Events
Golden History Museum & Park programs explore a variety of historic subjects presented by expert instructors. Learn about your community or neighborhood. Apply historic skills in a modern way. Create something with your hands. There is sure to be a program to suit your interests!
Remember: Registration is required for most programs, even when free. Program will be canceled if minimum attendance number is not reached 24 hours prior to start time. Help us provide even more programming by signing up and attending. [Click for registration instructions, or scroll to bottom.]
Insider’s Discovery: Tour of Golden History Park
Members only: please 303-278-3557 call to register. If you’re not a member already, please join today!
The History Park is home to many of the original buildings from the old Pearce Ranch in Golden Gate Canyon. Thomas and Henrietta Pearce, pictured here, raised eight children on their ranch. It was one of the largest in the area by 1912.
Thomas and Henrietta Pearce
Learn the whole story with staff experts from Golden History Museum.
Location and Pricing
Golden History Park
Register by phone: 303-278-3557.
Membership
Membership pays for itself with just a few programs for your family. Join us.
August Homesteaders’ Day
Celebrate Homesteaders’ Day! Experience 19th century homesteading, explore the historic cabins, try woodstove cooking, learn about blacksmithing, and take a lesson at the one-room schoolhouse. This event is drop-in style; there is no registration. Come any time between 10 am and 2 pm for any length of time.
The History Park is home to many of the original buildings from the old Pearce Ranch in Golden Gate Canyon. Thomas and Henrietta Pearce, pictured here, raised eight children on their ranch. It was one of the largest in the area by 1912.
Thomas and Henrietta Pearce
Stroll through this 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.
Also, see the 1876 Guy Hill schoolhouse which was originally located in the canyon too, but on a different property. It served the needs of canyon locals until 1951.
Location and Pricing
Golden History Park
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.; drop in anytime
Free for all
Membership
Membership pays for itself with just a few programs for your family. Join us.
Facility Rental
Learn how a Golden Museum Rental offers unique experiences that range from rustic to ritzy.
Our rustic three-acre park is ideal for those with a “Do It Yourself (DIY)” mindset. Whether you are interested in having your wedding ceremony and/or reception with us or intent on hosting a large event such as family reunion or a corporate retreat, Golden History Park offers a unique experience for your guests. It’s only a short walk from downtown Golden which features shopping, restaurants, and more.
Tourism, Make-Believe, and the Built Environment: Colorado’s Mid-Century Tourist Parks
Join our panel as we take a visual journey to Colorado’s historic theme parks, featuring those built around the mid-century heyday of American tourism and family road trips (envision wood-paneled station wagon and no seatbelts!). Design, kitsch, and make-believe all merge in these creative, nostalgic and visually rich set designs that have become part of our historic Colorado fabric. Presented by Michelle Slaughter, Abigail Christman, Jane Watkins, and Cindy Nasky.
Michelle Slaughter – Historical Archaeologist at Metcalf Archaeology Consultants
Michelle Slaughter is a historical archaeologist who has devoted her career to the exploration of the recent past in the western United States, researching and working at a variety of historic sites including the Molly Brown House, the Governor’s Mansion, the Matchless Mine in Leadville, the Granada Relocation Center (formerly known as Camp Amache), the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site, Bent’s Old and New Forts, and the ghost town, St. Elmo. She enjoys public outreach and bringing alive the things she learns during her work. She is a member of the State Historical Fund Advisory Council and was recently appointed by former Governor Hickenlooper to Colorado’s Historic Preservation Review Board.
Abigail Christman – Senior City Planner at City and County of Denver
Abigail Christman is a Senior City Planner in Landmark Preservation at the City and County of Denver. Christman has a varied background in preservation having previously worked for consulting firms, a non-profit, and a university research center. Her experience includes design review, reconnaissance and intensive-level surveys, National Register nominations, Section 106 consultation, preservation tax credit certification, and public outreach. Christman previously served on Denver’s Landmark Preservation Commission. She holds a M.A. in Public History/Historic Preservation from Middle Tennessee State University and a M.A. in Histories and Theories of Architecture from the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London, England.
