Estes Park Museum

Museum and tours invite visitors to experience history

By Estes Park Museum

For the Trail-Gazette

The Estes Park Museum gallery has reopened to the public after being closed since March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Museum will resume regular operating hours of Wednesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. State and county guidelines will be followed, including limiting visitors to ten at a time, encouraging social distancing, following appropriate cleaning and sanitizing schedules, and requiring face coverings. A special welcome back gift will be given to visitors throughout the first week of the galler y reopening while supplies last. Plan a visit today.

During the gallery closure, updates were made to the Museum’s permanent exhibit, such as additional interpretation, technology changes, and the acquisition of a 100-year-old fire car t used by the Estes Valley Volunteer Fire Depar tment (now known as the Estes Valley Fire Protection District). Jay Leno revealing the intricacies of how to start a Stanley Steamer automobile, and the preser ved clock frozen at the exact moment the flood crashed into the building taking it out of commission.

Located at 1754 Fish Hatchery Road, Thursdays – Saturdays through September 4, with docent-led tours beginning at 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Admission is free.

Estes Park Museum / Courtesy photo Identical tours are offered on Mondays and Tuesdays from Tuesday, June 1 through Tuesday, Aug. 31

Free Historic Fall River Hydroplant opens June 3

The Historic Fall River Hydroplant will open for the 2021 season beginning Thursday, June 3. Guests of all ages are encouraged to enrich their knowledge of local Estes Park history this summer with a visit to the Historic Fall River Hydroplant. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, F. O. Stanley built the Hydroplant in 1909 to provide electric power to the Stanley Hotel. The plant was the exclusive source of electricity for the Town of Estes Park until the 1940s and functioned up to the day of the 1982 Lawn Lake Flood. The historic structure provides the perfect environment to learn about various aspects of Estes Park history. The plant features photographs capturing Mr. Stanley’s time and legacy in Estes Park, an entertaining film of comedian Historic Downtown Walking Tours to run June 1-Aug. 31

Discover the hidden past on a walking tour of downtown Estes Park with the Estes Park Museum. During the tour, participants will be guided by trained docents to explore historic photographs from the Museum’s collection to aid in comparing the past to the present.

In 1905, Cornelius Bond and the Estes Park Town Company hired Abner Sprague to plat the downtown district. Within weeks, lots along the street named “Elkhorn Avenue” were taken up and new businesses were established. Over the course See MUSEUM, pg. 28

Be Careful – Accidental learning can happen! UNIQUE FUN FOR “KIDS” OF ALL AGES

Vertical Chess Boards & Unique Chess Pieces Custom Cribbage Boards • Wooden Games & Puzzles Huge Jigsaw Puzzle Selection • Games for Rent Custom Artwork Framing You’re Welcome to Play Before You Pay! Patio seating by the River to try games & puzzles 440 E. Elkhorn Ave., Estes Park, Co 970-586-3685

CASEY’S AUTOMOTIVE Neil Casey – Owner Serving Estes Since 1984

• Auto Body & Collision • Full Line of Mechanical Work • All Insurance Accepted

701 Elm Rd. Estes Park, Co. 80517 Email: litleweg@aol.com Office: (970) 586-8100 • Cell: (970) 443-3821