November 2024
Ron Claussen talked about the history of gold in Douglas County
October 2024
Joe Gschwendtner talked about his book ” Five Sun Bonnets”
Sept. 2024
Catherine Fitzpatrick talked about her experience on 9/11 in New York
May 2024
Jerry Persall shared stories about his journey to becoming an amateur astronomer.
April 2024
R. Alan Brooks talked about his book “Nat Love, A Cowboy Story” and what learned while creating this book for the Denver Art Museum.
March 2024
Cecily North-Rudrow came and talked about the notorious gangster, Diamond Jack Alterie.
February 2024
The Douglas Land Conservancy taught everyone about their organization and everything they do for Douglas County.
January 2024
Larry Schlupp spoke on Brands 7 Breeds of Douglas County.
November 2023
1SGT Cody Jennings spoke about his time in the military in honor of Veteran’s Day.
October 2023
It was a rip roaring time with Cowboy Poet, Susie Knight.
September 2023
CRHSM President, Ron Claussen spoke on the 90th Anniversary of the Castlewood Canyon Dam Break.
Virtual Presentations for 2020
PBS Colorado Experience: Glen Eyrie Castle
Shaun Boyd on Florence Martin: An Unbelievable Life
Shaun Boyd on Colorado’s Role in the Campaign for Women’s Suffrage
John Berry & Ron Claussen on The Lucas Homestead
Ron Claussen on Native Americans in Colorado
Cindy Welch on her local paintings
May 2020
Since we were unable to host in-person presentations in the spring, we made a short virtual presentation featuring Ron Claussen on Native Americans in Colorado. Check it out at https://youtu.be/QMqpNeClaVY
February 10, 2020
Jim Hansmann spoke on The Gold Fever that struck the nation and brought thousands of people to the wonderful territory of Colorado. Jim is the Collections Curator at The Castle Rock Museum and is author of a walking tour book of Castle Rock.
January 9, 2020
Cindy Malone educated everyone once again with a new PBS video about the sheep & cattle wars. We learned about the “bloody grass” battlefields of the Old West’s longest feud over grazing and water rights. And about the gunfights, court cases and massacres that gave rise to the classic American contest of cowboy versus sheep man. There was even a feud here in Castle Rock.
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, 1st Sheriff 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.
November 8, 2018
Author, Cindy Brick spoke on her book “Ghosts & Legends of Colorado’s Front Range”. Have you ever heard of ghostly sightings at such places as Hell Tree outside Fort Collins, a murderer stalking the halls of the Greeley Courthouse, and floating heads in the Capital Building? Cindy Brick talked about these tales and more gripping stories.
October 11, 2018
Larry Schlupp from Historic Douglas County spoke on the Goodnight Legacies. Primarily a self-educated man, Charles Goodnight possessed a strong entrepreneurial mind and superb innovating attributes to become successful and a key contributing factor in the growth of the cattle industry. Goodnight created a trail to bring cattle from Texas on Northward, even coming through Douglas County and is depicted in the Larry McMurtry’s Lonesome Dove series.
September 12, 2018
Edward Wallace as Mountain Man, James Beckwourth. Beckwourth was an amazing figure in Colorado history whose story you’ve probably never heard. Beckwourth was born a slave and grew to lead an astonishing life as a trapper, colleague of Kit Carson, founder of Pueblo, trailblazer for the California-bound prospectors and much more. His program was a real treat and has garnered rave reviews. His trip back to the past has been described as mesmerizing and unforgettable.
August 9, 2018
John Carson as his great grandfather Kit Carson. John Carson is a ranger for the National Park Service at Bent’s Fort and is well versed in the life of his great grandfather.
July 12, 2018
Sue Langdon did a presentation as 19th Century explorer, writer, photographer and naturalist, Isabella Bird. In 1873 Isabella Bird began an adventure from England that would eventually take her through Colorado and even Douglas County.
June 14, 2018
Senior Historian, Lisa Schoch from CDOT did a presentation on the 50th Anniversary of the first blast to start the construction of the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnels on I-70.
May 19, 2018
Jerry Persall gave a presentation about mountain man, Kit Carson and his early influences in Colorado before Castle Rock was a Town.
April 12, 2018
Kent Brandebery presented the movie “The Stephen Long Expedition” for which he helped create the musical score.
March 7,2018
Movie & Popcorn night featuring movies on the history of Douglas County, the Cherokee Ranch and the moving of the Castle Rock Train Depot which is now the Castle Rock Museum.
February 8, 2018
Ray Baier gave a presentation on Rev. John L. Dyer. Dyer was an early day immigrant, a minister to remote mining camps, and recognized as one of the sixteen “founders” of Colorado.
January 9, 2018
Cindy Malone of the Malone Media Group showed a documentary about the old 1950’s mining town of Uravan on the Western Slope. The town eventually disappeared.
