Aspen Historical Society Offers Free Museum Admission on Saturday for

Smithsonian Magazine’s Museum Day Live!

ASPEN, CO, September 19, 2017 – Aspen Historical Society (AHS) will open its doors free of charge this Saturday, September 23^rd at the Wheeler/Stallard Museum and the Holden/Marolt Mining & Ranching Museum as part of Smithsonian magazine’s thirteenth annual Museum Day Live! The nationwide event emulates the spirit of the Smithsonian Institution, whose Washington-based facilities offer free admission every day, and acknowledges the power of museums and other cultural institutions to inspire and educate visitors. AHS joins participating museums across the United States in this “celebration of boundless curiosity” by offering free admission to those who download a Museum Day Live! ticket.

“Museum Day Live! is a fun, collaborative celebration of American museums,” says Kelly Murphy, President and CEO of Aspen Historical Society. “While AHS offers free admission on the first Saturday of every month, it is our privilege to partner with Smithsonian magazine on this national event. We hope locals and visitors alike enjoy exploring our area’s exciting history at our museums this weekend!”

The Wheeler/Stallard Museum, a Victorian home in Aspen’s West End neighborhood, is currently exhibiting “Bests, Firsts, and Worsts: Aspen in Objects,” which showcases more than 120 artifacts, such as Walter Paepcke’s top hat and Jerome B. Wheeler’s Civil War sword, that tell the stories of the area’s quirky history. The Holden/Marolt Mining & Ranching Museum explores the industrial and agricultural history of the Aspen area. The historic Zupancis cabins were recently moved to the museum property and are being renovated to provide additional interpretive sites. Both museums are currently open Tuesday – Saturday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The Museum Day Live! ticket is available for download at Smithsonianmag.com/museumday. Visitors who present the Museum Day Live! ticket receive free entrance for two at Aspen Historical Society’s museums: the Wheeler/Stallard Museum (620 West Bleeker Street) and the Holden/Marolt Mining and Ranching Museum (Marolt Open Space). One ticket per email address. For more information about Museum Day Live! and a complete list of participating museums, visit Smithsonian.com/museumday.

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Aspen Historical Society (AHS) actively preserves and passionately presents our local history in an inspired and provocative manner that will continue to anchor our community and its evolving character. AHS maintains the largest archives in the region, with a portion of our collection available online as a public resource. AHS also operates four historical sites: Wheeler/Stallard Museum, Holden/Marolt Mining & Ranching Museum, and the ghost towns of Independence and Ashcroft. AHS offers year-round tours, programs, and community events for all ages to explore the history of the Aspen/Snowmass area. Visit our www.aspenhistory.org or follow @historyaspen on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for more information.