Women’s History Month at History Colorado

The Resonant and Impactful Stories of Colorado Women
Take Center Stage at History Colorado in March

History Colorado is proud to announce a number of offerings that center on the ways that women have shaped our shared history in celebration of Women’s History Month. From a celebration of International Women’s Day to a tour of woman-owned businesses, and a new episode of History Colorado’s critically acclaimed podcast which highlights women’s fortitude, there are multiple opportunities to share, learn, and engage with the work of Colorado women from the past and present.

International Women’s Day Celebration | Denver, CO
Center for Colorado Women’s History | March 8, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The Center for Colorado Women’s History will be celebrating International Women’s Day by offering free admission and guided tours of the museum on March 8. This historic house museum has been the residence of inspiring women, including Denver’s cultural change maker Anne Evans, since 1883. It has been beautifully restored to the era of 1912-1924 and is furnished with the family’s original belongings. Tours will take place every half hour from 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Contact Margaux Miller at margaux.miller@state.co.us for additional information.

Bold Beverages & Bolder Women Bus Tour: Explore. Immerse. Connect. | Denver, CO
History Colorado Center | March 18, 10 a.m. –  4 p.m.
Tickets ($115-135) and additional information are available here.
Bold women change history for themselves and their communities. Join History Colorado, as we visit a tea shop, cafe, and brewery where they serve social justice advocacy with their delicious food and drinks. TeaLee’s Teashop, in historic Five Points, is a Black-woman-owned shop, proudly serving the community as an afro-centric gathering spot. Convivio Cafe is a bilingual, Guatemalan, immigrant- and woman-owned cafe in Denver. Sourced from farmers and communities in Guatemala, Convivio advocates for their community in Denver and at home. Lastly, Goldspot Brewing Company is a queer, woman-owned brewery dedicated to creating safe and inclusive spaces for everyone.

Lost Highways Presents: William Cathay / Cathay Williams: Buffalo Soldier
Available wherever you get podcasts.
The newest episode of History Colorado’s critically acclaimed podcast, Lost Highways: Dispatches from the Shadows of the Rocky Mountains, dives into the story of Cathay Williams, the Black woman who chopped off her hair, put on men’s clothes, and enlisted as a Buffalo Soldier under the name of William Cathay. In addition to this exploration of a woman’s fortitude to break into a man’s world, season four of Lost Highways has covered the rags-to-riches story of Winfield Scott Stratton, The Man Who Regretted His Millions. Lost Highways explores how our state’s history connects to current events and continues to impact our lives today thanks to the team of expert hosts who shine light on the forgotten episodes of Colorado’s past.

Ongoing Women’s History Offerings 
In addition to its March programming, History Colorado has a number of ongoing projects, programs, and exhibitions that highlight the historic contributions of women to the Centennial state year-round. This includes the Center for Colorado Women’s History which focuses on scholarship, research, lectures, tours, and exhibits that expand the understanding and collective memory of the history of women in Colorado. Return of the Corn Mothers: Inspiring Women of the Southwest at the History Colorado Center honors the unsung heroes of the community, and celebrates more than 70 women who exemplify the essence of the Corn Mother.

The series of Borderlands of Southern Colorado exhibitions at the History Colorado Center, Trinidad History Museum, and El Pueblo History Museum explore life in the borderlands between the United States and the Republic of Mexico before and after the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. This includes highlighting how women were disproportionately impacted by the treaty and saw many of their rights revoked following its signing. The What’s Your Story? exhibition at the History Colorado Center includes the stories of Colorado women who have embraced their own unique superpowers and made an impact on our state or nation.

Additional information about History Colorado’s resources related to Women’s History can be found here.

