’s Chairman, Board of Directors history are the Society’s many museums, which display and interpret the rich assortment of authentic artifacts and documents that we hold in trust for the people of Colorado. Our historical sites—Fort Garland, Fort Vasquez, Pike’s Stockade, Healy House, Bloom Mansion, and others—provide visitors with one-on-one encounters with the materials that tell the stories of the daily lives, occupations, and explorations of Native tribes, fortune seekers, and settlers whose life experiences made Colorado what it is today. A NNUAL R EPORT 2005–2006 3 Colorado History Museum hat do a late-nineteenth-century the Society took an unusual approach to photographer, rodeo queens and marking the anniversary. The exhibit A W ranch hands, a jewelry-making Woman’s Place….Is on the Range presents the statesman, a self-taught folk artist, and a North fascinating history of women in Colorado’s American bison have in common? They were ranching and cattle industry, as well as cowgirl all featured at the Colorado History Museum fashion and pop culture. this year. January also marked the addition of a In 1999, photographer John Fielder and new sculpture to the museum’s front plaza. On the Colorado Historical Society teamed up to the Wind, a larger-than-life-sized sculpture of a present an exhibit and book featuring the his- North American bison, was commissioned for toric photography of William Henry Jackson the people of Colorado by Mr. James Volker. juxtaposed against John Fielder’s contemporary “I’ve long admired T.D. Kelsey’s work,” says images of the same scenes. The project was Mr. Volker of the sculptor, “and the bison is wildly successful, but many photo pairs were such a striking symbol of the American West— never seen by the public. In 2005, the Society it seemed fitting to place it at the entrance to and Fielder joined forces again to present the Colorado History Museum as a gift to the another book and exhibit. people of Colorado.” January 2006 marked the 100th anniver- In June, the museum welcomed The sary of the National Western Stock Show, and Jewelry of Ben Nighthorse, an exhibit of the Ben Nighthorse in his studio, below, and one of his creations, left. Photos courtesy of the Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College, Durango, Colorado. 4 C OLORADO H ISTORICAL S OCIETY On the Wind by T.D. Kelsey amazing creations of the former Colorado Kenneth R. Chrismer’s senator. Nighthorse is known for his exceptional intricate hand-carved designs and for pushing the boundaries of carousel is 40 inches wide. “Indian jewelry” design. The exhibit opened at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian and is on an exclusive three-year tour of the United States. Kenneth R. Chrismer, a rancher from Colorado’s eastern plains, has spent years cre- ating wood carvings. Chrismer shies away from the spotlight, but he agreed to share a selection of his work for a rare exhibit at the Colorado History Museum. “Chrismer’s dedication to his work and extraordinary talent reveal his inner drive to create,” says Alisa Zahller, associate curator of decorative and fine arts.” The exhibi- tion features a collection of ornate carvings— walking sticks, diorama vignettes, even a miniature carousel inspired by the carousel in Burlington, Colorado—that capture the essence of rural life. A NNUAL R EPORT 2005–2006 5 Georgetown Loop Historic Mining & Railroad Park sive project made possible by a State Historical Fund grant. he 2006 season of the Georgetown Loop Once restoration was complete this Railroad marked the return of the 1884 spring, the engine made a stop at the Colorado T Colorado & Southern locomotive No. 9, History Museum, where visitors, tourists, and which in its heyday on the C&S narrow-gauge passersby marveled at the unusual sight of a system made regular trips into Clear Creek historic steam engine perched atop a flatbed County and on the Georgetown Loop, pulling truck. “It’s not every day you see a steam both freight and passengers. engine this old restored to such beautiful It was the No. 9 that brought the last pas- condition,” said Society collections manager senger train from Leadville to Denver on April Todd Topper. “The return of the No. 9 places 10, 1937. After active service, the engine was it among the oldest operating steam engines alternately on display or in storage until 2004, in Colorado.” when it went to Uhrich Locomotive Works in From the museum the engine traveled to Strasburg, Colorado, to be restored, an exten- Silver Plume, where its first public appearance on the tracks was at the Clear Creek County Railroad Days festival in May. The No. 9 made a lasting impression on all in attendance, but Society board member Doug Morton was particularly inspired: He pledged on the spot to sponsor the No. 9 in honor of his daughter and son-in-law. “What an opportunity to be part of this longstanding tradition—something that will be here for a long time to come,” he said.