Located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum aims to collect and preserve the history and cultural of the region. Visitors will find a large diversity of interesting exhibitions developed from the Museum’s permanent collection of more than 60,000 historical artifacts and objects.
History:
The Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum was founded in 1903 and is in the former courthouse of El Paso County. The historical brick building is located at the heart of downtown Colorado Springs and is representative of the unique culture of the region known as Pikes Peak.
The city of Colorado Springs was founded much earlier by General William Jackson Palmer and has the Museum focuses on the vast influence that the city has had on the current culture of today’s residents.
Temporary Exhibitions:
The story of Us: This exhibit explores the history of the Pikes Peaks Region with a dynamic alphabet map. There is a different, unique story about the exciting history and culture of Colorado Springs behind each letter, from A – Z. Visitors can discover their place in local history at this interactive exhibition.
Promoting Patriotism: April 2017 was the 100th anniversary of the United States entering World War I. This exhibit features the propaganda posters and examines various artifacts donated by residents of the area who lived through war dominated era.
Art & Facts of Business in Colorado Springs: This exhibition features recognizable brands from the area and how their visual identity and culture has developed over the years. However, the exhibit truly aims to help visitors understand how these shifts in visual culture can shape the identity and memory of locals through the years.
City of Sunshine: This exhibit is the newest opening at the Museum and features the natural beauty of the Pikes Peaks Region. Historically, the Colorado Springs area was a haven for people seeking treatment for tuberculosis, but the beauty of the region caused them to stay once they recovered.
Journey to Pikes Peak: This interactive, kid-friendly exhibit focuses on how people came to settle and build lives in the Pikes Peak region throughout history.
Any Place North and West: This exhibition focuses on the lives of African Americans and their families after the Civil War. Millions of families flooded the North and West in a desperate attempt to leave the South – this exhibit focuses on their stories.
Behind the Lens: This exhibition highlights five famous landscape photographers from the Pikes Peak Region who successfully captured the wild and unique beauty of the region.
Cultural Crossroads: This exhibition features the artistic contribution made by Native Americans in the region. A large variety of clothing, beadwork, and baskets from more than 30 nations are represented.
From Paris to the Plains: This exhibition features the vast collection of fine pottery from Van Wriggle Art Pottery during its early years.
Permanent Exhibitions:
Helen Hunt Jackson House: This exhibition features the works of one of the most influence authors of the 19th century – Helen Hunt Jackson. She was a resident of the Pikes Peak Region during her most active years as a writer and her home along with its historical items have been preserved and are on display. It is a wonderful representation of her life during the 1870s and the 1880s in Colorado Springs.
One Man and His Vision: This exhibition features the life of one of Colorado Springs most influential residents – General William Jackson Palmer. Not only was he the founder of Colorado Springs but he fought during the Civil War to abolish slavery and was a generous man to all who knew him.
Programs & Education:
There are a large variety of educational and exciting programs at the Pioneers Museum, including various adult, student, and children tours, various research programs, and even educational summer camps.
The Museum’s Calendar of Events page features a whole variety of fun and educational experiences for members of the whole family, including Children’s Storytime, family craft time, and 30-minute highlight tours of various exhibits.
Research:
As a part of its mission, the Pioneers Museum focuses on continued research on the local history and culture of the Pikes Peak Region. The Starsmore Center for Local History works alongside the museum to collect, preserve, and research the large collection of historical manuscripts, maps, blueprints, newspapers, and photographs.
Additional Information:
Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, 215 S. Tejon St., Colorado Springs, CO 80903, Phone: 719-385-5990
