Thanks for a great Winter season! The Museum will be closed for the Spring off-season beginning Sunday, April 5. We’ll be back in June, refreshed with a new annual exhibit and ready for summer adventures – stay tuned!
Author Archives: Kiernan
As Colorado marks 150 years of statehood and the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, Telluride Arts, with generous support from TMVOA, in partnership with the Telluride Museum, is launching a community-wide art project titled This Is Colorado (In One Square Foot), inviting residents and visitors alike to reflect on one simple prompt: What does being a Coloradoan mean to you?
Titled This Is Colorado (In One Square Foot) — the project invites community members to create artwork on a 12” x 12” canvas, responding visually to themes of place, identity, landscape, culture, belonging, and change.
The project is open to residents 16+ in San Miguel County, artists and non-artists alike. Each participant receives a one square foot canvas to express their personal interpretation of the state we call home, contributing to a collective portrait of Colorado at this milestone moment in its history.
A limited number of canvases (approximately 150–200) will be available for pickup beginning in early April at several community locations during business hours (be sure to check off-season schedules):
- Telluride Museum | kiernan@telluridemuseum.org
- Telluride Arts HQ | info@telluridearts.org
- Town of Mountain Village Town Hall | marketing@mtnvillage.org
Participants will have eight weeks to complete their canvas before returning it for exhibition.
All completed works will be displayed together in a curated community installation, forming a unified grid that creates a powerful visual mosaic of perspectives. The exhibition will be presented in the Town of Telluride at Telluride Arts HQ and in Mountain Village, celebrating the many voices, histories, and identities that shape Colorado today.
“This is a moment to reflect on who we are as Coloradans and what this place means to us,” said Jessica Galbo, Executive Director of Telluride Arts. “By giving everyone one square foot to express their perspective, we’re creating a collective portrait of our community as part of the Colorado 150 and America 250 celebrations.”
Cassie Franks, Director of Education and Outreach at the Telluride Historical Museum adds “This is a chance for us to celebrate and collaborate as a community using our history, landscapes, and memories. We get to share what it is about our state that inspires us, shapes us, and makes us Coloradans.”
A small number of juried awards will recognize standout works, along with People’s Choice honors, while maintaining the project’s inclusive spirit. Cash prizes of $250 and $150 will be awarded in both juried and audience categories.
The project will culminate in a summer exhibition running June 15 through July 31, aligning with local celebrations of Colorado’s 150th anniversary and the national lead-up to America’s 250th.
- WHO: Open to San Miguel County residents 16+.
- WHAT: This Is Colorado (In One Square Foot) — community art project using provided 12” x 12” canvases responding to: What does being a Coloradan mean to you?
- WHERE: Canvas pickup at Telluride Museum, Telluride Arts HQ, Town of Mountain Village Offices. Exhibition at Telluride Arts HQ + Mountain Village (TBD).
- WHEN: Pickup April 1 | Canvas return June 1 | Exhibition June 15–July 31.
- WHY: Celebrate Colorado’s 150th and America’s 250th through community creativity.
- HOW: 150–200 canvases distributed; works exhibited in a grid installation; $250 & $150 juried and People’s Choice prizes.
Spanish-language materials will be available to ensure broad community participation.
Through this collaborative initiative, Telluride Arts, the Telluride Historical Museum aims to celebrate Colorado identity through diverse voices, increase accessibility to arts participation, and create a visually compelling installation honoring this historic milestone. TMVOA support helps bring the exhibition and community celebration to Mountain Village.
Museum Now Open for the 2025-2026 Winter/Spring Season!
We’re back and ready for the holidays! Beginning Tuesday, Dec. 2, we’re officially open for the winter season! Visit the museum Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 AM – 5 PM (last admission at 4:30 PM). We will be closed Sundays, Mondays, Christmas, and New Years Day, and will close early (last admission at 2:30pm) on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
Get into the holiday spirit with unique gifts from our shop – featuring ornaments, local history books, historical photos, apparel, and more.
And don’t miss our annual exhibit, “A Rare Medium, Well-Done: 50 Years of KOTO-FM,” on display through April 2026. A winter opening reception will take place on Dec. 11, 2025, from 5 – 7:30pm. The event is free and open to the public, with light refreshments provided.
Halloween on the Hill
Halloween is just around the corner and we invite you to celebrate with THM at our annual Halloween on the Hill! Trick or Treat your way up North Fir Street starting at 5:00 p.m. and end at the Museum to join us for festive games, a Ghost Hunt, and even a dog costume contest.
Join the Telluride Historical Museum and Ah Haa School for the Arts for the Telluride Ghost Hunt! Beginning at 6:30pm on Halloween night, bring your flashlights and search for one-of-a-kind “ghosts” hidden around the outside of the Museum. Anything that you find, you can keep! It is free to participate and open to young and old.
