New Audio Tour at Museum Gives Voice to Telluride’s History

(TELLURIDE, Colo. — Dec. 18, 2019)  Visitors now have the opportunity to immerse themselves in Telluride’s history with a new podcast-like audio tour at the Telluride Historical Museum (THM). The new tour chronicles characters and events that shaped Telluride through short tracks narrated by historians and locals. With 29 tracks, and 18 different voices, the entire tour weaves its way through 10 rooms of THM’s permanent collection in just under an hour.

“The Museum is constantly searching for new ways to pursue its vision of bringing this community’s incredibly rich and interesting history to life,” Executive Director Kiernan Lannon explained. “The audio tour does a great job of adding a vibrant human element as a complement to our existing panels and exhibits through an array of incredible speakers, storytellers, and locals.  We’re thrilled with how it all came together.”

The new tour enhances the visitor experience by adding another level of learning and history to the Museum’s collection. Compiled from stories told by Telluriders and historians the tracks range in time from 45 seconds to 3 minutes. Familiar voices such as historians Rudy Davison and Ashley Boling narrate multiple tracks from mining history and the labor wars to Butch Cassidy’s infamous robbery. Bud and Leslie Crane describe the culture clash between miners and “hippies” in the YX years and County Commissioner Hilary Cooper recounts the contentious saga over the Valley Floor. Other tracks include the geology of the box canyon told by Gary Gianniny, professor in the geosciences at Fort Lewis College and the story of L.L. Nunn by Steve Lee.

The Museum worked with Zak Rosen, Director of Podcasts at Graham Media Group, to create the audio tour. Rosen’s radio features have been heard on NPR, CBC, BBC and other media outlets. He works with museums, high schools, universities, and community organizations on various story-based projects.  This project is no different with its focus on stories of Telluride’s past.

Visitors can experience the audio tour by visiting the Museum at the top of Fir Street. It is $3.00 (free for the visually impaired) plus the price of admission. Admission rates are $7 for adults, $5 for seniors, $5 for students ages 6-17, and free for children under five. Museum members are always free and locals are free every Thursday. During the winter season the Museum is open Tues. through Sat. 11 am to 5 pm.

The Telluride Historical Museum is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that relies on the support of its community, members, and donors. As an indispensable cultural asset it works to reach beyond its walls and engage people by bringing the region’s history to life through permanent and annual exhibitions, engaging programming, and insightful events.