Aspen Historical Society | Summer 2021 Programs & Events

Please note, all schedules and operations are subject to change dependent on current public health requirements. All current governmental mask & social distancing protocols will be strictly observed.

Program & Event Calendar (complete details below)

June 12 – Ashcroft Ghost Town opens

June 13 – Independence Ghost Town Opens
June 15 – Annual Bergman Hoe Down at Holden/Marolt Mining and Ranching Museum
June 16 – Daily tours begin for season
June 16 – Wheeler/Stallard Museum, Holden/Marolt Mining & Ranching Museum, Archives Office open
June 22 – Summer Exhibit Celebration and FREE DAY- extended hours 11:00am-8:00pm at the Wheeler/Stallard Museum; Decade by Decade: Aspen Revealed

July 10 – History Hikes – Aspen Mountain
July 23 – History on Tap: A Briefly Complete History of Aspen 2.0– Willoughby Park
July 28 – Water in the Age of Silver – Roaring Fork Conservancy partner program at Holden/Marolt
August 7 – Annual Ice Cream Social at Wheeler Stallard Museum

August 14 – History Hike – Green Mountain
August 23 – Twilight Cemetery Tour at Red Butte Cemetery
September 7 – Fall hours begin at Ashcroft Ghost Town, Wheeler/Stallard and Holden/Marolt Museum

September 7 – Independence Ghost Town is self-guided only until Pass closes
September 16 – History on Tap: Restoration Revealed at Holden/Marolt
October 2 – Tours end; self-guided begins at Ashcroft Ghost Town; Holden/Marolt Mining & Ranching Museum closes for the season
 

AHS ARCHIVES & COMMUNITY GALLERY
Archive Office
Open beginning on June 15thby appointment only: appointments are available from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday – Friday, limited to one person at a time, for one-hour sessions.
For access to the AHS Collection or for research assistance, book an appointment with the Archives Department at 970.925.3721 x 103 or email [email protected]. 
Aspen Historical Society operates the largest public archive in the region. This includes a photographic collection featuring nearly 50,000 images, 12,400 archival records, 1,150 books in our specialty library, and more than 7,600 physical artifacts. Research assistance is available by appointment, and the public can access and search a large portion of the Collection online at www.archiveaspen.org, including images that can be ordered as prints and are also available on a fee-basis for commercial or editorial use.
Required masking, social-distancing, and health safety measures will be strictly observed.

Community Gallery | Maps Through the Decades display
Community Gallery open during Archive Office hours; however, it is best to call ahead to confirm access
On display in the Archive Building’s Community Gallery this summer is a curated selection of maps from the extensive AHS Collection. From mining claims to trail maps, the AHS Archive is home to historical maps of many varieties. The display features maps as functional works of art from 1870 through 1970, celebrating the creation process of maps such as the Hayden Geological Survey and illustrating how maps shaped the evolution of the area from wildlands to mining camp to modern mountain town.

 

MUSEUMS & GHOST TOWNS:

Museum hours are subject to change. All current governmental mask & social distancing protocols will be strictly observed.

Wheeler/Stallard Museum | Decade by Decade: Aspen Revealed exhibition
Museum open beginning June 15th: Tuesday – Saturday (closed Sundays and Mondays and major holidays)
From 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Tuesday – Saturday, the museum will be open for seniors and vulnerable guests, only. Then the museum will open to the general public from 12 p.m. – 5 pm.
Free for AHS members / $10 adult / $8 senior / free children under 18 and active military personnel
(free on the first Saturday of each month; admission fee includes Holden/Marolt Mining & Ranching Museum)
The Wheeler/Stallard house is a Queen Anne style Victorian built in 1888. The first floor of the Museum is interpreted as a Victorian Aspen home and the second-floor gallery features rotating exhibitions to explore area history.The new exhibition Decade by Decade: Aspen Revealedexplores the stories that shaped the community’s distinct identity: from mining boom to dilapidated ranching town to today’s international recreational and cultural resort, Aspen forged a unique path. Featuring photographs and artifacts that represent Aspen’s connection to national events and trends, the exhibition reflects on the community’s place within the larger historical landscape of the nation – sometimes congruent, sometimes divergent – but always exciting. Decade by Decade: Aspen Revealedwill appeal to visitors and locals of all ages, showcasing the depth of the AHS Collection.

Required masking, social-distancing, and health safety measures will be strictly observed. 

 

Holden/Marolt Mining & Ranching Museum

Museum open beginning June 15th: Tuesday – Saturday (closed Sundays and Mondays and major holidays)

From 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Tuesday – Saturday, the museum will be open for seniors and vulnerable guests, only. Then the museum will open to the general public from 12 p.m. – 5 pm.

