Homesteading the West – The Tale of Lavinia Morgan Anderson

Register on eventbrite or purchase tickets in-person at the museum.

Lavinia Morgan Anderson is a composite character of a pioneer woman living on a ranch in Colorado in the late 1880s as she remembers how she emigrated west in a covered wagon in the 1860s as a child and grew up in Kansas before settling in Colorado with her husband after staking a claim under the Homestead Act. While Lavinia did not actually exist, her life did exist as well as that of thousands of other women who made similar journeys. This story is drawn from snippets of many diaries the women kept telling of their challenges, privations, fears and triumphs. They record the woman’s side of pioneer life. Come and learn about these adventures and more through this thrilling living history program.

About Linda Batlin

Linda Batlin is a storyteller and author from Boulder, Colorado, where she has lived for over half of her life. She enjoys sharing her love of the mountains and of Colorado with audiences. She tells stories filled with wisdom and mirth for all ages in schools, libraries, festivals, museums, senior centers, campfires and other events. Her entertaining and educational living history presentations of important women characters from Colorado history such as Isabella Bird bring them to life and are often requested. Her repertoire is also filled with multicultural folktales from around the world such as nature stories, Asian stories, animal stories, ghost stories, Jewish folktales, puppets, etc. She is a member of the National Storytelling Network.

Batlin’s recent performance of Isabella Bird’s 1873 travels is available for viewing on the Members Only portion of the website.

Pricing

Free for museum members, $10 non-members

Membership

Membership pays for itself with just a few programs for your family. Join us.

More Golden history

Check out the Golden History Museum & Park blog for the latest behind the scenes videos and stories, personal memoirs, and history tidbits about Golden.

Homestead Open House

Come to our next Open House! Interested in seeing sparks fly at the blacksmith shop, taking a lesson at schoolhouse, or watching the Pearce/Helps Cabin woodstove in action? Visit the Golden History Park, adjacent to downtown Golden, on select Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., May through September.

Family Friendly Event

During these family-friendly open house events, you will be able to participate in hands-on activities, learn about pioneer history from our interpreters, and see special demonstrations. Homestead Open House is free and drop-in style; there is no registration. Experience history in action!

What’s in Golden History Park?

The History Park is home to many of the original buildings from the old Pearce Ranch in Golden Gate Canyon. Stroll through the park and imagine yourself growing potatoes or raising chickens as part of a homesteading family. Peek through the windows of real 1800s cabins and see other buildings from the ranch like the barn, chicken coop and two-seat outhouse. You’ll also see the 1876 Guy Hill schoolhouse at the park. It was moved to Golden in 1976. Read more here.

Location and Pricing for Open House

Golden History Park

10 a.m. – 2 p.m.; drop-in anytime

Free for all

Membership

GHM&P membership pays for itself with attendance at just a few programs. Memberships start at $40 and all levels include a 10% discount at our gift shop. It features books about Golden as well as crafts from local artisans. The best value starts at the Patron level ($125) and includes admission and benefits at hundreds of North American museums from both of these networks: North American Reciprocal Museums (more than 1,250 participating museums) and Reciprocal Organization of Associated Museums (more than 440 participating museums). Join us today.  

More Golden History

Check out the Golden History Museum & Park blog for the latest behind the scenes videos and stories, personal memoirs, and history tidbits about Golden.