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“Every generation leaves behind a legacy. What that legacy will be is determined by the people of that generation. What legacy do you want to leave behind?”
―John Lewis
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Eric enjoys these views on the daily.
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Connecting Coloradans to history and each other is at the heart of what we do. Whether it’s exhibits, workshops, youth activities, or something else, our work is most powerful when people come together.
When we went online with our Borderlands of Southern Colorado lectures, more than 1,500 of you watched in. Now that our museums have reopened, social distancing means we continue to seek creative ways to serve you. At Fort Garland, we’re hosting outdoor yoga every Saturday morning. And we’ve partnered with the Southwest Migrant Education Program and the San Luis Valley Early Childhood Council to provide free masks, hand sanitizer, and other PPE to Costilla County residents.
Across the state, we’re finding new ways to serve communities:
- Personalized, curator-led cafecitos that explore historically significant art at the Hecho en Colorado exhibit at the History Colorado Center.
- A George Floyd Community Vigil at El Pueblo History Museum.
- Small-group rock art tours of Shavano Valley through the Ute Indian Museum.
- Offering Leadville Railroad passengers tours of the Healy House Museum and its gardens.
These are just a few of so many ways our museums are adapting. While the pandemic has created challenges, it’s also fostered incredible innovation, creativity, and teamwork—with results that we hope will benefit our communities for years to come!
—Eric Carpio, Director of the Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center
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A Civil Rights Law Turns 30
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On July 26, 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act, the first law to bar discrimination against people with disabilities in all areas of public life. For the 30th anniversary of this game-changing legislation, here’s a look back with Kevin Williams, an attorney who enforces the ADA and is himself an individual with a disability.
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President George H.W. Bush signs the Americans with Disabilities Act into law, seated beside US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Chairman Evan Kemp (left) and disability rights activist Justin Dart, Jr., often referred to as the “Father of the ADA.” Both men used wheelchairs.
The ADA Network
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Americans are road-tripping again, and sometimes even road trips go virtual. Between 1969 and 2008, John Margolies took photos of America’s coolest and quirkiest roadside attractions (a mere 11,000 slides, but who’s counting). The Library of Congress keeps adding them to this gallery. Recognize any of these sites? They’d love to see your pictures too! Kitsch you later…
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Speaking of Road Trips...
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Our legendary Tours & Treks are on hold, but our new Tour-in-a-Box is the hot new ticket this summer. Reserve one of these custom-made self-guided Denver driving tours with goodies from local businesses to snarf along the way. It’s not your everyday getaway! We also have kits to do your very own summer camp, with craft supplies, cool Colorado facts, and ways to explore your own neighborhood (that’s sort of a road trip, right?).
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Last week, Governor Polis made it official with a statewide mask order. And back in April, he was already urging us all to wear them. Let’s face it, these are historic times, and we’ll need the right kinds of artifacts to tell our story to future generations. Just one of many such donations, the COVID-19 mask Governor Polis wore at his April press conference is now part of History Colorado’s permanent collection. How can you help us document this historic era?
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Game-Changing Name-Changing
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In more historic news, a neighborhood in Denver has committed to changing its name as residents grapple with a hundred years of history. Now, the list has been whittled down to nine finalists.
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Remembering Two Civil Rights Icons
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Even as John Lewis made history as a leader in the Civil Rights Movement and as a Congressman representing Georgia, he never lost his faith in creating a better future for all Americans. In commemoration of his passing on July 17, the podcast What It Takes shared John Lewis’s story in his own words. On July 17, we also lost Rev. C.T. Vivian. Not only was Vivian there at Selma, wrote Lewis, “He was there with us on the Freedom Rides, he did time in Parchman, he was in Birmingham in ’63, and Mississippi in ’64.” He too shared his story.
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📆 Upcoming Events and Programs
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There’s so much good stuff ahead we can’t keep up without a list. Here’s some of what we’re excited about in the week ahead:
- Cafecitos for Hecho en Colorado. They’ve been so popular we’re hosting them every Friday now! See the History Colorado Center’s new exhibit of Chicano, Mexican, and Native arts in tours with curator Adrianna Abarca. Have a cup of coffee and experience the exhibit with family or a small group of friends.
- Carrie Clyde Holly: An American First. Hear the story of the Pueblo state legislator who was also the first woman in the world to draft a bill that became a law. Colorado State University–Pueblo professor Dr. Judy E. Gaughan presents as part of the Colorado Women Lecture Series on Zoom this Saturday, July 25.
- Colorado Day. August 1 is Colorado’s 144th birthday! All our sites are open for free, and you need to reserve your tickets in advance. Or you can meet, greet, and play with strangers at a virtual birthday party with Meet Cart. On July 29, get the party started by making yucca paintbrushes at home.
- Center for Colorado Women’s History tours. Our historic Byers-Evans House Museum is open for tours again. Sign up in advance to safely explore the mansion with a guide. A recent reviewer had one simple word for it: “breathtaking”!
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ICYMI (In Case You Missed It)
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Stronger with Your Support
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History Colorado wouldn't be the institution it is today without your support. Give to History Colorado today and continue to create a better future for Colorado by inspiring wonder in our past.
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Your Spirit of Giving Sustains Us
We always ❤️ our members, but we’re especially grateful these days for their support. Susannah and Ron Marshall just celebrated their first anniversary as History Colorado members. Without loyal friends like the Marshalls, we could never impact Colorado in all the ways that we do. 🙏
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