Free for AHS members / $10 adult / $8 senior / free children under 18 and active military personnel / free for car-free visitors* (free on the first Saturday of each month; admission fee includes Wheeler/Stallard Museum)

The Holden/Marolt Mining & Ranching Museum explores the industrial and agricultural history of the area. From mining to railways to ranching, the past comes alive at this pastoral museum that sits on the site of the remains of the largest industrial complex in the history of Pitkin County, The Holden Lixiviation Works. The historical Zupancis buildings were recently moved to the property and are being restored to help tell the story of the “Quiet Years” and immigrants who helped shape the area. The Holden/Marolt Museum is directly adjacent to a public bike trail near the entrance to Aspen.

*AHS extends free museum admission to visitors who either bike or walk to the museum thanks to generous sponsors Alpine Bank and Miners’ Building Hardware!

Required masking, social-distancing, and health safety measures will be strictly observed.

 

Ashcroft Ghost Town
June 12 - September 6: open daily, 9AM – 5PM with docent onsite

September 9 - October 4: open Thursday – Monday, 9AM – 5PM with docent onsite

Self-guided and honor system admission during “closed” hours
Admission $5 adult / children 18 and under free

Located eleven miles up Castle Creek Road, the silver mining ghost town features the restored remains of several historical buildings, including a saloon, post office, and hotel. A docent is on site during open hours and interpretive signage tells the stories of the former boom town nestled among spectacular alpine meadows at the headwaters of Castle Creek.
Please, no dogs permitted in the ghost town. 

Independence Ghost Town

June 13 – September 6:  open daily 10AM – 6PM with docents on site

Suggested donation $5 adult / children 18 and under free

Visit the first mining site in the Roaring Fork Valley! Legend has it that prospectors discovered the Independence Gold Lode here on July 4, 1879. Today, Independence is an archaeological preserve, featuring interpretive stations that tell of the characters, enterprises, and structures that make it an integral part of area history. Located just below the continental Divide 16 miles east of Aspen on Highway 82, the ghost town is a “don’t-miss stop” on Independence Pass along the Top of the Rockies’ Scenic Byway.

 

ONGOING TOURS:
Explore area history on re-imagined guided outdoor tours this season. Tours explore Aspen’s Victorian West End neighborhood, Bauhaus architecture, an historical railroad corridor and cemetery, and more. We have something for every history fan! AHS offers money-back guarantee for guided tours: if you don’t learn something new, we’ll give your money back to you! Private tours and guided experiences are offered based on guide availability, call 970.925.3721 to book.

All tours for summer 2021 are limited to 6 people and require a reservation, call 970.925.3721 to book. Tour offerings are subject to change. All current governmental mask and social distancing protocols will be strictly observed.

Victorian West End Walking Tour

June 15 – October 2

Thursdays and Saturdays at 10:30am (1.5 hours)
Meets at the Wheeler/Stallard Museum, 620 W Bleeker St.

$15 adult / $12 seniors and children 18 and under
A stroll through Aspen’s Victorian West End with a focus on history and architecture. Learn little-known facts about the neighborhood’s homes and the people who lived in them.

Historic Downtown Walking Tour
June 15 – October 2
Wednesdays and Fridays at 10:30pm (1.5 hours)
Meets in front of the Wheeler Opera House, 320 E Hyman Ave.
$15 adult / $12 seniors and children 18 and under
A guided walking tour of historical buildings, sites, and stories around every corner in downtown Aspen.

 

bauhaus architectural walking tour
June 15 – October 2
Tuesdays at 10:30pm (2 hours)
Meets at 110 E Hallam St. at the corner of Aspen & Hallam (by the Red Brick Center for the Arts gymnasium)
$15 adult / $12 seniors and children 18 and under

a walking tour to explore examples of bauhaus and other modern design principles that continue to inspire local design, including one of bauhaus master herbert bayer’s former residences, as well as styles introduced by bayer that have influenced area architects for decades.

Red Butte Cemetery Tour
June 15 – Oct 2

Fridays at 1:30pm (1 hour)
Meets at the Red Butte Cemetery front gate off Cemetery Lane

$15 adult / $12 seniors and children 18 and under
A guided tour of one of Aspen’s oldest cemeteries, including insight into the lives of the locals who are buried there.

History Coach Tour
June 15 – October 2
Tuesdays – Fridays at 10:30am (2 ¼ hours)
Meets in front of the Wheeler Opera House, 320 E Hyman Ave.
$25 adult / $20 senior & children 18 and under
Reservations required, limit 5 seats
A guided tour of historic downtown Aspen in our unique electric vehicle – complete with a visit to both the Wheeler/Stallard Museum and the Holden/Marolt Mining and Ranching Museum. Guests gain a totally new understanding of Aspen’s transformations from a mining town to ski town to year-round, world-famous resort!

