We are flinging open the doors to the cabins and outbuildings at Clear Creek History Park in 2012. Starting in May, we will be open six days a week from 10-4:30 p.m. with on-going activities throughout the day.
As a part of this flurry of energy at the Park, we are expanding access to the buildings. The Barn is cleaner than it has been in years and is ready to accommodate critters (with sheep being the most likely denizens). The Reynolds Cabin will be open on a daily basis and while the experience there has still not been planned out, we do have a few nascent ideas. The drawing below was lovingly composed by my hand and while it doesn’t live up to the standards of my artist sister, it does give some clues as to what people may get to do in the cabin.
As we design the experience at the Park, we are considering the geography of the site and the best stories that we could tell about late 19th century life in Golden Gate Canyon. As such, we’ve cracked into research files about the Pearce family and the Reynolds family and have explored the history of the Guy Hill Schoolhouse. With our plans to ramp up the animal encounters at the Park, we are also finding more out about the common breeds of hoof stock raised in the canyon and how the ranchers in the late 19th century used those animals.
The new plan will consider the key audience demographics for the park (families with children) as well as the key educational and experiential goals for the site. Look for a follow-up blog post with more details about this experience narrative. In the meantime, feel free to contribute your favorite stories about the History Park or any ideas that you may have for its future.
