GREELEY HISTORY MUSEUM  
Permanent Exhibit
“Utopia: Adaptation on the Great American Desert"

This exhibit covers the pre-history of this area, the founding of Greeley, and highlights important and unique events of Greeley's history through time. Sections highlight the importance of agriculture, water and irrigation, the cattle industry, mentors and mavericks and other interesting historic people. A sampling of artifacts included are: Rattlesnake Kate's snake skin dress, a Fisk violin, the plow that cut the first streets in Greeley, pieces of the old Union Colony fence, a model of a sod house that was built in the 1860s, and pieces of old wooden irrigation pipes. Historic photographs from the Museums' collection fill out the exhibit. Also featured is a children's hands-on education area with games that encourage learning about the exhibit themes, a map interactive area, and a meditative water video.

GREELEY HISTORY MUSEUM Temporary Exhibits

Through August 2010 
Weld County Ghost Towns and Boom Towns 
Did you know that Weld County was originally nearly three times its present size? In 1859 the territory that would soon become Weld County extended to the Nebraska border, covering the entire northeast corner of Colorado. The present-day counties of Logan, Morgan, Phillips, and Sedgwick, and the larger parts of Washington, Yuma and Broomfield were all within Weld County. In this exhibit you'll see century-old photos, 1890s silk gowns, a bustle chair, 1880s-era baseball and model of a sugar beet dump, among other things. About every two months, new segments of the alphabet will open, so stop back often to see new town panels and artifacts. You'll learn some interesting things about towns like Adna, Agricola, Black Wolf, and beautiful Corona. 

Through January 9, 2010
Headwear and Hatpins
This exhibit features over 30 hats from the mid-1800s to 1930s with related accessories from the museums' collection. Some hats were made by the wearer; others came from one of the many milliners in Greeley. Also displayed are hatpins used by women to attach their hats onto high-piled hairdos, hatpin holders and even complete ensembles -- hat, gloves, parasol, gown and shoes.

Through May 8, 2010
Gone But Not Forgotten
This exhibit marks the centennial of Greeley Monument Works (1909-2009) and showcases the various kinds of memorial found within Weld County. Memorial art can be found in parks, along roadsides, walkways, in cemeteries, churches and even in professional buildings. In addition to grave stones, memorials on display are examples of hair weaving, funerary urns, carved wood, sculptures in stone, wood and metal, china painting, poetry obituaries and living tributes. Images and artifacts from from Ault, Fort Lupton, Fort Saint Vrain, Kersey, Cornish, Keota, Platteville, Greeley, Evans, Eaton, Hardin, Auburn and Latham.

TRAVELING EXHIBIT
Available from the Greeley Museums  

The Greeley Museums are the permanent curator and manager of "Awakening Stories of Ancient Bison Hunting," a traveling exhibit that promotes different ways of knowing ancient bison hunting practices on the Colorado High Plains. The exhibit focuses on the Kaplan-Hoover Bison Bonebed, a bison-hunting site located near Windsor, Colorado. Archaeological research by Dr Lawrence Todd (CSU) dates this hunting event to 2,700 years ago during the Late Archaic Period, and recognizes it as the single largest bison hunt known in the Americas for its time.

The exhibit features a display of traditional cultural items made from bison materials. Artists’ statements affirm the strong connection that American Indians maintain with the buffalo and their history on the Colorado High Plains. A more in-depth look at bison and their current importance to Indian people is addressed in the accompanying documentary film, "American Buffalo: Spirit of a Nation," produced by the National Wildlife Federation.

"Awakening Stories" is sponsored by the Northern Colorado Chapter of the Colorado Archaeological Society, and was made possible through grant awards by Colorado Historical Society - State Historical Fund, Colorado Endowment for the Humanities, and Colorado Archaeological Society. Contact nancy.lynch@greeleygov.com for information on securing this traveling exhibit.

MEEKER HOME
Underwear to Outerwear
The Meeker Home bedrooms feature several items of ladies' undergarments and dresses on mounts. Often what is covered by the dress is just as interesting as what the public sees.

CENTENNIAL VILLAGE
All the structures at Centennial Village are exhibits showcasing the architectural and cultural lifestyles of early settlers in this region. There are also more traditional exhibits inside buildings.

In the Hispanic Heritage House you'll find a scale model exhibit of the Spanish "colonia" of Greeley circa 1920s and a photo exhibit of the Greeley Grays baseball team through the years.

From Flame to Filament
This show features highlights from the Storck Family Lighting Collection. From a collection of over 600 pieces, we bring you the story of lighting from prehistoric times to the present. The exhibit is currently housed in the Union Pacific Depot.