AROUND TOWN: Pioneers Museum to spotlight wildfire, Palmer statue

The Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum is about storytelling, it’s about words.

Next June, said Museum Director Matt Mayberry, those stories and those words will be about what this community went through together during and after the Waldo Canyon fire. A permanent exhibit of artifacts, memorabilia and words will open at the museum on the one-year anniversary.

There are remains of a Vespa scooter from what had been a family’s garage and hundreds of other donated items. It’s also about discovering that sturdy Pyrex really doesn’t melt, but elegant lead crystal not only melts but runs, and so much more.

Also coming up, said Mayberry, is restoration work on General Palmer’s statue in the intersection of Nevada and Platte avenues.

Exterior work is under way now on the museum’s home, the restored 1903 El Paso County Courthouse.

This museum’s mission statement has been refined: “To build a lasting connection to the Pikes Peak region by preserving and sharing our cultural history.”

Mayberry shared these tidbits and a new museum video with the 436 people attending the second annual “Gift of History” breakfast Aug. 30 at the Antlers Hilton Hotel.

More than $36,000 in donations was received and will support the museum’s programs and operations this fiscal year. New donations and pledges for future gifts totaled $53,401.

Table captains, who invited friends to the breakfast, included:  Lisa Amend, Phyllis Baker, Sandra Beers, Dave Buckley, Beth Campbell, Judy Casey, Janet Drayer, Susan Edmondson, Rose Enyeart, Stephannie Finley, Chrys Fotenos, Jill Gaebler, Harry and Marcia Gautsche, Sue Grant, Erin Hannan, Judith Rice-Jones, Edith and Marv Kramer, Susan Bradt Laabs, Dirk Lambert, Charlotte Maier, Charith Marchese, Bill Nelson, Cynthia Nimenrichter, Amber Ptak, Maria Rodriques, Jo Roth, Luke Smith, Lisa Tessarowicz, Herman Tiemans, Chris Valentine, Kelley Vivian, Linda Weise, Marge Westbay and Nancy Whitford.