COLORADO HISTORICAL SOCIETY/COLORADO HISTORY MUSEUM
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Nov. 23, 2004
CONTACT: Rebecca Laurie
(303) 866-3670
Colorado Historical Society to unveil Ancient Voices, a new interactive
exhibit exploring the lives of Colorado’s first people
State-of-the-art exhibit to combine artifacts, visuals, sound and activities for one-of-a-kind discovery experience
DENVER – Imagine Colorado thousands of years ago. Who were the people that lived here? How did
they thrive? What was their environment like, their culture, their technology?
On Jan. 28, 2005, the Colorado Historical Society will introduce Ancient Voices at the Colorado
History Museum, a new 4,000-square-foot exhibit that actively explores the culturally rich lives of
ancient peoples in Colorado. The Colorado Historical Society collaborated closely with Denver Center
Media to create a one-of-a-kind discovery and interactive experience for the entire family.
Each gallery in Ancient Voices, enhanced by the Colorado Historical Society’s collection of
American Indian artifacts, will help the visitor understand various groups of people who lived in
Colorado—the Paleoindians, who lived around 8,000 years ago, the Apishapa of southeastern
Colorado, and the ancient Puebloans. Each group produced sophisticated art, architecture and
technologies to serve their diverse needs.
Denver Center Media, a division of The Denver Center for the Performing Arts, created two
original high-definition films for the exhibit. One film interprets a day in the life of a Paleoindian
family. The other is an introductory segment and will be narrated by Pulitzer-prize winning American
Indian author, poet and artist, N. Scott Momaday. Grammy-award winning composer Tom Wasinger is
composing an original soundtrack that will evoke the past as visitors wander through each gallery.
“This exhibit is a combination of incredible talent and expertise between the Colorado Historical
Society and Denver Center Media,” said Phil Karsh, Colorado Historical Society Board of Directors
chairman. “The goal is to create an educational experience for each and every visitor. This is a ‘first of
Colorado Historical Society News Release, p 2
its kind’ exhibit for the Colorado History Museum and we hope that it will improve its perception
among Denver’s many esteemed cultural institutions.”
From potters and builders to painters, tribal consultants and interpreters, talent from all over
Colorado and the region have participated in developing Ancient Voices. Visitors will be immersed in
the day-to-day lives of these first inhabitants through multi-sensory environments, from an evocation
of a Puebloan cliff dwelling to a bison kill site on the plains. The exhibit utilizes images, voices and
music to acquaint visitors with the geography, wildlife, vegetation and long human presence of what
we now call Colorado.
Ancient Voices is sponsored by the Adolph Coors Foundation, the Schlessman Family
Foundation, Wagner Equipment Co., Wells Fargo, Wright Water Engineers and KUSA 9News.
In 2006, the Colorado Historical Society will introduce the second phase of the exhibit,
Confluence of Cultures. This 3,000-sqaure-foot exhibit will explore the lives of American Indians
living in Colorado from 1540 to the present.
Family members of all ages are welcome and special educational programs associated with
Ancient Voices will be offered for children and adults throughout 2005. Please call (303) 866-3682 for
information about exhibit hours and ticket purchasing.
*Note to Media: Behind-the-scenes media tours can be arranged up to three weeks prior to the
exhibit opening. Please contact Rebecca Laurie, rebecca.laurie@chs.state.co.us or (303) 866-3670.
Background
The Colorado Historical Society, celebrating its 125th anniversary, was established in 1879 and is
headquartered at the Colorado History Museum in Denver. The Colorado Historical Society is a statewide
organization with 12 museums and historic sites across the state. The Colorado Historical Society is
dedicated to collecting, preserving and interpreting the history of Colorado and the American West. This
educational institution also contains the Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, as well as the
Stephen H. Hart Research Library, and administers the State Historical Fund, a preservation-based grants
program funded by limited-stakes gaming tax revenues. For more information call (303) 866-3682 or visit
www.coloradohistory.org.
Colorado Historical Society News Release, p 3
INFORMATION FOR EVENTS & CALENDAR LISTINGS
What:
Ancient Voices: A new exhibit at the Colorado History Museum that
actively explores the culturally rich lives of ancient Colorado people. The
Colorado Historical Society collaborated closely with Denver Center
Media to create a one-of-a-kind discovery and interactive experience for
the entire family.
Where:
The Colorado History Museum
1300 Broadway
Denver, CO 80203
When:
Begins Friday, Jan. 28, 2005
Info:
Phone: (303) 866-3682
Hours: Monday – Friday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m. –5 p.m.
Sunday, noon –5 p.m.
Cost: Adults: $5; Seniors & Students w/ID: $4.50; Youth (6-12): $3.50;
Children (5 & under): Free; Members: Free
Parking:
Parking is available in the Cultural Complex Garage. Enter from 12th
Avenue, just west of Broadway. The garage is open daily from 6 a.m.–10
p.m. Unattended pay-parking lots and metered parking spaces are within
walking distance; meters are free on Sundays.
Cultural Complex Parking Garage Rates:
Up to 1 hour: $1;
1-2 hours: $2;
2-3 hours: $3;
3-4 hours: $5;
4-5 hours: $7;
Evenings after 4 p.m.: $2;
Daily maximum: $8;
Lost ticket: $8
Note to
Media:
Behind-the-scenes media tours can be arranged up to three weeks prior to
the exhibit opening. Please contact Rebecca Laurie,
rebecca.laurie@chs.state.co.us or (303) 866-3670.
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