Here are links to press releases about the Telluride Historical Museum and its programs. If you are a reporter and would like to learn more about the museum, we look forward to speaking with you about the museum!
Museum Seeking Community Feedback
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Pepper Raper
Telluride Historical Museum
970-728-3344
pepper@telluridemuseum.org
Museum Seeking Community Feedback
Survey Part of New Three Year Strategic Plan
(TELLURIDE, Colo – 6/17/2019) – The Telluride Historical Museum has kicked off its process to create its latest 3-year strategic plan. As part of the planning process, THM is soliciting feedback from the community via a survey hosted by Survey Monkey. The strategic plan will enable the Museum to advance its mission by evaluating the impact of its services and programs.
“As an organization that exists solely because of the community, it’s incredibly important to us to have the community help guide us as we plan the next three years for the Museum,” Executive Director Kiernan Lannon said.
As various factors change, the Museum wants to make sure its next three years remain relevant. The survey asks respondents to consider the Museum’s programs and services and weigh whether the Museum is meeting community’s needs.
“It’s essential to the Museum board and staff that we are serving the needs of the community,” Lannon added. “We’re hoping to get a great response to the survey.”
They survey will be live until July 4th and can be accessed at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/THM3yrStrategicPlanSurvey. Lannon said the Museum is hoping to gather at least 100 responses. The Museum will be emailing this link to its members and mailing list as well as soliciting feedback from museum guests over the next month. If you are interested in participating, or have any questions, contact the Museum at 970-728-3344 or email Executive Director Kiernan Lannon at kiernan@telluridemuseum.org.
The Telluride Historical Museum is a 501(c3) nonprofit located at the top of Fir Street. Through permanent and annual exhibitions, engaging programming, and insightful events it works to bring the history of Telluride and the region to life. To learn more visit: www.telluridemuseum.org.
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Telluride Historical Museum Awarded 2019 Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor
Telluride Historical Museum was honored with a 2019 Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor. The Certificate of Excellence honors hospitality businesses that deliver consistently great service across the world. The designation, given annually each May, is presented to approximately 10% of total businesses on TripAdvisor that have consistently achieved great reviews over the past year.
To qualify, businesses must maintain an overall TripAdvisor rating of at least four out of five with a specific minimum amount of reviews. To date, the Telluride Historical Museum has 151 reviews, with a four and a half out of five rating, and is ranked #3 of 30 things to do in Telluride.
Stop by the Museum to see for yourself what all the buzz is about!
Telluride Historical Museum partners with Mountain Trip for ‘Excellent Adventure’
Telluride Historical Museum Partners with Mountain Trip for ‘Excellent Adventure’
Feb. 1, 2018 (TELLURIDE, Colo) – Telluride Historical Museum has paired with Mountain Trip, an outdoor guiding company, in what may seem like an unlikely partnership. The two have collaborated on an outing like no other. “Bill & Todd’s Excellent Ames Adventure” (named for Mountain Trip owners Bill Allen and Todd Rutledge) is a day trip to Ames on Saturday, February 9 that includes a tour of the historic Ames Power Plant followed by an intro to ice climbing class.
The adventure will start off with a special behind the scenes tour of the Ames Power Plant which was the first in the world to use long distance transmission of alternating current for commercial purposes successfully. Using technology perfected by Nikola Tesla, the Ames Power Plant harnesses hydro-power through an induction motor to produce and transmit electrical power. After the original burned down, the power plant was rebuilt in the early 1900s where it still stands and operates today. Local guiding company, Mountain Trip, which started started in 1973 will lead the group on some beginner ice climbs in the Ames area after the tour.
“Bill and Todd’s excellent Ames adventure” is a great opportunity to experience both the old and the new, and it is a testament to the Museum’s dedication to collaborating with different organizations around town. “This is the sort of fun and exciting partnership the Museum should be pursuing,” Museum Executive Director Kiernan Lannon said. “It allows us to think outside of out traditional box and do something different, while at the same time, it helps us show that history absolutely permeates this region. We’re extremely grateful to Todd and Mountain Trip for the opportunity to collaborate.” The Telluride Historical Museum has worked with many other local organizations including True North, The Pinhead Institute (a fellow Smithsonian Affiliate), Telluride Arts, The Wilkinson Public library, as well as others and is always looking to collaborate to help bring Telluride’s history to life.
The idea for this excursion came from a friendship and partnership that started with Telluride Historical Museum’s 2018 annual exhibit, Children of Winter Never Grow Old: Snow Sports in the San Juans. Theresa Koenigsknecht, Director of Programs and Exhibits reached out to Todd Rutledge and the Mountain Trip team for their expert knowledge on the history of ice climbing while doing research for the exhibit. Not only did they lend their valuable expertise but also generously loaned gear to display in the museum’s exhibit, which is on display through April 7. Rutledge expressed interest in working with local nonprofits and giving back to the community, and from there the two brainstormed on how to combine resources into a fun, one-of-a-kind excursion. “We’re so excited to offer this adventure,” states Koenigsknecht. “By providing all the gear, guides, and transportation, Mountain Trip is supporting the museum and creating a unique and affordable experience for locals.”
