November 2010

The mission of the North Dakota Buffalo Foundation (NDBF) is to foster awareness of the cultural and historical significance of the North American bison. By operating the National Buffalo Museum, maintaining a live bison herd, and conducting educational programs, the NDBF fulfills this mission; plays a vital role in local, state, and national tourism; and helps to promote the bison industry. Together, the National Buffalo Museum and bison herd contribute to the distinctive character of Jamestown, the “Buffalo City”.

The National Buffalo Museum and bison herd are located at the Frontier Village, near the intersection of Highway 281 and Interstate 94 (exit 258). The museum also includes a gift shop containing and amazing assortment of truly distinctive and tasteful items with a bison theme. The associated bison herd currently numbers about 30 head and includes White Cloud – an extraordinarily rare, true albino “White Buffalo” – and her two calves, Princess Winona and Dakota Thunder.

The Institute for Regional Studies, founded at North Dakota State University in 1950, stimulates and coordinates the activities of NDSU in regional scholarship. The Institute rests on the assumptions that scholars in a land-grant university have a particular interest in the affairs of their own region and that regional scholarship is a good thing. However, good regional scholarship is informed by national developments, international context, and comparative studies. It recognizes the cultural diversity that exists within every region, and it draws on the insights of many academic disciplines.

The Joachim museum includes art and history exhibits of regional significance, features the Osborn Reading and Research Room, and has the main offices of museum staff. It is managed by the Southwest North Dakota Museum Foundation and an Executive Director, Danielle Stuckle. The SWND Museum Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. They meet the third Wednesday of every month.

The building served as a working fire station until 1974. Now it offers hands-on activities combined with the museum’s exhibits, provides information about fire safety and prevention as well as the history of the Denver Fire Department and historic Fire Station No. 1.

The Cowboy and Gunfighter Museum, housed within the Museum of Northwest Colorado, showcases Mr. Bill Mackin's collection of nearly 1,000 "working cowboys" artifacts. The museum also features exhibits on rocks and fossils, coal mining, railroading, a local hardware store, and an old classroom that includes 100 years of class photos from Craig/Moffat County High School.

The Museum has over 40,000 objects in its collection including nationally significant collections of quilts, Van Briggle art pottery, plus the finest regional art collection in the state of Colorado. The Native American collection includes hundreds of items representative of the Ute, Cheyenne, and Arapaho cultures. A portion of author Helen Hunt Jackson's house is reconstructed in the Museum, furnished with her original possessions.

Other collections relate to the founding of the City, the area's mining and agricultural history, its early prominence as a health resort, and its more recent significance as a center for military training and operations. A major attraction in the museum are the murals, by local artist Eric Bransby, which depict the story of the Pikes Peak Region from early human occupancy to the building of the Air Force Academy.

Opened in August 1979, with a first-year honoring of 69 two-legged plus 14 four-legged contestants, the museum allows visitors to trace the history of rodeo and relive the glory of its greatest champions.

LRHC was formed in 1974 and acquired the post office in 1977. The building itself is a work of art, no expense was spared when it was erected in 1908-10 because of the influences of Senator H C Hansbrough. They received national recognition by the American Association of State and Local History in 1996 for their accomplishments in interpretation and preservation of local history. They interact with local and area schools and other organizations to educate and inform children and adults. The Lake Region Art Association has a gallery which hosts about 10 fine arts exhibitions a year. A kiln was installed in the basement and has been used by instructors for teaching area children. Several thousand school children have benefited from special guided tours in the last four years.

Constructed in 1977, the museum preserves a collection of historic and prehistoric artifacts. Special galleries feature changing exhibitions on life and culture in the American West. Imagine covered wagons, a rendezvous of fur trappers, Indian buffalo hunts, mining the Rocky Mountains, and life in early Denver. These factors contribute to this insightful state museum. Visitors are encourage to explore Colorado's own museum with fascinating collections, detailed dioramas, historic photographs, artifacts, and more.

During the Colorado Gold Rush of the 1860s & 70s, towns sprang up overnight and blanketed the west. If gold or silver were not located, or if the mines played out, the towns were often abandoned to become ghost towns.

In the Ghost Town Museum, you can explore the boardwalk connecting the Blacksmith's shop, Saloon, General and Merchants of main street, with the Livery Stable, and Victorian Home. Each is filled with thousands of fascinating artifacts.