Get into the Halloween spirit and help create the ghosts that will be hidden around the Museum Halloween Night! In free hands-on workshops, participants will glaze two small ghost sculptures. Each person will decorate one to keep and one to contribute to the Ghost Hunt on Halloween night. Drop in anytime on Saturday, October 18th, between 3-4:30pm, or Saturday, October 25th; 11AM-1PM to decorate your ghosts and be part of a fun community event.
Announcing our 2025 Fireside Chat Series!
Hike into History: Iron Mountain Mystery on September, 27th!
Purchase Tickets Here: Members | Non-Members
Join us for a hike to learn more about a local mystery! This hike will take place on the Iron Mountain Trail and Museum staff will be discussing the life and disappearance of Walter Snodgrass, a Telluride resident who disappeared under mysterious circumstances after visiting the Mountain Flower mine with two Out-of-towners in September of 1948. Come ready to share your theories and learn about Walter’s life and legacy! The trail is rated strenuous, with 1767 ft. of elevation gain and a round trip of 6.5 miles. Please pack weather appropriate clothing, a lunch, plenty of water, and sunscreen.
To learn more about the hike, and Walter Snodgrass, click here!
Call (970)728-3344, email cassie@telluridemuseum.org, or reserve your spot at www.telluridemuseum.org/shop
Join us for ‘An Evening with Ken Burns’ on August 24, 2025
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE:
$20 for Museum Members | $25 for non-members | $5 for students
Join us on Sunday, August 24th at the Michael D. Palm Theatre as renowned documentary filmmaker Ken Burns returns to screen Episode 3 (“The Hillbilly Shakespeare”) of his acclaimed documentary, Country Music. The evening will feature the screening, post-film Q&A, and book & DVD signing.
Doors will open at 5:30, screening will begin at 6:00PM.
PLEASE NOTE:
There are no physical/digital tickets for this event. We manage entry via a check-in list. In the event that there is a glitch and you are not on the check-in list, your confirmation email will allow you entry to the screening.
Online sales end on Saturday, August 23rd, at 11:59PM.
Celebrate the 4th with THM!
Come celebrate the 4th of July with the Museum! Our annual root beer float fundraiser is back. Come up the hill to the Museum after the parade to enjoy this summertime classic. $5 per float.
Also, the Museum will be open from 1-5PM (with free admission)! So bring your friends and family to learn about the rich and interesting history of Telluride!
A Rare Medium, Well-Done: 50 Years of KOTO-FM
The Telluride Historical Museum is excited to announce their 2025-2026 annual exhibit: “A Rare Medium, Well-Done: 50 Years of KOTO-FM”. Founded in 1975, KOTO was born from a bold idea: a radio station built by the community, for the community.
For five decades, KOTO has remained a commercial-free, non-underwritten voice for Telluride – informing, entertaining, and connecting locals. The exhibit invites visitors to tune in to KOTO’s unique story – a testament to the power of creativity, collaboration, and the enduring importance of local media.
The exhibit features a special collaboration with the Pinhead Institute exploring the early history of radio, along with over 25 archival audio samples from KOTO’s rich past – made possible in large part by the Wilkinson Public Library. Visitors can also enjoy memories from former and current KOTO DJs and explore artifacts, photos, and milestones that trace the station’s evolution over the decades.
The exhibit opening reception will be held on Thursday, June 12, 2025, from 5 to 8pm. The event is free and open to the public, with refreshments provided.
“A Rare Medium, Well-Done: 50 Years of KOTO-FM” will be on display at the Telluride Historical Museum from June 12th, 2025, through the close of the 2026 winter season (early April 2026).
The Telluride Historical Museum will reopen for the 2025 summer season on Monday, June 2. Summer hours are Monday through Saturday, 10am to 5pm (last admission at 4:30pm). Saturdays are free for Telluride locals.
Daffodil Days are Here!
This is your annual chance to support both the Telluride Historical Museum and the American Cancer Society.
Live sales are happening now through Friday, March 14, 2025! The cost is $15/bundle of 10 daffodils. All proceeds benefit the Telluride Historical Museum and American Cancer Society. Pick up your flowers at the Museum, or at the table on Main Street, located at the northeast corner of Colorado and Pine. We will be there Monday, March 10 through Friday, March 14, from 11am – 4pm.
FAQ
- How many stems come in a bundle?
There are 10 stems in a bundle. - When can I pick up my pre-sale order?
Orders will be available for pickup starting on Monday, March 10th. - Do you offer delivery?
We do offer free delivery for anyone who orders 5 or more bundles. Deliveries limited to Telluride, Mountain Village, Hillside, and Lawson. - Where can I pick up my order/purchase flowers during the live sales event?
As of now, we are planning to have pick up and live sales at two locations – at the Museum and at the table on Colorado Avenue (at the North intersection of Colorado Avenue and Pine Street) from . - Do you ship daffodil orders?
No, unfortunately due to the delicate nature of the daffodils we cannot offer shipping.
