From Mesa Verde to the Dust Bowl, discover the important role water has
played in Colorado history—and the environmental challenges we face
today. Students work in small groups to explore History Colorado exhibits,
solve STEM and geography challenges, and evaluate the ways different
communities have used water. The program is designed for middle school
earth science and geography classes, and can be adapted for upper
elementary and high school students.

Students explore how democratic principles have shaped Colorado history
in times of conflict. The program is designed for middle and high school
civics and US history classes. Program includes a pre-visit classroom
activity that introduces students to principles of democracy, an exploration
of the History Colorado Center’s exhibits, and post-visit classroom activities
that synthesize and expand students’ knowledge.

Explore Colorado’s people and places through hands-on experiences in the
galleries. Exploration culminates in a timeline sequencing activity. Aligned
to Colorado Academic Standards, the program features skills and concepts
covered in third and fourth grade but can be adapted to other grade levels.

Explore Colorado’s people, places and animals through hands-on
experiences designed specifically for young learners. Enjoy skills-based
activities that align to school readiness standards, including math and
counting, gross motor skills, literacy and more.

The town of Auraria was founded on
November 1, 1858, three weeks before
William Larimer platted the future “Denver City”
on the other side of Cherry Creek. The towns
eventually merged into the city we know
today. Discover the rich story of this immigrant
neighborhood and how it transformed
into the city’s biggest university campus.

Explore people, places and ideas that shaped Denver’s African American
culture and history. Discover the story of Denver’s first African American
firefighting company and the home of Five Points’ most beloved doctor.
Learn why Denver was the “Harlem of the West” in the 1940s!

Learn about the statues and buildings that make up historic Civic Center.
Discover the park’s origins and how Mayor Robert Speer transformed
Denver through the concepts of the City Beautiful movement. Students
learn to recognize important buildings such as our State Capitol and
City Hall.

Learn about the Gold Rush days and city founder William Larimer. Explore
Larimer Square and encounter some of the city’s oldest, best-preserved
buildings. Students discover the transition of this area from vibrant
commercial district to skid row—and its renaissance as a historic district.

Explore Denver’s historic Union Station and see how it’s changing into a
21st-century transit hub. Walk through the old warehouse district of early
20th century Denver and learn what makes it special. Students discover
the role of transportation and industry in Denver’s past and future.

Rent our resources for your classroom! Packed with artifacts, photos, information cards and activities, our kits put history in your students’ hands. Choose from our various kits:

-"Cliff Dwellers":
Playing the role of archaeologists, students use tools to “excavate”
prehistoric artifacts buried in sand.

-"Mountain Man":
Colorado’s fur trade comes to life as students explore this exceptionally
colorful era.

-"Colorado Miners":
Experience the boom and bust cycles of mining in Colorado.

-"Grandmother Trunks":
The objects in these four trunks bring a touch of everyday life at the turn
of the century to your students. Choose from: American Indian, African
American, Hispanic, Japanese American.

-"Boom and Bust: Denver’s History":
Experience the Gold Rush, Woman’s Suffrage, World War II and other
exciting times from Denver’s past.

Can’t come to us? We’ll come to you! History Colorado educators facilitate
these hands-on programs at your school. Through objects, photographs
and a large walk-on map of the state, students will uncover the “footprint”
various cultures and industries left behind.

Choose from two of our themes:

-"Moving Day: Colorado’s Migration Story":
Students explore the movement of people across Colorado from prehistory
to 1870 and become “experts” on each of these cultural groups including
Ancestral Puebloans, Mountain Men, Miners, Utes, Plains Indians and
Hispanos.

-"Western Work: Colorado Industries of the Past":
Through objects, photographs and role-playing activities, students become
“entrepreneurs” in some of Colorado’s most important industries. Western
Work meets economic, history and geography standards and encourages
students to explore natural, capital and human resources through a
historical lens.

Explore Colorado history online! History Colorado has created interactive
exhibits to bring history to life for your students. Rich in multimedia,
primary sources and historical photographs, the online exhibits are aligned
to Colorado Academic Standards and allow
your students to experience Colorado
history from any connected device.
Explore online exhibits and complete a series of online activities to earn
digital badges. Badges add another layer of online engagement and let
students create their own unique learning experience in a simple and
fun way.
Educators can register a class and track each student’s progress or let
kids sign up themselves. Badges can be earned in the classroom or as
an extension activity and help prepare students for online assessments.
These FREE Digital Badges can be earned at three different levels: • Plains—grades 3 to 5 • Foothills—grades 6 to 8 • 14ers—high school students
Go to the exhibits site and start earning your badges today!

In the 1960s and ’70s, Chicano activists fought to end discrimination, secure rights, and gain political and social power through education, culture, and the arts. The El Movimiento Speaker Program allows students to speak with an actual activist from the movement and hear in their own words the struggle for labor rights, student activism, the Vietnam War, and more.