As the city of Manitou Springs approaches its 150th anniversary, the history-loving volunteers at the Manitou Springs Heritage Center and Museum have been working on an exhibit to celebrate the milestone.
They’ve brainstormed together, and consulted historian Deborah Harrison about how to organize the information being presented in the “Manitou Springs * 150 Years Strong (1872-2022)” exhibit.
The area’s history will be presented following five key themes. They are:
• “Host Nation,” which will draw on the history and culture of the Indigenous people who came here centuries ago;
• “Health Resort,” highlighting the railroads that brought in visitors seeking fresh air and mineral water, and the hotels they stayed in;
• “Attractions,” both natural and man-made;
• “Community Builders,” featuring some of the people who have changed Manitou; and
• “Road to Revival,” which will focus on the factors that helped rejuvenate Manitou, such as the growing arts community, the historic preservation district, local trail-building and the Mineral Springs Foundation.
“The exhibit team’s biggest challenge has been to ‘severely summarize’ 150 years of history,” project manager Lynn Beckner said. “Entire books have been written about many of the topics within our 150th anniversary themes.
“So we’ve had to constantly step back from the details and put ourselves in the shoes of the average museum visitor, who just wants an overview.”
MSHC volunteers found photos and artifacts in its archives, and turned to the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum and Pikes Peak Library District for additional materials.
Displays including the “Community Builders” will incorporate QR codes so visitors can use links to audio and video narratives. Beckner even recruited her brother, who has “a wonderful speaking voice,” to narrate people’s stories.
A small team started working on the exhibit in July 2021.
“That’s steadily grown to a village as we get closer to the launch date,” Beckner said.
The exhibit officially opens 4:30-7:30 p.m. Friday, June 3. It will divide the 150 years into “decades frames,” which will hang above the appropriate displays and feature the quintessential photo that represents the decade.
Some of the most fascinating — and lesser-known — material will be in the “Host Nation” part of the exhibit. Manitou resident Don Goede is gathering decades of material in collaboration with Kenny Frost, a Native American consultant and an enrolled member of the Southern Ute tribe.
Frost’s great-great-grandfather, Chief Nanice, appears in many of the images that will be displayed. Along with Chief Edwin Cloud and Chief Ouray, Chief Nanice camped in this sacred area and performed ceremonies in Garden of the Gods. (See box for more information.)
It’s likely that other people will see their ancestors in the displays. Beckner and the project team know that, because they’re condensing so much history into small spaces, people might walk in and say, “Where’s my grandfather?”
Beckner is prepared for that possibility. She’ll simply say, “I’m sorry. We didn’t know your grandpa.”
As she said, how do you summarize so much history? All the volunteers can do is the best they can with what they have and can find.
PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR
The “Host Nations” portion of this exhibit is just a teaser for a larger, more detailed exhibit about the Utes planned for May 2023 at the MSHC.
“We’re working on something much bigger and expansive. So really, this is going to be a drop in the bucket,” Goede said.
Frost, who works to preserve Ute history and identify sacred sites, will share oral stories he learned from his grandmother. He is trained in museum studies and archaeology with federal and state entities, and gives lectures to museums on the proper handling of Indigenous remains and sacred objects.
IF YOU GO
“Manitou Springs * 150 Years Strong (1872-2022)” opens 4:30-7:30 p.m. Friday, June 3, and will be on display at the MSHC, 517 Manitou Ave., through the end of 2022. Information: manitouspringsheritagecenter.org or 685-1454.