History Colorado Center
“The landscape of Colorado was shaped over millions of years. Its natural beauty is diverse and unmatched. Our people? They are just as distinctive as our dramatic geography. Their stories are not only our roots, they are our heritage. Visitors of all ages will experience this rich history from a whole new perspective at the History Colorado Center. New exhibitions blend technology, artifacts and environments to shape compelling stories about our state— partnered with fun public programs for all ages to quench your curiosity.
Celebrate Colorado’s glorious landscapes on a three story multimedia presentation. Traverse an 80-foot map of the state using a “time machine.” Virtually travel the plains in a Model T Ford. Don a headlamp and descend into the hard-rock mine of Silverton. Soar off the world’s first ski jump in Steamboat Springs. Do all this and more among Colorado’s most historic treasures. True Colorado experiences come alive at the History Colorado Center!”
The above comments were provided by Kelly Williams who is a fourth generation Colorado native and has been with History Colorado for 10 years. Kelly is the Director of Marketing and Communications and she also oversees the advertising, sales, communications, and guest services functions for History Colorado and the new History Colorado Center.
Guide Line Review
HISTORY COLORADO . . . a PREVIEW of the 21st CENTURY MUSEUM . . .
The November meeting was held at the History Colorado Center, and the tour was given by Kelly Williams, Marketing & Communications Director who gave us a wonderful tour and overview of the facility that will open this next spring to the public, even though all exhibits will not be completely in place until 2014. Colorado Historical Society was the original name of the group now known as History Colorado for ease in public understanding of what is available and how history overlaps across the states and nation.
The old museum was government reliant; this new Museum is self-sustaining, more "green". Funded partially through gaming tax revenue, they have a $33 million capital campaign which already has raised over half the monies needed. The Center is looking for grants to come in to increase funds available to the campaign. History Colorado is not SCFD funded (The Art Museum, Botanic Gardens, and Museum/Nature & Science, are SCFD funded). History Colorado's many sites around the State include El Pueblo, Trinidad, Fort Garland, Fort Vasquez, Montrose and Leadville. This Center is the orientation site for the others.
The Building is based on revenue generation. There is educational space, exhibit space and rental space, all of which will generate revenue. The rental space has already hosted three weddings and is 86% rented for fiscal 2012 evening events.
The Center has used many sustainable materials, i.e., the meeting room we were in had ceilings of beetle-kill pine. Terrazzo floors with scrap glass (broken beer bottles from Coors!) are throughout, cabinetry is of pressed aspen. The office space looks out on cubicles, which look through windows to the center of the building. The building exterior is Indiana limestone, interior stairwell walls of Colorado sandstone, and the building makes extensive use of natural lighting.
The biggest thing people want to see in the building is exhibits. HCC is fulfilling that request in this new facility. This should substantially increase the number of visitors annually.
We began our tour on the fourth floor which for the most part, is gallery and rental space. The gallery is to be used for traveling exhibits beginning in 2014. These spaces have fantastic views of downtown and make wonderful use of natural light. Fourth level floors are of bamboo, stained with a cherry finish. Pikes Peak and Mt. Evans can be viewed from the outdoor terrace. This level is to be used for programs and events such as high school proms. Blackout curtains will be installed to darken the room for video/film presentations. The larger room will seat 250, the smaller, 125. The view from the fourth floor to the first is highlighted by the topographical map of the State of Colorado. This map is considered public art and can be walked on. Time machines will go across the map: one can click on a spot, and time will turn back, showing the history of that spot on the map. "Hot spots" can be changed as exhibits change--reminds me of Starlight Bridge in Ho Chi Minh City which I have walked many times. It is a favorite evening and weekend place for "locals".
The third floor is all offices which we by-passed but are visible through the many windows opening to the atrium (center) of the building.
The 2nd floor will have half of the exhibit space opening in spring, 2012, to coincide with the "Doors Open Denver" event April 14-16, 2012. The other half of the exhibit floor space will open by the spring, 2013. Nine different "Colorado Stories" are to be highlighted; they will include the Sand Creek Massacre, Lincoln Hills Wink's Lodge, a Silverton mine. The Steamboat Springs "ski jump" exhibit will be interactive; one can try virtual ski jumping. Many of us look forward to trying that!
Also on the 2nd floor will be a "Denver A-Z Corner, planned to open October, 2012. This section will have each letter of the alphabet highlighted with a Denver landmark. For instance: C will be Casa Bonita or "Cage War" between the Blue Bear outside the Convention Center and the Blue Horse at Denver International Airport. "South Park" (a television comedy) is based on the real South Park, Colorado.
History Colorado is thematic and will focus on communities, dreams and visions of residents and settlers. Why did they come? Why did they stay? These themes have relevancy to all ages--children and adults.
The "Man vs. Nature" exhibit is planned to open the spring, 2013. Its story will be about Water--Colorado's story about water and the scarcity thereof. Interactive, the exhibit will feature a homestead during "Colorado Dust Bowl Days" and hours and hours of dust storms. One will be able to hear the storm noise and see the aftermath of dust and dirt on everything. The company working on these exhibits also worked on Harry Potter films. The intent: to have both children and adults be able to have similar experiences.
The Steven H. Hart Library is also on the 2nd floor. This humidity-controlled research Library, to include books, manuscripts and genealogical information, will open, by appointment, January 2012. History Colorado is the storage center and caretaker of Colorado history.
The 1st floor of the Center opens in the spring, 2012. A train depot "Destination Colorado" features a stop at Keota (now a "Plains 'ghost town'" that holds a town reunion yearly). A 1928 yearbook will be on display; one can have a photo taken in a hairstyle from that era. Also to be included: a Native American exhibit with the background and information of several tribes, Mesa Verde, and the Sand Creek Massacre. Another exhibit is to feature Japanese/ Americans and their forced internment at Camp Amache.
The 1st Floor Lobby Desk is of one piece of Loveland sandstone. The reflection in the Lobby is so bright during afternoons that shades will be installed over the windows. A Boulder artist/engineer designed and made the terrazo "floor map" in pieces, then re-assembled them on the floor.
A wall micro tile opposite the main (1st floor) entrance will feature a ten-minute loop history of Colorado. It will be shown from a laptop, so it is easily changed to focus on different aspects of Colorado's history.
The facility is geared to families--many school field trips for children 6 - 12 years old will visit here. HCC also wants adults to attend and have planned "evening hours for adults only". These new exhibits will have some parts of the old exhibits retained, but they won't be the same. A first floor auditorium will seat 320 people. Beginning May 2012, it will be available at noon and in the evenings.
Motor coach tour and bus parking is planned for the 12th Avenue side of the building along with a "drop-off" for coach and bus groups. (The City of Denver is in process of identifying spots for pick-up and drop-off in downtown.) Anthony Graves, Director, Government Relations for VISIT DENVER, is working on this (an on-line site with this information has been suggested). Parking is available across the street in the parking garage; History Colorado hopes to be able to use a parking structure next to the new Judicial Building evenings and for after-hour events.
Thank you, Nancy Brueggeman.