The Manitou Springs Heritage Center and Museum is excited to announce our newest project, which will ensure that we can further our mission to collect, preserve, research and interpret the history and culture of Manitou Springs and the Pikes Peak region.
Over the past several years, with the support of the community and various grants from across Colorado, we raised more than $336,000. We used that to purchase the building and begin renovations and upgrades to the property, including the recent completion of external repairs (roof replacement, new windows, stucco and drainage).
Our museum is housed in a historic structure that was built in various stages beginning as early as 1890. We are entering the final phase of the major renovation project, which is planned for January 2024.
THIS MAJOR CONSTRUCTION comes with major costs.
The scope includes changing the storefront to replicate how it appeared in the 1930s; installing structural support for the upper floor, replacing the HVAC systems that will provide significant energy and costs; updating the electrical and lighting, and installing insulation and drywall on the interior.
The work will be done in a single phase to limit the mess and disruption of construction. The museum will be closed during this time.
The Heritage Center will close to the public on Wednesday, Nov. 1. Through Sunday, Dec. 31, our team of dedicated volunteers and student interns will pack up and archive the current exhibits to be stored onsite or offsite.
Once we have safely secured the historical artifacts, construction will begin. We anticipate that this multi-sequenced effort of removing everything in the museum, construction, then repopulating the upgraded museum, will take through May 2024.
During this time, we will share updates on our progress as well as produce and present virtual presentations to keep our museum and Manitou Springs history as available as possible.
As you may imagine, this major construction comes with major costs. The anticipated investment in the museum for this phase of improvement is estimated at an additional $350,000. Funds for this work have been obtained through the museum’s Capital Campaign over the past 10 years and have included donations, grants and monies raised from events.
Please know the full amount of the construction costs have not yet been raised. We have faith that continued support from the Manitou Springs community and grants will close the funding gap. Please consider donating to the Heritage Center to help bring the upgraded museum to the Manitou Springs community. You can donate here: tinyurl.com/Heritage-Museum-Capital.
We look forward to sharing our progress with you all and will host an informational meeting at the Heritage Center, 517 Manitou Ave., 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 25.
This will be an opportunity to stop by and look at our construction plans, say goodbye for now to our exhibits, and visit with the key volunteers who maintain the artifacts and information about our great city of Manitou Springs. We hope to see you there!