Independence Ghost Town Tour
June 15 - Oct 2

Saturdays at 1:30pm (1.5 hours)
Meets at the Independence Ghost Town upper parking lot (16 miles east of Aspen on Highway 82)

$15 adult / $12 seniors and children 18 and under

A weekly guided tour to explore the Independence Ghost Town where, legend has it, prospectors struck gold on July 4, 1879 making the area the first mining site in the Roaring Fork Valley. Today, Independence is an archaeological preserve located just below the continental Divide and a “don’t-miss stop” on Independence Pass along the Top of the Rockies’ Scenic Byway.

Wheeler Opera House Tour

June 15 - Oct 2
Wednesdays at 1:30pm
Meets at Wheeler Opera House

FREE in partnership with the Wheeler Opera House

The center of Aspen’s arts and cultural scene since it was built in 1889, the Wheeler Opera House has stood the test of time. This free tour in partnership with the Wheeler offers an insider’s look at the iconic building, including its recent renovations and storied past.

Aspen Historical Society Archive Tour
Third Tuesdays, June 15; July 20, August 17; September 21

11:00am (1 hour)
Meets in the Archive Building, 620 W. Bleeker St.

FREE

Enjoy a guided “backstage” tour of the AHS Archive and research facility! The tour includes insight into the artifact accessioning process, a viewing of the display Maps Through the Decadesin the Community Gallery, access to the underground “vault” where much of the AHS Collection is stored, and close-up looks at artifacts of note.
 

SPECIAL PROGRAMS & EVENTS:

Annual Bergman Hoedown
Tuesday, June 15 | 4:30PM | Holden/Marolt Mining & Ranching Museum

Pre-registered advance admission required
$20/adult (includes dinner and a beer) $10/kid (includes dinner) $15 adult admission (with beer only) additional beer $5 - at event
The community is invited to kick-off summer at this beloved annual event featuring machine demonstrations, farm animals, mining and ranching games, and museum tours. Guests will enjoy Hickory House barbecue and a beer garden sponsored by Aspen Brewing Company.

 

History on Tap: “A Briefly Complete History of Aspen 2.0” Live Performance

Friday, July 23 | 5:30 - 7PM | Willoughby Park
$10 in advance, $15 day of  (ticket includes one beer, $5 extra beer)
Newly updated to include the past decade - three professionally trained actors perform a 45-minute crash course in Aspen history featuring song, dance, and character presentations that will leave you laughing and breathless.

 

Water in the Age of Silver: Touring Aspen's "Holden Works”
A program of Roaring Fork Conservancy offered in partnership with City of Aspen Parks & Open Space and AHS
Wednesday, July 28th | 5:30 PM | Holden-Marolt Mining & Ranching Museum, Aspen
Free, advance registration is required with Roaring Fork Conservancy (opens June 30)
Discover the largest industrial site in the history of Pitkin County: a then-state-of-the-art silver processing plant known as the Holden Lixiviation Works. Built on the banks of Castle Creek in 1891 by Edward Royal Holden, the plant lead to innovative and sometimes destructive uses of water resources for hydropower and waste disposal. Explore the history, the museum, and the remnants of the “Works” (including the newly reconstructed cable derrick) to learn how one of our most precious resources, freshwater, was utilized in a different era.
 

History on Tap: Restoration Revealed
Thursday, September 16th | 5:30 - 7PM | Holden/Marolt Mining & Ranching Museum
$10 in advance, $15 day of  (ticket includes one beer, $5 extra beer)

Join AHS for a panel discussion about the extensive Zupancis Homestead restoration project that is ongoing at the Holden/Marolt Mining & Ranching Museum property. From preserved runs of Victorian wallpaper to asbestos-laden walls, conservation projects are always an adventure!Moderated by AHS Curator Lisa Hancock, panelists include expert architectural conservator Natalie Feinberg Lopez, City of Aspen Historic Preservation Officer Amy Simon, and project architect and AHS trustee Charles Cunniffe.The program will include insight into historical restoration best practices, as well as details about the work accomplished thus far on the miner’s-cabin-turned-Victorian-era-home, shed, and barn. Join us for the inside scoop on the project’s successes, failures, and plenty of surprises in between. 
Part of the History on Tap series, where history meets beer! Generously sponsored by Aspen Brewing Company

 

Aspen Community News Aspen Historical Society Event Calendar Summer 2021 Aspen Community News