Colorado’s 138th birthday is Aug. 1, and the state’s eight regional museums as well as the History Colorado Center are celebrating by offering free admission and special activities
Beginning at 10 a.m. Friday at 1200 Broadway, visitors can help build an adobe wall, cook a cobbler in a Dutch oven and see a sluice mining demonstration. Performances include square dancing, American Indian dances, music and cowboy rope tricks.
The demonstrations and activities are tied to Colorado traditions and history, said Bill Convery, a state historian. “If you were a settler in southern Colorado, chances are good you made your house out of adobe brick,” Convery said.
The free two-day Denver event Aug. 1 and 2 is a partnership between the History Colorado Center and Colorado Proud to celebrate Colorado’s admission to the Union as the 38th state in 1876. Shannon Haltiwanger, communications manager at the History Colorado Center, said they hope to educate attendees about historical and cultural aspects unique to Colorado. (The other regional museums are free only on Aug. 1.)
“It gives you that ability to experience the entire state in one fell swoop,” said Haltiwanger. “I think it’s important for all of us to take a moment and celebrate Colorado’s birthday.”
Also part of the event is a farmers market featuring locally made jams, jellies and salsas, which is tied into the Colorado Proud program, which supports Colorado produce. A 27-day tourto spread awareness of state-grown food will kick off this weekend as well.
August is “the perfect time to enjoy produce that’s available, especially the peaches, cantaloupes, sweet corn,” said Wendy White, marketing specialist for the Colorado Department of Agriculture.
Jordan Gonzalez: 303-954-1395, jgonzalez@denverpost.com, @jordanrgonzo
Museums celebrating Colorado history
The following museums have free admission on Colorado History Day, Aug. 1: Byers-Evans House Museum, Denver; El Pueblo History Museum, Pueblo; Fort Garland Museum & Pike’s Stockade, Fort Garland; Fort Vasquez Museum, Platteville; Georgetown Loop Historic Mining & Railroad Park, Georgetown; Healy House Museum and Dexter Cabin, Leadville; Trinidad History Museum, Trinidad; Ute Indian Museum, Montrose.