New Exhibition:
Authentic Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo on Display | Denver, CO
History Colorado Center | On display through May 22
Pages from the original Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, a document that transformed this part of the world forever by significantly expanding the United States and setting the stage for Colorado’s statehood, are on display in Denver for the first time ever. The treaty arrived in Colorado on February 2– which marked the 175th anniversary of its signing– and is now displayed in the Borderlands of Southern Colorado exhibition at the History Colorado Center until May 22, when it will be returned to the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

March Events:
Folklorico Community Dance Class | Fort Garland, CO
Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center | Every Friday in March, 4 – 5 p.m.
Learn the art of Folklorico Dance through this fun and engaging class at the Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center. This class is free and open to adults and students in grades 6-12. Class is held every Friday in March from 4:00-5:00 p.m.

Black Community Engagement: Elder Oral History Workshop | Denver, CO
Ford Warren Library | March 4, 1 – 4 p.m.
This event hosted by History Colorado and held at the Ford Warren Library will focus on gathering the stories of elders in the Black Community so they can be shared and become part of the official Colorado historical record. This workshop will review the basics of oral history work, how to work with technology, and how to donate an elder’s history to the state’s collection. Terri Gentry, History Colorado’s Engagement Manager for Black Communities is hosting a series of  Black community engagement events in 2023 to help preserve and share the stories of Colorado’s Black communities.

Tours & Treks Info Session | Denver, CO
History Colorado Center | March 7, 6 – 7 p.m.
Are you curious about the overnight Treks to New Mexico, Pueblo, or Mesa Verde but have some questions you need answered first? This free informational meeting will allow you to ask all your burning questions about the three treks History Colorado planned! History Colorado’s, Tours & Treks guide, will spend some time going over the details of this season’s treks and answer any questions. This is a free event but RSVP is required.

Museum Basics: Basics of Curation | Denver, CO
History Colorado Center | March 8, 5 – 7 p.m.
Tickets ($25) and additional information is available here.
Join History Colorado’s museum professionals as we demystify some of the behind-the-scenes operations that make cultural institutions run. This month’s Museum Basics class will cover the basics of curation, including writing collection plans & policies, donor relations & acquisitions, as well as ethical and legal considerations. Tickets are available for individual Museum Basics classes as well as the entire series with student discounts available.

Vecinos Community Coffee | Fort Garland, CO
Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center | March 9, 7 – 10 a.m.
Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center invites you to join them for warm beverages, good platica, and a conversation with neighbors. This is a free event to provide space for community sharing and gathering. This event is located in the Mess Hall at Fort Garland Museum with parking and entrance available at the rear of the building.

Writing in the Museum | Denver, CO
History Colorado Center | March 9, 1 – 3 p.m.
Tickets ($15) and additional information available here.
History Colorado, in partnership with Lighthouse Writers, will offer a series of writing workshops. A professional writer will lead participants through writing exercises as they explore the four floors of exhibitions at History Colorado Center and draw inspiration from the displays. The cost of this event will cover admission to the museum and tickets can be purchased in advance here.

March Tea Party | Trinidad, CO
Trinidad History Museum | March 11, 2 – 4 p.m.
Tickets ($10-15) and additional information are available here.
Join Trinidad History Museum for a Victorian-style tea party in the Bloom Mansion. Teas from the Trinidad Tea Company will be served alongside traditional tea foods. Contact Millie at emily.duren@state.co.us or 719-846-7217 to reserve a spot.

In Pie We Crust Tea | Denver, CO
Center for Colorado Women’s History | March 14, two seatings
Tickets ($30-35) and additional information is available here.
The Center for Colorado Women’s History will be hosting a tea party in celebration of Pi(e) Day. This party includes servings of delicious locally made pie alongside the signature Lady Evans Tea and a tour of our historic house museum. There are tours and tea seating at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. All food is prepared off-site by a professional caterer. We are able to accommodate some dietary needs, as indicated in ticket options. Email Margaux with questions at margaux.miller@state.co.us.