Jane Watkins – Owner Watkins Stained Glass
Jane Watkins has owned Watkins Stained Glass for the past 35 years with her husband, Phil. She holds a BFA Art History – CU Boulder and currently serves on Colorado Preservation Inc.’s Board. She is a member of Association for Preservation Technology, the Fairmount Heritage Foundation, and the Stained Glass Association of America, and previously served on Historic Denver’s Sacred Landmark Committee. Watkins Stained Glass Studio’s major recent projects have included: Restoration of the Colorado State Capitol’s 27 stained glass windows, Molly Brown House Museum, St. Paul United Methodist Church/Belongs, Trinity United Methodist Church, St. John’s Cathedral. Watkins Stained Glass also did thousands of Mid-Century stained glass windows in homes and churches in the Rocky Mountain area. Jane is devoted to Historic Preservation.
Cindy Nasky – Director of Preservation Programs at Colorado Historical Foundation
Cindy Nasky attended Miami University for design/art history and CSU for a Master’s degree in Historic Preservation and Public History. She then worked as staff preservationist for a Cincinnati group focusing on restoration and low-income housing. In 1994, she happily returned to Colorado to work for the fledgling SHF (State Historical Fund). This experience served her well at her work with Colorado Preservation, Inc. (CPI) as a project manager and preservation specialist. From 2005 to the present, she has worked with the Colorado Historical Foundation (CHF) as Easements Administrator and, more recently, Director of Preservation Programs.
Location and Pricing
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Free for members; $10 plus online registration fee for non-members
Membership
Membership pays for itself with just a few programs for your family. Join us.
Facility Rental
Learn how a Golden Museum Rental offers unique experiences that range from rustic to ritzy.
Randi Samuelson-Brown: Sex and Drugs in the 1890s
Join us for a boisterous look at the 1890s world of prostitution, licit and illicit drugs, bad whiskey recipes, and the saloon and brothel culture that flourished in Colorado.
Copies of Randi Samuelson-Brown’s book, The Beaten Territory, will be available for purchase and signing.
Location and Pricing
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Free for members; $10 plus online registration fee for non-members
Membership
Membership pays for itself with just a few programs for your family. Join us.
Facility Rental
Learn how a Golden Museum Rental offers unique experiences that range from rustic to ritzy.
Three-day Senior “Summer” Camp
Do you have what it takes to build a colorful tangram? Have you ever swung a blacksmith’s hammer? When is the last time you shaped something with clay? You’ll learn all these skills and more from experienced tradespeople at three Golden cultural organizations: Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum, Foothills Art Center, and Golden History Museum & Park. Come relive the days of your youth at summer camp (even if you never went) and experience these rare arts and unusual crafts from local masters.
This dynamic program will be held on three consecutive days at three different locations, each with different, specific times.
Details below.
Day One, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019
Meet at the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum. Program starts at 10 a.m. Please bring your lunch as there will be a lunch break from 12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
200 Violet St #140, Golden, CO 80401
Day Two, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019
Meet at Foothills Art Center. Program starts at 10 a.m. Please bring your lunch as there will be a lunch break from 1:00 p.m.-1:30 p.m.
10:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
809 15th St, Golden, CO 80401
Day Three, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019
Meet at Golden History Museum. Program starts at 12 p.m. Please bring your lunch as there will be a lunch break from 1:00 p.m.-1:30 p.m.
To commemorate your days at camp, please invite your family or friends to join us for a closing party at Golden History Museum. Light refreshments will be served.
12:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. for class; 4:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. for closing party
923 10th St., Golden, CO 80401
Pricing
$160 members; $200 non-members, plus online registration fee
Membership
Membership pays for itself with just a few programs for your family. Join us.
Facility Rental
Learn how a Golden Museum Rental offers unique experiences that range from rustic to ritzy.
Black & White Night 2019
Saturday, October 5, 2019
Discover Golden’s history with your taste buds. Join us for a fun-filled evening of mingling, sampling and socializing all for a great cause—benefitting Golden History Museum & Park’s Free Admission Campaign.
5 to 6 pm • Golden Distiller’s VIP Experience
6 to 9 pm • Black & White Night
$50 Individual • $90 Pair • +$30 per person VIP
(includes dinner, dessert, drinks, and drawing)
Advance registration is required; tickets will NOT be available at the door.
Deadline is September 30, 2019. Purchase tickets:
- in-person
- by calling 303-278-3557
- by sending a check
- at eventbrite (online fee will apply).
