Bill Lee of Laughing Valley Ranch

Some of you may remember a couple of summers ago when we had a donkey and her baby “in residence” in our corral and stable at the Clear Creek History Park.  Bill Lee of Laughing Valley Ranch was the man behind the scenes who came every week to bring the animals so we could share a part of local history with our visitors.  Some of you may also recognize Bill as a 'real-life' Santa who cheered many children during the holidays with his long white beard and laughing eyes.  He also provided the Colorado School of Mines (CSM) donkey named “Blaster” to be their mascot. 

We have heard that Bill was in a serious accident, but is making some progress towards recovery.  Some CSM students and many community members have been helping Bill tend his ranch as a form of payment for all he's done for the Golden community.  You too can help if you’re interested. Find out more at laughingvalleyranch.com.

Golden History Museums receives award for history book

Golden History Museums was recognized this morning with an award from The Jefferson County Good News Coalition.  GHM republished the very popular “A Woman’s Life in Golden” book in 2010, and has been continually working to preserve local history and make it accessible to the public.

Mark and Nathan soak up the applause after Kim Christiansen's (from 9 News) introduction.

Several hundred people gathered at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds for the 21^st annual awards presentation. Among the other honorees were the Ken-Caryl Ranch Historical Society, Colorado Railroad Museum, and the Jefferson County Historical Commission.



Mark and Nathan show off the award and the book.























Mark Dodge and Nathan Richie accepted the award for GHM.

“A Woman’s Life in Golden” chronicles the growth of Golden through the first-hand accounts of 27 women, and is for sale at the Golden History Center.

A Hoosier in Colorado

Being a native Hoosier and life-long resident of Indiana, it was not without some trepidation that I took the step to join the staff at Golden History Museums. It is hard to believe that only this past weekend I was driving across the country to start my first day on the job! While I will certainly miss my family (who are still in Indiana) and the fine folks that I count as friends there, I am now four days in and am so thrilled to be a part of the excitement and energy at Golden History Museums. From the unique partnerships of the Turn It Up exhibit (which opens June 3) to the interactive family learning events planned for the season opening of Clear Creek History Park (May 21), Golden History Museums is well poised to become a true leader in presenting engaging local history to the denizens of Golden and beyond.



I am excited to be in the position of Interpretation and Operations Coordinator at GHM. I'll be working closely with some fantastic staff and volunteers to reenergize the programming at the Astor House Museum and at Clear Creek History Park. I'll also be focusing on developing the volunteer corps (if you are interested in volunteering, please contact me at dallison@cityofgolden.net) into an efficient and high-functioning group. As I begin, I want to listen closely to what people are saying about Golden History Museums. I believe strongly that everyone has ideas that could enhance the offerings at GHM, from volunteers to community partners to moms with very young kids.

History often gets a bad rap as boring and out-of-touch with the problems and challenges of the modern world. It is under siege from indifferent teaching in schools and from historic sites that insist on telling the stories of the past using outdated techniques and dull presentations. I hope to work toward a GHM that tells the fascinating stories of Golden in ways that are intriguing, unique and hopefully even fun!

Please send me any thoughts you have about what would make the Astor House Museum and Clear Creek History Park more engaging to you. I look forward to meeting you this year!

Golden History Museums welcomes David Allison as Interpretation and Operations Coordinator

Golden History Museums welcomes Interpretation and Operations Coordinator David Allison. As the newest GHM team member, David brings with him a wealth of historic interpretation experience. In his new position, he will oversee the daily interpretation and operations of each of the three museum venues. David will help create an interpretive plan, create interactive programming, and manage our docent and volunteer program.

A native Hoosier, David has spent the past nine years of his career at Conner Prairie Interactive History Park in Indianapolis, Indiana—one of the foremost living history parks in the nation. Over his tenure he served in a number of different capacities, advancing from frontline staff to management. David played a key role in the conceptualization and implementation of a new training resource called Opening Doors to Great Guest Experiences that has become a national model for visitor services best practices. In 2006, David led a team that designed and developed Discovery Station, a history-themed play and learning gallery for children. Most recently he developed and managed 1859 Balloon Voyage, Conner Prairie’s newest (and highest) exhibit.