Cost for the ‘excellent adventure’ is $150 for non-members and $80 for museum members. This includes all equipment and transportation to and from Ames. Participants will meet at the Telluride Historical Museum at 9 a.m. to be outfitted and carpool to Ames. Space is limited to just eight participants and you can register by calling the Museum at 970-728-3344, visiting its website, or emailing theresa@telluridemuseum.org. For more information visit: bit.ly/ExcellentAmesAdventure.
The Telluride Historical Museum is a 501(c)3 founded in 1965. Sitting on the top of Fir Street, the Museum works diligently to preserve the rich, colorful and diverse history of the region and strives to bring this history to life through permanent and annual exhibitions, engaging programming, and insightful events.
Museum Re-opening for Winter Season
The Telluride Historical Museum will re-open on Tuesday, Dec. 4 for the winter. Winter hours of Tuesday – Saturday 11:00 a.m.-5:00p.m. will continue throughout the season until April 7th.
Visitors to the THM this winter will experience the usual display in the permanent collections with a few rotations of artifacts such as historic clothes and other items in the first floor exhibits. The current annual exhibit on display, “Children of Winter Never Grow Old: Snow Sports in the San Juans” chronicles the regions love of outdoor adventure with artifacts ranging from historic ski boots and snowboards to hockey gear, broom ball, and curling equipment. There are even a few interactive displays and an original chair form the Telluride Ski Resort. If you haven’t seen the exhibit yet make sure to stop by and check it out before it closes April 7th. Most of the artifacts were supplied by Telluride locals showing Telluride Historical Museum’s authenticity and dedication to preserving local history and culture.
The Telluride Historical Museum closes during shoulder seasons for exhibition maintenance. During this time they do a thorough cleaning of the museum’s exhibits, collections and perform artifact conservation. Delicate pieces such as clothes and other textiles cannot be displayed for too long and must be rotated. This twice yearly maintenance helps preserve sensitive artifacts for years to come and also gives museum visitors an opportunity to see different items. Although it is a history museum things are always new and changing.
Town Council Approves Horse Drawn Wagons
On May 29 Telluride Town Council unanimously voted to amend Telluride Municipal Code Chapter 7, adding a division applicable to horse-drawn carriage rides, thus establishing a regulatory framework for permitting possible tours.
The Telluride Historical Museum is delighted by the council’s decision, and are thankful for the support they’ve received through the process. The museum’s partner, Telluride Wranglers, have submitted an application for a permit and together will be offering historical tours via horse drawn conveyance once approved
Stay tuned!
If you have any questions or concerns regarding our Historical Wagons Tours please contact the museum directly.
An Evening With Ken Burns
August 7, 2017
Screening Set for Sunday, August 27th
The Telluride Historical Museum is excited to announce that tickets to its fourth annual An Evening With Ken Burns film screening are on sale now.
This year’s event will feature a screening of episode 4 – “The True Welcome” – of the acclaimed documentary series, Jazz. The evening will also include a post-screening audience Q&A session with Ken Burns as well as a book and DVD signing presented in conjunction with Between the Covers bookstore.
Tickets for the event are $25 for general admission, $20 for Museum members, and $5 for students. The screening will take place on Sunday, August 27th at the Michael D. Palm Theatre. Doors will open at 5:30PM and the program will begin at 6PM.
“We continue to be appreciative of Ken Burns’ gracious commitment to the Telluride community and to the Museum specifically,” Executive Director Kiernan Lannon said. “We are once again providing the community with the rare opportunity to see one of America’s foremost documentarians and historians present his work and engage with this great community. We’re looking forward to another fantastic event!”
Tickets can be purchased online or by calling the Museum at (970) 728-3344. All tickets will be distributed via will call on the evening of the event. The Museum will not be issuing physical tickets ahead of time.
Membership Campaign: Our Town | Our Story | Our Museum
Telluride, Colorado (June 1, 2017)
The Telluride Historical Museum (THM) celebrated 50 years of service to the Telluride community and played host to a record number of visitors in 2016. In 2017, the Museum staff and Board of Directors are taking on a new challenge: a membership campaign. While participation and enthusiasm for the Museum has been on the rise, the number of Museum membership has stayed level. The Museum staff and Board are committed to changing this.
The museum is excited to launch a new membership campaign encouraging locals and visitors to reconnect with and support the museum by becoming a member. The campaign, Our Town. Our Story. Our Museum. launches on Thursday, June 1, 2017, the night of the Museum’s Annual Exhibit Opening for the 2017/ 2018 exhibit entitled, The Valley Floor: Changing Identities of a Telluride Treasure. With updated membership offerings, a new look to their branding, and the continuation of impressive programming, Museum staff is confident they will meet their goal.