Menu
Cornish Miner’s Pasty Dinner by Pasty Republic
Choose from: Foreman (cheese & potato), Caretaker (chicken & vegetable), or Miners (steak & potato).
Golden-inspired Desserts by The Dessert Stand
Spudnut Potato Flour Mini Donuts
Malted Milk Panna Cotta & Raspberry Gelee
Tiramisu & Malted Milk Cream
Cherry, Apple, and Peach Hand Pies
Jolly Rancher Stained Glass Sugar Cookies
Cake Pops Rolled in Crushed Jolly Ranchers
Select beverages by Golden Moon Distillery, Holidaily Brewing Company, and Miners Saloon.
Golden Distiller’s VIP Experience
Enjoy an exclusive experience learning the fascinating history of distilling in Golden and Colorado. Sample specialty spirits from Golden Moon Distillery. Space is limited for this exclusive affair.
Additional $30 per person.
Questions?
Call 303-278-3557.
Wild Things in Ancient Places: The Archaeology of the National Wildlife Refuges
Somewhere beneath the tracks of the bison, the nests of the piping plover, and the burrows of the black-footed ferret are the tools and fires of earlier peoples. These animals and their habitats are protected on our National Wildlife Refuges – a system of public lands that also offers a rare opportunity to preserve archaeological sites and historic places (and the occasional dinosaur). The eight states that comprise the Mountain – Prairie Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Wildlife Refuge system extend from the Canadian border to the desert southwest. The cultural resources of the region span 12,000 years from Paleoindian camp sites to Depression-era fire towers. The paleontological remains, archaeological sites, and historic structures found on the Refuges are diverse and wonderful and provide some unique challenges.
Presented by Meg Van Ness, Regional Historic Preservation Officer for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Location and Pricing
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Free for members; $10 plus online registration fee for non-members
Membership
Membership pays for itself with just a few programs for your family. Join us.
Facility Rental
Learn how a Golden Museum Rental offers unique experiences that range from rustic to ritzy.
Golden Cemetery Tour 2019
Visit the graves of legendary Golden characters. Hear stories about their lives from famous storyteller, Dennis Potter, Museum volunteer since 2008 and retired Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department Captain. Read Dennis’s profile.
Tours begin and end at the Golden Cemetery. This program sells out every year, so get your tickets early. This is a rain-or-shine event; weather will not force a cancellation.
Two tours are available:
-
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
-
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Registration is required. Program will be canceled if minimum attendance number is not reached 24 hours prior to start time.
Pricing
$0 members; $10 non-members, plus online registration fee
Membership pays for itself with just a few programs for your family. Join us.
About Golden Cemetery
The City of Golden owns and operates the Golden Cemetery. Among the historic notables buried here is George West. West, a Golden founder, started the Colorado Transcript newspaper in 1866.
Additionally, Seth Lake, builder of Astor House in 1867, is buried in the Golden Cemetery. Many other pioneers and characters of the early west are at rest here.
Membership
Membership pays for itself with just a few programs for your family. Join us.
Facility Rental
Learn how a Golden Museum Rental offers unique experiences that range from rustic to ritzy.
Click the green ticket button in the upper left of each event to buy tickets online. 
Click “read more” in the lower right of each event for details. 
Read the fine print and policies below (updated 11-20-18).
Event and Program Ticketing Policies at Golden History Museum & Park
Please note: Tickets will only be available at the door if the program reaches its pre-registration minimum.
Weather: All events are rain or shine. Tickets will not be refunded for any inclement weather including but not limited to snow, wind, rain or extreme temperatures.
Cancellation: GHM&P reserves the right to cancel a program for any reason. A full refund will occur automatically and notification sent if GHM&P cancels a program for any reason.
Refunds: Participants will not receive a refund except in the event that GHM&P cancels the program.
Facilities: Restrooms are not available on-site at the Golden History Park or Golden Cemetery. If at the Golden History Park, participants may use public restrooms located on 12th Street. Please call ahead to ask about accessibility concerns and mobility recommendations.
Additional details: Please note the minimum age requirements of some of our programs. Excessive disruptive behavior and any safety risks may result in a participant being asked to leave a program at the instructor’s discretion. Pets are not permitted at programs; service animals are permitted.
To purchase tickets, cancel your registration, or learn more about our events and ticketing policy, please call the Golden History Museum front desk during business hours at 303-278-3557.