In 2005, David received the April Award from the Visitor Studies Association that acknowledged his positive engagement with the visitor studies field in a museum setting. In 2008, he won the Indiana Governor’s Award for Tomorrow’s Leaders for his contributions to the museum field and the central Indiana community. He holds an MA in US History from Indiana University and is a 2006 graduate of the Seminar for Historic Administration.

David begins on April 18th, so please be sure to welcome him to Golden. David can be reached via email at DAllison@GoldenHistoryMuseums.org.

Video Trailer for "Turn It Up: Golden's Musical Memories"

Here's the first view of our video trailer for one of the multimedia portions of "Turn It Up: Golden's Musical Memories," which will open June 3, 2011. Let us know what you think!




Read more on our website, and stay tuned for updates.

Museum Advisory Board Seeks Community Input

In April, it will be one year since the Golden City Council adopted Resolution #2052 bringing Golden History Museums under city administration. The resolution also recognized a new relationship between the City and the non-profit organization that had been managing the three museums. Now known as “Friends of Golden History Museums,” the organization exists to help coordinate events, raise funds, and host events that help support the museums.

In addition, City Council passed Ordinance #1872 establishing a Cultural Services and Museum Advisory Board.  The board was charged “to promote cultural preservation, to advise the City Council concerning museum programming, and to recommend and plan events for the Golden community that promote an interest in and appreciation for the preservation of Golden’s history and culture.”

The ordinance also states, “the initial purpose of the board, at least through the end of 2011, and longer if necessary, is to assist the City with the transition of the management of the City’s museums to the City, advising the City with respect to strategic planning, transition issues, and museum best practices, and to act as “ambassadors to the community” for the City’s museums.”

Now that the transition is complete, the board is at a crossroads. They must prepare a recommendation for Council stating that, as of the end of 2011, the board with either: 1) continue on in perpetuity as stated; 2) be absorbed into another advisory board (i.e. the Parks Board); or 3) disband. 

In order to make an informed recommendation to City Council, the members of the Cultural Services and Museum Advisory Board is seeking community input on the board’s future. They are inviting interested citizens to attend the board’s next public meeting on Wednesday, April 13 at 7:00pm in City Council Chambers to give their feedback to the board members.

If you are unable to attend the meeting but would still like to provide your thoughts to the board members, please email the board chair, Liz Cook at lcook898@gmail.com or contact Nathan Richie at nrichie@GoldenHistoryMuseums.org.

A Real One of a Kind



Nancy Mason and Chuck Howes discuss
 the piano’s unique qualities.

 Upright pianos became popular in America during the late 1800s. We, however, have a real one-of-a-kind, and not just because it's covered in orange velvet.

Last December Michael and Nancy Mason, of Golden donated this beauty to the museum. Like all of our artifacts, this one has a story behind it too. Long before it came to the museum it was exhibited at the World Columbian Exposition of 1893.


Coincidentally, Adolf Coors was showing his beers at the same Exposition alongside the products of over two dozen other breweries. Coors won an award for “brilliancy, flavor, chemical analysis and commercial flavor.” He was also the only winner west of the Mississippi.


Anyhow, after seeing the piano at the Columbia Exhibition, a man named Clinton O. Heath purchased the piano as a gift for the woman he loved and intended to marry, a Miss Mattie Williamson. It was shipped to Ft. Morgan, CO, where Clint and Mattie lived on spacious property they called “the farm.” They later moved to Denver and lived in the Congress Park district until Clint’s death.


The Masons are aware of only one other similar piano, but it was a rose color. Oddly, it was found in a bar in Woodland Park, Colorado. Its condition was very poor because someone tried to wash it.


Specifically, our piano is a Regal #1908 with a patent date of August 20, 1889 made by the New England Piano Company of Boston. The donation also includes a piano stool of dark wood claw feet grasping glass balls.


The piano was regularly played in the Heath home until Mattie's death in 1964 when it was moved to the home of her daughter, Camille Heath Conine. She lived only a few blocks away from her mother on Garfield Street in Congress Park. The house at 720 Garfield was one of the first houses to be built in the block. Upon Camille's death in 1994, the piano was moved to her grandson Michael's home in Golden. And now, it’s the newest item in the Golden History Museums’s growing collection.


See our newest addition with your very own eyes in Turn it Up: Golden’s Musical Memories, opening June 3rd at the Golden History Center.