by Adrian Bugarin | May 12, 2023 | Press Release |
Join Centennial Village Museum for its opening weekend event, Centennial Celebration, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, May 26 and Saturday, May 27 at 1475 A Street.
Explore the museum’s grounds, tour historical buildings, and watch high plains living demonstrations. Attend two special performances by the Buffalo Soldiers of the American West at
11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 27.
Centennial Village Museum opens for regular summer hours from May 26 through Sept. 2.
Live Demonstrations of Early West Skills
Centennial Village Museum preserves history through demonstrations of early West skills. These presentations reveal how demanding high plains living was for settlers. Centennial Celebration includes live demonstrations of blacksmithing and woodcarving.
Buffalo Soldier Reenactors
The Buffalo Soldiers of the American West’s presentation highlights their essential role in the country’s westward expansion. The Buffalo Soldiers were members of the 9th and 10th U.S. Cavalry, both all-Black regiments. They built forts and railroads, delivered mail, guarded stagecoaches, and protected settlers. This history is not widely known, making this presentation a must-see for visitors.
Centennial Village Museum opened in 1976 and is a part of the City of Greeley Museums. The site is a living history experience with more than 35 historical buildings on 8 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds. The museum features costumed interpreters and heritage farm animals. The museum preserves and interprets American Western heritage in the Colorado high plains region. It houses some of Weld County’s oldest structures and hosts annual special events. Visit greeleymuseums.com to learn more.
###
by Adrian Bugarin | Mar 3, 2023 | Press Release |
The Greeley History Museum announces its 2023 Museum at Twilight series starting with a historic fashion show on Saturday, March 4. Museum hours will extend from 4 to 6 p.m. with the fashion show starting at 4:15 p.m.
Models will display the museum’s extensive collection of period clothing. Costumes range from the 1870s to the 1910s. The show will last 45 to 60 minutes.
2023 Museum at Twilight Schedule
Museum at Twilight will take place quarterly in 2023. Visitors can explore Greeley History Museum exhibits during extended hours. Each event will include a unique presentation with the following topics:
- March 4 – Historic Fashion Show
- June 10 – Dearfield Study Act Q&A
- September 16 – Opening reception for “Dolores Huerta: Revolution in the Fields”
- December 9 – Holiday Cheer: An Exploration of Historic Drinks
Regular Greeley History Museum admission prices apply to all Museum at Twilight events. Learn more at greeleymuseums.com. Friends of the Greeley Museums receive free admission.
About the Greeley History Museum
The Greeley History Museum showcases and preserves Greeley and Weld County’s history. The site provides permanent and temporary exhibitions, educational programs, research, and collections. Check out the museum’s main exhibit, “Utopia: Adaptation on the Plains.” Other galleries feature rotating themes throughout each year.
For more information, visit greeleymuseums.com.
###
by Adrian Bugarin | Mar 1, 2023 | Press Release |
The Greeley History Museum’s newest exhibit features local artifacts that guide visitors on a journey from 19th century box cameras to today’s smartphones.
“Viewfinder: Through the Lens of Time” runs through Jan. 7, 2024, at the Greeley History Museum, 714 8th St.
The Evolution of Cameras
The exhibit starts with the most basic component of photography: recording light. It takes visitors from the earliest recorded history of cameras 2,400 years ago to the breakthrough experiments of the 19th century. The museum’s earliest artifact is from 1885 – a No. 2 Bulls-Eye Kodak box
camera.
Many of the exhibit’s artifacts contain details about their former owners. A former Weld County judge donated a Kodak Trimprint camera. A Kodak Petite Single-Lens was a 1920s graduation present. One item of interest is the Epplen’s Drug Store sign. From 1917 to 1922, this downtown Greeley store sold Kodak cameras and photography supplies. A local resident recovered the sign from under his roof shingles. It had apparently been used to patch a hole, according to museum records.
The exhibit offers an interactive element for visitors. They can browse a large collection of photos from notable Weld County and Greeley photographers. These images range from the late 1800s to the early 2000s.
About the Greeley History Museum
The Greeley History Museum showcases and preserves Greeley and Weld County’s history. The site provides permanent and temporary exhibitions, educational programs, research, and collections. Check out the museum’s main exhibit, “Utopia: Adaptation on the Plains.” Other galleries feature rotating themes throughout each year.
For more information, visit greeleymuseums.com.
