Lafayette History Museum 2022 Annual Report

2022 Annual Report

New name, enhanced look, major exhibit

We took a number of bold steps in 2022 to better serve the Lafayette community and strengthen this institution.

Reflecting its mission to showcase the sweep of Lafayette’s rich and varied history, the organization established in 1976 as the Lafayette Miners Museum changed its name to the Lafayette History Museum.

In line with that move, the board of directors commissioned the creation of a logo and its associated color palette and typography to anchor the museum’s visual identity.

In November, the museum debuted its major new exhibit, “Radical Lafayette: The Colorado Coal Strike of 1927-28,” which chronicles Lafayette’s role as a center of a militant workers’ rights movement. The exhibit sheds new light on the

roles played by women and the KKK and delves into workers’ rights, civil rights, justice, racism, and the human condition in the Lafayette of nearly a century ago.

We offer our sincere thanks to those of you who contributed to the creation of this installation and other elements of the museum’s continued success. It benefitted from the actions of patrons, donors, volunteers, students, teachers, scholars, artists, elected officials, civil servants, and government bodies.

With your help and despite the lingering effects of the Covid pandemic, the museum again enjoyed gains in volunteerism, tour participation, collection acquisitions, and income, along with dramatic growth in patronage. In the pages that follow, you’ll learn about these and other milestones and accomplishments.

Leigh Campbell-Hale President, board of directors

Chelsea Pennington Hahn Museum director

Chelsea Pennington Hahn and Leigh Campbell-Hale

The new “Radical Lafayette” exhibit attracts visitors of all ages.

2022 Highlights & Milestones

Museum mounts major labor-history exhibit November saw the unveiling of a landmark exhibition about the violent Colorado Coal Strike of 1927-28.

A multi-gallery installation, “Radical Lafayette” is the brainchild of

Leigh Campbell Hale, historian new museum board president and author of a just-published book on the subject.

Designed by Kristen Law Lewis, the exhibition includes not only physical displays of text, photos, maps, and artifacts at the museum but will also take the form of lectures, articles, podcasts, and online offerings.

Museum selects new director, board president

In June, Chelsea Pennington Hahn was hired as director of the museum, succeeding Krista Barry, who had successfully served in that role since 2019 and relocated to her native Vermont.

Most recently Pennington Hahn served the Museum of Boulder as curator of collections

Previously she worked for the public library in Golden, Colorado, as well as institutions in Syracuse, New York: the Erie Canal Museum, the Syracuse University Art Gallery, the SPARK

Contemporary Art Space, and the Onondaga Historical Association.

Also during 2022, the board of directors elected as president Leigh Campbell-Hale to succeed Bill Watson, who served with distinction for two years and remains a board member.

Campbell-Hale is a PhD historian, educator, and author who recently retired as a University of Colorado professor. Her scholarly work served as the basis for the museum’s “Radical Lafayette” exhibit, which debuted in November.

Library hosts popular history programs

The museum period ically puts on history programs at Lafayette Public Library, and this past year two such events were wildly successful.

Last March, more than 130 people saw former Lafayette Fire Chief and longtime museum volunteer and board member Gerry Morrell (pictured) give a presentation about the 9 Mile Pillars, which were constructed in 1928 as part of an effort to memorialize World War I.

The stone pillars are now located at the intersection of Arapahoe Avenue and Highway 287, and their ultimate fate is the subject of much debate.

In January of this year, the museum held at the library its first “Know Your Antiques” event.

Akin to the TV program Antiques Roadshow, the museum lined up several volunteer experts who evaluated the nature and worth of antiquarian items brought in by interested parties who made modest donations for the privilege. They included vintage musical instruments, books, clothing, dinnerware, and art objects.

“Know Your

Antiques” also featured speakers who gave presentations on related topics. Katherine Alexander (pictured), a University of Colorado professor, gave a talk about vintage fashion.

Engagement levels again rise dramatically

On an apples-to-apples basis, patron engagements in 2022 totaled 2,599, compared with 1,974 in 2021. That’s a year-over-year increase of nearly 32 percent and 78 percent higher than prepandemic levels! As outlined below, two new efforts boosted the total number of individual engagements to 3,180.

The museum successfully launched summer outdoor storytime sessions geared for children in kindergarten and beyond.

Volunteers serving on the museum’s new Education Committee also established a thriving school field-trip program. In just its first year, the committee arranged 17 group visits by more than 500 students from seven area schools.

Library presents to City Council

In August, Museum Director Chelsea Pennington Hahn and officers from the board of directors gave a presentation to Lafayette City Council about the state of the museum and opportunities for the city to further support it. The effort was part of a larger presentation about local history in conjunction with Lafayette Public Library and the city’s Historic Preservation Board.

During 2022 the museum accepted 10 donations of items to its considerable collection, which totals more than 4,000 historic objects, documents, and photographs.

The museum loaned several artifacts from its collection to the Museum of Boulder for its “Voces Vivas” exhibit about the history of Latinos in Boulder County.

Museum income from all sources increased 4 percent to $68,509, up from $65,723 in 2021.

Of that total, the museum received $3,200 from The Denver Foundation’s Greenwood Fund to help preserve its textile collection. The museum will use that grant to buy two archival wardrobe cabinets and contract with a conservator specialist who will assess the collection and make recommendations.

The museum undertook its first-ever year-end fundraising campaign, which, through Colorado Gives Day and other year-end donations, raised just over a thousand dollars.

Museum mission and vision

Our mission: Showcase the history of Lafayette, Colorado.

Our vision: Be a vibrant center that identifies, preserves, protects, and honors the heritage of Lafayette while inspiring curiosity to shape the future.

Proud business sponsor of the Lafayette History Museum

Record numbers enjoy walking tours

For the third consecutive year, museum staff and volunteers offered Haunted History walking tours (pictured), attracting 576 attendees, 115 of them children That’s a whopping 24 percent increase over 2021 attendance.

The museum also continued to provide three other walking tours year-round

These tours are a great way to stay engaged with the community and to learn more about Lafayette history:

Lafayette: Then and Now Starting at the museum, historian Dr. Leigh Campbell-Hale guides you down Simpson Street to Simpson Mine Park, exploring the early heritage of Lafayette.

Lafayette 911 Former Fire Chief Gerry Morrell uncovers a side of Old Town known mostly to first responders, from mine-related sinkholes to the site of an infamous bank explosion.

Historic Old Town Former museum Board President Bill Watson takes you on a stroll while telling compelling stories from the past and showing historic photos that illustrate just how much things have changed in Lafayette.

The museum offers each tour by appointment, free of charge, for individuals and groups.

Join or renew your membership

Become a member of the Lafayette Historical Society and receive such benefits as earlybird ticket sales, a 10 percent discount at our gift shop, access to the research library, and more. Please consider a Lifetime Membership. To join, please visit https://www.lafayettehistoricalsociety.org

Membership types

$ 20

$ 35

(individual) $250

Membership growth

A joint effort of the City of Lafayette, Colorado, and the Lafayette Historical Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1976. 108 East Simpson Street, Lafayette, Colorado 80026 · info@lafayettehistoricalsociety.org

Proud business sponsor of the Lafayette History Museum