Animas Museum

What did some of the early explorers of southwest Colorado experience as they made their way through the Four Corners? Are there many archaeological sites nearby, aside from Mesa Verde? What was life like for area miners and the communities where they lived? Who was Olga Little? Join the Durango Public Library, the Center for Southwest Studies, and the Animas Museum to learn how you can explore more about the history and prehistory of the area through items in their collections. We’ll also touch on the incredible digitized collections available from programs across the country—-historic maps, photographs, archives, and so much more!

Wednesday, September 30, 6-7pm. Tools for Exploring the Past, by the Durango Public Library and the Center of Southwest Studies, at the Durango Public Library. Part of the Southwest Colorado Humanities Roundtable History Live! month.

We loved hosting students from today for a custom field trip focused on schools and community - complete with a gift of some student artwork!

It is Colorado’s 150th year as a state, so let’s look back at how and what people ate in 1876. We’ll look at the foods, preparation methods, servingware, and customs around campfires, hornos, manos & metates, and cast iron as we explore the seasonality of foods and transitory nature of the hearth as people moved into, out of, and around what became the state of Colorado in 1876. Join Dr. Rachael Storm, Head of Curatorial Services & Curator of Business and Industry at History Colorado on Tuesday, September 22nd, 6pm at the Durango Public Library. Dr. Storm will also give the same talk at the Pine River Library in Bayfield on Monday, September 21 at 5:30pm.

There is no charge for this program presented jointly by the Animas Museum and the Durango Public Library, part of the Southwest Colorado Humanities Roundtable's History Live! month.

Starting with the Ames Power Plant serving the Gold King Mine near Telluride, SW Colorado was an early adopter of AC electricity. Charles DiFerdinando, a long-time resident, will present his narrative of the history of local power generation on Saturday, September 19, 6pm at the Powerhouse. There is no charge for this event which is part of the Southwest Colorado Humanities Roundtable History Live! month.

To celebrate the sesquisemiquincentennial, the Colorado Department of Agriculture has published a book, written by Dr. Rachael Storm of History Colorado "Setting Colorado's Table."

The book explores the state's agricultural narrative through five core themes: Water, Land, Life, Resilience, and Celebration, and features personal stories and essays from Coloradans who have shaped the state's agricultural past and present.
While this book is not a comprehensive history, it serves as an important historical record, capturing unique, powerful, and diverse histories of our agricultural communities. It honors the people who have stewarded Colorado’s resources for generations, setting the table for all Coloradans.

To continue the work of protecting Colorado’s soils, $30 from each book sold will go directly to farmers and ranchers to advance their stewardship work through the Colorado Soil Health Program.

Dr. Storm will be in Durango and Bayfield as part of History Live! month, with talks at the Durango Public Library on September 22nd at 6pm and at the Pine River Library on September 21st at 5:30pm. The Animas Museum will be at the Durango Public Library with a limited number of copies for sale at $49.95 plus tax.

Wednesday, September 16th, 6-7:30pm at the Durango Public Library! Part of the Southwest Colorado Humanities Roundtable History Live! month.

Discovered in 1937 amid a surge of pothunting in the American Southwest, the Falls Creek Rock Shelters in Durango, Colorado, quickly became one of the most significant archaeological sites in the region. The site’s remarkable preservation of perishable materials attracted both amateur and professional archaeologists, culminating in Earl Morris and Robert Burgh’s landmark 1954 study on the Eastern Basketmakers.

Now, Dawn Mulhern and Mona Charles are introducing their new book at the Durango Public Library — near where the story began. Bringing together experts in chronometry, rock art, bioarchaeology, and material culture, the work reexamines the site with fresh perspectives, advanced methodologies, and crucial tribal consultation.

On Saturday, September 12 at 1pm, sit in as a “budding journalist” interviews the founder and editor of Durango’s first newspaper. Caroline Romney will recount her adventures in the newspaper business, life on the frontier, her real estate enterprises, mining ventures and useful inventions. Prepare to be surprised by the accomplishments of this remarkable woman who not only reported history – she made history.

This event, part of the Southwest Colorado Humanities Roundtable, will be offered live at the Animas Museum. A recording will be available later.

On Labor Day, we salute the workers who helped to build Durango and Colorado.

Workers pose in front of San Juan Smelter in Durango sometime between1895 and 1905. The man holding rod in center left back row is William Beeler.

Catalog number: 06.48.19

On the International Day of Charity, remember "charity begins at home" and consider donating to the Animas Museum. The Museum receives no city support and very limited county support. We depend on our members and donors to keep the doors open. Donate or join on our website animasmuseum.org.

Image courtesy Visit Durango, Hans Hollenbeck photographer.

A museum's job is not to just preserve artifacts, but also to preserve the process. Our local spinners will be here at the Animas Museum starting around 10am on Saturday, September 5th. Bring your wheel, spindle, fiber project, and of course, show and tell. Or just come by to watch and learn.