November 14, 2019

We celebrated the 150th Anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railway by showing the film, “Journey to Promontory.  This hour-long film tells the story of America’s first transcontinental railroad.  Learn how this incredible feat took place in 1869, unifying the country with a railroad from East to West with a final symbolic Golden Spike.

September 2019

Cindy Malone spoke and showed a PBS film about the Colorado State Penitentiary in Canon City.  Colorado’s Canon City and Florence may be best known for Prison Valley, where inmates outnumber residents.  But it all started with a tiny territorial prison without a wall, so that inmates could labor in the nearby fields.

August 8, 2019

Kim & Bruce Decker spoke about the many years they have spent renovating the historic Hammar House here in Castle Rock.  The rhyolite house was built in 1881 by Benjamin Hammar.  It was later purchased by Dr. George Alexander for use as his office and home.
The Deckers have performed much of the work themselves to maintain the historic elements of the home while stabilizing and preserving it for future generations.

July 11, 2019

Sgt. Attila Denes from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office spoke on the history of the Sheriff’s Office. Sgt. Denes has been with the DCSO for over 30 years and has worked in all areas of the sheriff’s office.  He has been the agency’s historian since 1991. Come hear stories from the first sheriff in 1862 to our current Sheriff, Tony Spurlock.  Douglas County is rich with history and stories of the old west.

June 13, 2019

We took a glimpse at history with Sid Langsam’s own movie “Operation: Speed”.  This great movie takes a look at all the action at the Continental Divide Raceways here in Castle Rock back in the 1960’s.  CDR was a well known race track for racers of all types.  People came from near and far to see racecars of all types, dragsters, and motorcycles. Sid Langsam was the owner of CDR and made a short film about the race track.

May 16, 2019

Author, Jim Hansmann spoke about his book “Castle Rock, An Architectural & Historic Walking Tour”.  Jim is the Collections Curator at The Castle Rock Museum.  He has an MA in History and a minor in Museum Studies.  He’s been with the Museum for over 8 years and has learned a lot about the history of Castle Rock.  He told stories of the old courthouse fire, the first church in town, the wild times at the Keystone Hotel and many more fun stories.

April 11, 2019

We had an exciting experience back to the Old West.  Nationally acclaimed re-enactor, Jeff Norman entertained guests as Buffalo Bill Cody.  Jeff guided us down the untamed frontier trail that was Buffalo Bill’s life, in a costumed one-man play that’s as entertaining as it is informative.

February 13, 2019

Mary Lou Fenton spoke about Wellspring. Did you realize that there is a thriving community in Castle Rock that serves people with Down Syndrome, Autism and other special needs? And these special people are incredibly artistically gifted! You’ve probably passed their special place dozens of times and not known it. Wellspring Community is a Castle Rock non-profit offering an innovative and life-giving program to adults with special needs.  Wellspring Founder, Mary Lou Fenton, started the organization in her kitchen in 2008 to help create a better future for her own daughter with developmental disabilities.  Today Wellspring operates a bakery, café, art studio, gardens and offers more than 30 enrichment opportunities to these creative and gifted adults.  They serve over 80 adults from five counties and will be expanding to Colorado Springs in 2019. 

January 10, 2019

A presentation by former El Paso County Sheriff, John Anderson on his book about “Rankin Scott Kelly, 1^stSheriff El Paso County, Colorado Territory 18-61 – 1867”.  Kelly traveled west along the Santa Fe trail in 1860 with a wagon train of about 50 people.  Scott Kelly was appointed Sheriff in 1861 and his first duty was to take on the Salt Lake City Jim Gang which was his first of many gunfights with outlaws and hostile Indians.  John Anderson is an author, artist, consultant and former local Lawman himself.