Mining History by Jeep

You may know about the Smuggler Mine, but did you know there are even more silver mines above that? The remnants of several of them can be found beyond the observation deck on Smuggler Mountain, and our new tour, the Smuggler Mt. Open Space Historic Jeep and Trail Tour, will take visitors to these by jeep and on foot. The best part is that the tour is free, but offered on a limited basis (Wednesdays, 9 a.m.) and to six people, so make your reservations early by calling (970)925-3721. It runs June 18-Sept. 3

Jeep

Details: Access Smuggler Mountain via jeep for an interpretive tour exploring the history of the silver mining era. Guests will be transported, by  jeep, up Smuggler Mountain Road, then tour on foot the remains of several silver mines. Offered in partnership with Blazing Adventures and City of Aspen Open Space and Trails.


Hours:
 Wednesday, 9-11 a.m. (Arrive 8:45 a.m.) Maximum 6 people, for ages 8 and up.
Cost: Free
BY RESERVATION ONLY
For reservations contact Aspen Historical Society (970)925-3721

History Mystery: Where’s Kelly’s Mom?

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We get donations all the time of old photographs that need identification, including people and place. Our archives team is great at their job, but  even they can get stumped. Like this photo. We know that the picture is of our executive director’s mother in the 1950s (because Kelly donated it), but we can’t nail down exactly specifically where on the mountain it is. We’re going to start a monthly History Mystery game enlisting your help in IDing donated photos. So, send your guesses to [email protected] and the first person with the correct answer (verified by our experts) will receive two tickets to our Holden/Marolt Hoedown.

P.S. You can enlarge the photo by clicking on it.

 

Kick Off Summer at the Holden/Marolt Hoedown

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Yeehaw! It’s summer time. Put on your boots and join us for the Holden/Marolt Hoedown, June 17. The Smuggler Mountain Boys will be playing bluegrass and we’ll have ranching activities for kids, like potato branding, butter churning and lasso lessons. If you’re hungry, fill up on Hickory House barbecue or just come by for a chilled Roaring Fork Beer Co. brew.

Tickets are $20/adult, and that includes food and a beer. It’s $10/kid for dinner. Anyone who wants to join and just listen to music and drink can stop by for $10. It all takes place at the Holden/Marolt Mining & Ranching Museum near the Marolt Open Space at the entrance to town.

Sweet Peas are Here

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Mrs. D.R.C. Brown stands next to sweet peas.

Don’t let the snow fool you, it’s sweet pea season! Each spring we partner with BJ Adams & Co. and the Aspen Times for a sweet pea giveaway. You can pick up a packet of the seeds at either BJ Adams location (534 E. Hopkins Ave. in Aspen, 17 Kearns Rd. in Snowmass), The Aspen Times (314 E. Hyman Ave.) or the Wheeler/Stallard Museum (620 W. Bleeker St.). The flower is Aspen’s official flower and used to be found in yards  throughout the city. Happy planting! 

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Aspen’s official flower, the sweet pea.

Ute Exhibit Gets New Artifacts

We took a couple of weeks this spring to clean and swap out artifacts in our Ute exhibit. Now, we reopen with 15 new objects primarily on loan from History Colorado. These include a parfleche bag, cradleboard and pair of moccasins. They replace artifacts that were previously part of the exhibit and help to tell the Ute story—both past and present.

Seasons of the Nuche: Transitions of the Ute People explores the story of the Ute Indians, who called the Roaring Fork Valley home for hundreds of years before the miners came into the area. They were forced onto reservations in the 1880s, and this exhibit takes visitors on a journey that acknowledges this displacement and embraces their position in modern America today.

Megan Cerise repositions the parfleche bag inside the Ute exhibit at the Wheeler/Stallard Museum.

Megan Cerise repositions the parfleche bag inside the Ute exhibit at the Wheeler/Stallard Museum.

 

The Ute exhibit is now open Tuesday through Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. Starting June 17, hours will extend to 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is $6/adult, $5/senior and free for children 12 and under.