Members-Only Digital Behind-the-Scenes Tour: Clothing
Online | March 14, 1 – 2 p.m.
Join Jori Johnson, Collection Access Coordinator, online for a members-only behind-the-scenes tour of the Clothing & Textile Collection at History Colorado that spans almost two hundred years of fashion history. This tour focuses on items that come from department stores in Colorado and have Colorado connections.

This event is free for members but reservations are required. This event will be hosted on Zoom and the link can be found in the PDF in your confirmation email. Please reach out to membership@state.co.us with questions and to become a History Colorado member.

Rosenberry Lecture Series: The Once and Future Hope of Dearfield: Colorado’s African American Colony in the Early 20th Century
History Colorado Center and Online | March 15, 1 – 2 p.m
Tickets ($10-15) and additional information available here.
The Rosenberry Lecture Series continues with a discussion of the African American farm colony of Dearfield which was founded east of Greeley in 1910. At Dearfield Black homesteaders were able to realize their dream of owning land and building their own community and its story is now emerging from the shadows of history through the decade-long Dearfield Dream Project, an integrated research and historic site preservation initiative. This talk is presented by Bob Brunswig, Ph.D., professor emeritus and university research fellow at the University of Northern Colorado, Richard Edwards, Ph.D., director emeritus of the Center for Great Plains Studies at the University of Nebraska, and George H. Junne, Jr., Ph.D., professor and coordinator of African Studies at the University of Northern Colorado.

History Buff Day | Pueblo, CO
El Pueblo History Museum | March 18, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Join Billy the Bison and the membership team for a day full of family programs, coloring, crafts, and museum exploration to celebrate the History Buffs 4th Grade Family Members at the History Colorado Center. This program provides all Colorado fourth graders with a free family membership so they can learn about the history of the Centennial State! Sign up here to become a History Buff member.

Rosenberry Lecture Series: The Life and Times of Colorado Barbecue | Denver, CO
History Colorado Center & Online | March 22, 1 – 2 p.m.
Tickets ($10-15) and additional information available here.
The Rosenberry Lecture Series continues with James Beard Award-winning author Adrian Miller providing an informative and entertaining look at the people and places that shaped Colorado’s barbecue traditions. This hybrid event will take place at the History Colorado Center and will be followed by a signing of Miller’s latest book “Black Smoke: African Americans and the United States of Barbecue.” History Colorado members can also enjoy one of Miller’s personal recipes the day of the lecture as part of our meal deal in the Rendezvous Cafe located at History Colorado Center.

Teen Kickback: Community Connections | Pueblo, CO
El Pueblo History Museum | March 26, 1 p.m.  – 4 p.m.
El Pueblo History Museum is hosting Teen Kickback: Community Connections event on March 26. This event opens up the museum for teens, ages 13-18, to join us for a day to explore the exhibitions. These kickbacks are designed to offer teenagers a space to come together with other teens within the community and engage in various activities such as board games, hangout spots, art sessions, creative stations, music… and don’t forget about the food!

About History Colorado
History Colorado is a division of the Colorado Department of Higher Education and a 501(c)3 non-profit that has served more than 75,000 students and 500,000 people in Colorado each year. It is a 143-year-old institution that operates eleven museums and historic sites, a free public research center, the Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, and the History Colorado State Historical Fund (SHF), which is one of the nation’s largest state-funded preservation programs of its kind. More than 70% of SHF grants are allocated in rural areas of the state. Additionally, the offices of the State Archaeologist and the State Historic Preservation Officer are part of History Colorado.

History Colorado’s mission is to create a better future for Colorado by inspiring wonder in our past. We serve as the state’s memory, preserving and sharing the places, stories, and material culture of Colorado through educational programs, historic preservation grants, collecting, outreach to Colorado communities, the History Colorado Center and Stephen H. Hart Research Center in Denver, and ten other museums and historic attractions statewide. History Colorado is one of only six Smithsonian Affiliates in Colorado. Visit HistoryColorado.org, or call 303-HISTORY, for more information.

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