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!
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.
Treasure Maps: Cartography of the American Southwest Exhibit Opening
May 2016The Telluride Historical Museum will celebrate the opening of its annual exhibit Treasure Maps: Cartography of the American Southwest on June 2 from 6-8pm.Telluride’s Historic Pandora Mill Faces Demolition
March 17, 2016
Telluride’s Historic Pandora Mill Faces Demolition
The future of our iconic Pandora Mill is in question. On Tuesday, March 29, 2016 at 10AM, the San Miguel County Commissioners, Telluride Town Council, and Idarado officials will meet in Rebekah Hall to discuss the fate of the Pandora (Idarado) Mill. Government representatives have explored ways of preserving the mill over the last few years, but without a plan for its future, the mill will likely be demolished.
We invite everyone interested in historic preservation to attend this meeting. If you have comments for Telluride Town Council and San Miguel County Commissioners on this matter, please email them to pandoramillbuilding@gmail.com
Stay up-to-date on all Pandora Mill happenings by following
www.facebook.com/savepandoramill
For more information, please visit http://www.telluridemuseum.org/the-pandora-mill/
Telluride Historical Museum Exhibit Wins AASLH 2015 Leadership in History Award
July 8, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Telluride Historical Museum Exhibit Wins AASLH 2015 Leadership in History Award
Sixty recipients from thirty-one states receive highest honor from AASLH
NASHVILLE, TN—The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) announced that the Telluride Historical Museum’s 2014 exhibit Voices of Wartime: Telluride During WWII was selected as a 70th annual Leadership in History Award winner, the most prestigious recognition for achievement in the preservation and interpretation of state and local history. The Telluride Historical Museum’s award is one of 60, honoring people, projects, exhibits, books, and organizations from across the country.
“The Leadership in History Awards is AASLH’s highest distinction and the winners represent the best in the field,” said Trina Nelson Thomas, AASLH Awards Chair and Director, Stark Art & History Venue, Stark Foundation. “This year, we are pleased to distinguish each recipient’s commitment and innovation to the interpretation of history, as well as their leadership for the future of state and local history.” The Telluride Historical Museum will receive the Award of Merit, presented for excellence in history programs, projects, and people when compared with similar activities nationwide
The Museum’s winning exhibit, Voices of Wartime: Telluride During WWII, explored the history of the Second World War as remembered by Telluride residents. A revealing look into how daily life changed—and did not change—during the war, the exhibit utilized the power of oral histories to capture the experiences of local residents and share them with a new generation. Surrounding the stories of Telluride locals were images, artifacts, and newsreels explaining the war’s global story.
The Telluride Historical Museum capitalized on its designation as a Smithsonian affiliate for this exhibit by coordinating loans from other affiliated museums, including the National World War II Museum and the Chinese American Museum. Community partners came together as well, including the Telluride Daily Planet, Telluride Masons #56, Telluride Elks Lodge #692, Telluride Rotary, and the American Legion Post 12.
The AASLH Leadership in History Awards Program was initiated in 1945 to establish and encourage standards of excellence in the collection, preservation, and interpretation of state and local history throughout America. Each nomination is peer-reviewed by AASLH’s state captains. Final awards are decided by the Awards Committee, comprised of AASLH’s fourteen regional representatives and the National Awards Chair.
Presentation of the awards will be made at a special banquet during the 2015 AASLH Annual Meeting in Louisville, Kentucky, on Friday, September 18. The banquet is supported by a generous contribution from the History Channel.
A full listing of recipients can be found at: www.about.aaslh.org/awards.
About the American Association for State and Local History:
AASLH has provided leadership and support for its members who preserve and interpret state and local history in order to make the past more meaningful to all Americans since 1940. AASLH is a not-for-profit professional organization of individuals and institutions working to preserve and promote history. From its headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee, AASLH works to advance knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of local history in America. AASLH publishes books, technical publications, a quarterly magazine, a monthly newsletter, and maintains numerous affinity groups and committees serving a broad range of constituents across the historical community. The association also sponsors regional and national training workshops and an annual meeting.
For more information, visit www.aaslh.org
