$2,282 raised by 12 donors
46% complete
$5,000 Goal
If preserving local history is important to you, we are the organization filling that role for Hinsdale County. We have archives full of artifacts, documents, and photos that we carefully store and display for locals and visitors. Donations keep our lights on and heat running - Thank you!
"Attended the bar crawl and thoroughly enjoyed each speaker; lots of history of the town and the state and the area geology! Highly recommend. Participated in the ghost tour as well, lots of fun. Museum curators were friendly and informative lots of interesting historical items on site. Can't wait to come back and see car 211 in the train display!"
- Mary
"We came to the museum on a rainy day and it was awesome! There are so many things to see and interact with! You've got to go in the traincar!"
- Shea
"This was a great museum, it was very informational. It was nice to see a piece of history"
- Brian
"Love the outdoor exhibits!"
- Reanna
"Great museum! We were impressed with how extensive your collection is. Staff was very friendly and informative!"
- Melanie
"The Volcano Tour is so interesting and informative. Harvey DuChene is truly a gracious blessing to this area sharing his wealth of knowledge."
- Brenda
"Duane Vandenbusche, our state historian, spoke at the Car 211 fundraiser this year - He's amazing. Could have listened to him for years."
- Kathleen
"I have learned so much about this town from Grant, the HCHS president. He has a wealth of knowledge and a great story teller."
- Jane
"Harvey's program is well worth your time! It will make you appreciate what occurred that made this valley you now live in!"
- Konrad
"We thoroughly enjoyed the volcano tour and learned so much! You're never too old!"
- Betty
"Attended the Volcano Tour twice-fascinating-Harvey is so very knowledgeable and shares it in interesting manner-don't miss this!"
- Roxanne
The purpose of this Society is to bring people together interested in history, especially in the history of Hinsdale County, Colorado. The Society's major function will be to discover and collect any material which may help to establish, preserve or illustrate the history of Hinsdale County. It will collect printed material, manuscript material, and museum material, as well as material objects illustrative of life conditions, events and activities of the past or the present. The Society will promote and provide for the preservation of such material and for its accessibility, as far as may be feasible, to all who wish to examine or study it. This includes indigenous people whose ancestors first settled the land to others with diverse heritage who helped shape our historical landscape. It will cooperate with officials in insuring the preservation and accessibility of the records and archives of the county, and of its cities, towns and institutions and will undertake the preservation of historic buildings, monuments, sites and markers. The Society will disseminate historical information and arouse interest in the past by publishing historical material in the newspapers, and using the media of radio and television, by holding meetings, with pageants, addresses, lectures, papers and discussions, and by marking historic buildings, sites, and trails.
The Hinsdale County Historical Society was established in October 1973 and opened its first museum in the Finley Block in July of 1975. The building was leased at that time and when it was sold the museum moved to a succession of other rented quarters, including what was the Cinnamon Inn for a couple years starting in 1979. The Society returned to the Finley Block in 1987 and purchased it in 1989 in trade for four town lots the Society owned in the Foote & Richardson addition and $65,000 cash, the latter including $10,000 from the Boettcher Foundation and $20,000 from the Gates Foundation. We have expended upwards of $100,000 in improvements, including grants in 1998 and 1999 from the State Historical Fund totaling $65,000, for new heating system, roof, electric wiring, handicapped accessible bathroom, and stone and mortar repair.
We offer exhibits in a wide range of displays from our restored caboose to our jail cell, our florescent rocks and minerals to Alferd Packer's exhibit, and our transportation building to the children's historical playhouse.
Organization name
Hinsdale County Historical Society
other names
HCHS
1973
Tax id (EIN)
51-0199445
Category
Arts, Culture & Humanities
Organization Size
Small Organization
Address
130 North Silver StreetMailing
PO 353Hinsdale County, CO, US