###
by Adrian Bugarin | Jan 20, 2023 | Press Release |
Join the City of Greeley Museums for a storytelling event, “Bittersweet Harvest: Carrying the Family Legacy.” Learn about the Mexican Farm Labor Program or “Bracero Program” through personal accounts.
The event takes place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, February 2, at the Aims Community College Welcome Center, Ballroom A, 5401 W 20th St.
Event speakers Esthela Núñez Franco and Adriana Trujillo will give a history of the Bracero Program. They will also share stories from family members who participated.
The event is co-hosted by the City of Greeley Museums and Aims Community College.
The Largest Guest Worker Program in U.S. History
The “Bracero Program” began in 1942 and became the largest guest worker program in U.S. history. More than four million Mexican men took short-term labor contracts. Their work influenced the future social landscape of the U.S. and Mexico.
“Bittersweet Harvest: The Bracero Program 1942-1964” runs at the Greeley History Museum through May 13, 2023. The National Museum of American History and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) organized the exhibit. The Latino Initiatives Pool, managed by the Smithsonian Latino Center, provided federal support. All SITES photographs in this exhibit are by Leonard Nadal.
About the Greeley History Museum
The Greeley History Museum showcases and preserves Greeley and Weld County’s history. The site provides permanent and temporary exhibitions, educational programs, research, and collections. Check out the museum’s main exhibit, “Utopia: Adaptation on the Plains.” Other galleries feature rotating themes throughout each year.
For more information, visit greeleymuseums.com.
###
by Adrian Bugarin | Jan 11, 2023 | Press Release |
Custom artwork of “Rattlesnake Kate” is now available on limited edition T-shirts at the Greeley History Museum.
T-shirts can be purchased while supplies last at the Greeley History Museum, 714 8th Street.
The design by graphic artist Jordan Nicholson is a tribute to the pioneer’s “Colorado grit.” Kate became famous after fending off 140 rattlesnakes in the early 20th Century.
Nicholson is a Colorado native and University of Northern Colorado graduate. His artwork is a modern take on Kate’s well-known style. Learn more about Nicholson’s work at nicholson.ink.
A Northern Colorado Legend
The story of Kate Slaughterback’s heroic stand against 140 rattlesnakes is legendary. Her famous rattlesnake skin dress, shoes, and neckband reside at the Greeley History Museum. A replica of her home stands among the historical buildings at Centennial Village Museum.
The historical figure recently experienced a renaissance through the “Rattlesnake Kate” musical. This show was the work of UNC graduate, Neyla Pekarek, a Grammy-nominated musician formerly of the Lumineers.
Learn more about “Rattlesnake Kate” at greeleymuseums.com.
About the Greeley History Museum
The Greeley History Museum showcases and preserves Greeley and Weld County’s history through permanent and temporary exhibitions, educational programs, research, and collections. Check out the museum’s main exhibit, “Utopia: Adaptation on the Plains,” and then head over to one of the museum’s other galleries, which feature rotating themes throughout each year.
For more information, visit greeleymuseums.com.
###
by Adrian Bugarin | Nov 10, 2022 | Press Release |
Homesteader’s Holiday returns to Centennial Village Museum for a cozy holiday celebration set in the village’s festively decorated historical homes from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3 at 1475 A Street.
Tickets are $4 per person, and children two and under attend for free. Youth 12 and under attend free with a canned food donation to 
Weld County Food Bank.
Candle Dipping, Cowboy Santa, and Christmas Shopping
Take part in some festive take-home historical crafts, including the unique art of candle dipping and Victorian paper ornaments. Tour the village’s town square and historical homes while listening to live entertainment, ranging from Christmas carols performed by the Grace Church Choir to bluegrass and Americana from Northern Colorado band, Rusty 44.
This year also marks the return of Cowboy Santa to Centennial Village Museum, available to talk with kids young and old about the upcoming holiday season.
Don’t forget to stop by Selma’s Store for stocking stuffers and other unique gifts. The store will be staffed throughout the Homesteader’s Holiday event.
Centennial Village Museum reopens for regular seasonal hours in May 2023.
Opened in 1976, Centennial Village Museum is a living history experience that features more than 35 historical buildings, costumed interpreters, heritage farm animals, and 8-acres of beautifully landscaped grounds. As a City of Greeley Museums site, Centennial Village Museum preserves and interprets American western heritage in the Colorado high plains region, housing some of Weld County’s oldest structures and hosting several annual special events. Visit greeleymuseums.com to learn more.
###
11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 27.