The campaign brand, Our Town. Our Story. Our Museum. is inspired by the idea that a community must understand where they come from to know where they are going. “We really wanted to emphasize inclusiveness with this campaign,” said Executive Director Kiernan Lannon. “Whether you are a long-time local, a regular visitor, or an occasional guest, Telluride’s story- its history- is at least partially your story as well. Our goal is to get more people invested in the stewardship and presentation of this story by joining the Museum.” Throughout the summer, the Museum will highlight current members and their passion for preserving history during regularly scheduled KOTO Access programs, host special member recruitment events, and offer their standard summer programming including Hikes into History, Lectures, An Evening with Ken Burns and the ever popular, Fireside chats.
The Museum is a non-profit institution built around the support of people who love their community and care about the history and culture of Telluride. “Becoming a member of the Telluride Historical Museum is an investment in our community,” said Adrienne Christy, Director of Development at THM. “Your membership dollars are used to maintain our vast collection of artifacts, to put on free or affordable community and school programs, and to ensure we can tell Telluride’s story for generations to come.”
Museum Announces New Programs and Exhibits Director
Telluride, Colorado (September 2, 2016) – The Telluride Historical Museum today announced the hire of Theresa Koenigsknecht as the Director of Programs and Exhibits, effective September 6, 2016. Koenigsknecht will be replacing Anne Gerhard, who recently resigned after holding the position since 2013.
Koenigsknecht most recently served as a Curator at the Johnson County Museum of History in Franklin, IN, where she has extensive experience managing a large collection, collaborating on educational programs, community outreach, and exhibit development. Theresa has a Master of Arts in Public History from Indiana University and Bachelors of Arts in Anthopology and History from Michigan State University.
“Western history, specifically the Oregon Trail, jump-started my love of all things history as a kid. I also love being outside and being active and was looking to challenge my comfort zones,” Koenigsknecht said, “This was the perfect opportunity to grow and contribute to an amazing organization and community.”
Museum Announces New Programs and Exhibits Director
September 2016The Telluride Historical Museum today announced the hire of Theresa Koenigsknecht as the Director of Programs and Exhibits, effective September 6, 2016.An Evening With Ken Burns
AUGUST 4, 2016
Screening Set for Sunday, August 28th
The Telluride Historical Museum is excited to announce that tickets to its third annual An Evening With Ken Burns film screening are on sale now.
In celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the National Parks Service, this year’s event will feature a screening of episode 5- “Great Nature” – of the acclaimed documentary series, The National Parks: America’s Best Idea. The evening will also include a post-screening audience Q&A session with Ken Burns as well as a book and DVD signing presented in conjunction with Between the Covers bookstore.
Tickets for the event are $25 for general admission, $20 for Museum members, and $5 for students. The screening will take place on Sunday, August 28th at the Michael D. Palm Theatre. Doors will open at 5:30PM and the program will begin at 6PM.
“We’re incredibly excited to be hosting this event again this year,” Executive Director Kiernan Lannon said. “We’re thrilled that Ken Burns has again demonstrated his commitment to the Telluride Community and the Museum by helping us out with this screening. Ken is, by far, America’s most preeminent historical documentary filmmaker. This an incredible opportunity to see a fantastic film with its world-class director in the theater- all while supporting the Museum. We’re definitely looking forward to it!”
Tickets can be purchased here or by calling the Museum at (970) 728-3344. All tickets will be distributed via will call on the evening of the event. The Museum will not be issuing physical tickets ahead of time.
Treasure Maps: Cartography of the American Southwest Exhibit Opening
18 May 2016
MUSEUM’S ANNUAL EXHIBIT TO OPEN JUNE 2
Telluride, Colorado (May 18, 2016) – The Telluride Historical Museum will celebrate the opening of its annual exhibit Treasure Maps: Cartography of the American Southwest on June 2 from 6-8pm. This free event will take place at the Telluride Historical Museum and is open to all ages. Complimentary adult refreshments and appetizers will be served, and there will be exciting activities for all ages.
Treasure Maps: Cartography of the American Southwest is the Museum’s 2016-17 annual exhibit, exploring shifting perspectives of the Southwest through the history of the maps that depict it. Because maps are necessarily a compromise of limited resources and knowledge, the American Southwest is a template in which the inaccuracies, blank spaces, and mythical elements tell the stories of its exploration and the possibilities that the American southwest has represented.
As part of the exhibit, the Telluride Historical Museum collaborated with Telluride Mountain School, Pinhead Institute, Telluride Institute, The Hub, and Alpine Lumber to create an Augmented Reality Sandbox. The AR Sandbox uses a projector and a 3 dimensional camera to view the surface of the sand and project real time topographic lines onto the sand’s surface. The sandbox will also simulate watersheds, and after the exhibit closes in March 2017, the sandbox will be co- owned by Pinhead Institute, Telluride Mountain School, and Telluride Institute, where it will be an ongoing part of community watershed curricula. In order to construct the AR Sandbox, the Telluride Historical Museum has enlisted the help of Telluride Mountain School students who have recently returned from their spring experimental learning trip to study geography in Hawaii, and have been working diligently on design and construction in order to have the sandbox prepared for the June 2 opening.
For more information, please contact Lucas Fredericks, Programs and Exhibits Coordinator at the Telluride Historical Museum at (970) 728-3344 x 4, or email lucas@telluridemuseum.org.
