Background Statement
Established in 1879, History Colorado is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and an agency of the State of Colorado under the Department of Higher Education.
We are committed to serving all Coloradans, and offer access to our state’s history through enriching experiences at eleven museums and historic sites, with engaging exhibitions and activities. We steward more than 15 million objects, photographs, and archival resources that make up the State’s collection, and serve tens of thousands of learners of all ages through dynamic programs. We work with school groups and youth through field trips, day camps, and traveling programs across the state of Colorado. We are home to a free public research center, Colorado’s Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (OAHP), and the Colorado State Historical Fund (SHF), the nation’s largest preservation program of its kind.
In pursuit of a more just and equitable Colorado, we embody the grounding virtues listed below as the foundation of all aspects of our work: our thinking, communication, process, outcomes, and evaluation. Our work is guided by, for, and of the communities we build, belong to, and serve, and we commit to:
● Being in Community
● Amplifying and Centering Voices of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color
● Co-creation and Shared Authority
● Humility and Reflection
● Responsiveness and Flexibility
● Shared Destiny
We hope you will join us in this work—because we are stronger when we do it together.