Can’t make it to our 2024 Speakeasy to view the one night only exhibit on Grand Junction’s historic Redlight District? That’s okay! Check out “A Brief History of Women’s Undergarments” below for a taste of the fun materials we’ll have on exhibit! Note from the author: This timeline was created as a component of a one-night-only exhibit at the 2024 Museum of the West speakeasy fundraiser. For the purposes of the exhibit, this timeline focuses on Eurocentric fashion history, specifically in the late 1800s and early 1900s. This is not a comprehensive timeline of the history undergarments from cu ..read more

The Meeker Incident was one the final incidents in a long history of animosity between the Ute people of Western Colorado and the white settlers from the east.  Here we explore the events leading up to the Meeker Incident and the Battle of Milk Creek, and the aftermath that was directly responsible for the forced expulsion of the Utes and the establishment of Grand Junction as a municipality.  Background The Ute people of western Colorado’s oral traditions tell us that they have been here since the beginning of time. They are the only tribe in the US who do not have a migration story ..read more

“Allosaurus Defeated” artwork of Mygatt-Moore Quarry during drought commissioned by the research team for this study. Illustration by Brian Engh, dontmesswithdinosaurs.com. What happens after you die? Well, if you are a dinosaur from the Jurassic Period of western Colorado… it is not pretty. New research from the Mygatt-Moore Quarry in McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area has revealed a thriving ecosystem of carnivores, scavengers, and decomposers that feasted on the rotting carcasses of dead dinosaurs.    A research team led by curator of paleontology Dr. Julia McHugh from the ..read more

Researching a historic home — whether it’s one you own currently, or one you’re interested in for other reasons, can be fun and also frustrating. If you’re looking to do some research into an old home, here are our top tips for getting started: Check to see if the home is on the National Register of Historic Places. Records at the Mesa County Assessor’s office can tell you many things about the property, and may help you learn when the home was built, who has previously owned it, and many other details. A title search may also be necessary. Sometimes you can figure out the date a home was bui ..read more

By Jonathan Hamilton In 1978, United Airlines spokesman George Niemer said that, “the airline carries as many passengers to and from Grand Junction each year as the entire population of Mesa County”. This remarkable feat was the culmination of nearly a century of aviation development that was headed by brave pioneers in the industry. Aviators like Charles Walsh, Eddie Drapela, and Betty Clark, are some of the roots responsible for the growth of aviation here in the Grand Valley, which stands today as an important contributor to  the local economy. It all started on December 17, 1903, when ..read more

Listen to a segment of KAFM’s community affairs hour where Kaia Michaelis and Libbie Early interview Matt Darling about this find: https://museumofwesternco.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/MuseumMeetup-061721.mp3 Written By: Matt Darling This spring at Cross Orchards Historic Site during our annual spring cleaning up we made an amazing discovery. While sorting thru some old junk Railroad lumber, we found a mostly intact narrow gauge railroad tie, complete with two spikes still in it. Where did it come from, when did it come to the museum, whose tie is it? Sadly, we have no notes or documentatio ..read more

There are a lot of animals that eat plants. Think about the vast herds of wildebeest, antelope, and zebra migrating across the Serengeti, or dense herds of elk during the rut here in Colorado, or even the vast herds of bison that once covered huge swaths of North America. That’s a lot of mouths to feed. Good thing plants are everywhere! Even a single horse can eat three to four tons of hay per year. And while a horse may seem large to you and me, it is dwarfed by the giants of the Jurassic Period. Sauropod dinosaurs, like Diplodocus, Brachiosaurus, and Apatosaurus could reach lengths of 60-70 ..read more

Curator of History David Bailey’s Retirement I have enjoyed being the Curator of History for the last 28 years at the Museums of Western Colorado. The countless exhibits, research projects, publications, expeditions, events, and tours bring back so many great memories. I am deeply indebted to the Directors, staff members, volunteers, and interns who contributed their time and dedication for over two decades to our History Division projects. However, it is time for a new generation of museum professionals to take over and I have decided to retire at the end of 2020.I wish all the best for Dire ..read more

The Meeker Incident was one the final incidents in a long history of animosity between the Ute people of Western Colorado and the white settlers from the east.  Here we explore the events leading up to the Meeker Incident and the Battle of Milk Creek, and the aftermath that was directly responsible for the forced expulsion of the Utes and the establishment of Grand Junction as a municipality.  Background The Ute people of western Colorado’s oral traditions tell us that they have been here since the beginning of time. They are the only tribe in the US who do not have a migration story ..read more

“Allosaurus Defeated” artwork of Mygatt-Moore Quarry during drought commissioned by the research team for this study. Illustration by Brian Engh, dontmesswithdinosaurs.com. What happens after you die? Well, if you are a dinosaur from the Jurassic Period of western Colorado… it is not pretty. New research from the Mygatt-Moore Quarry in McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area has revealed a thriving ecosystem of carnivores, scavengers, and decomposers that feasted on the rotting carcasses of dead dinosaurs.    A research team led by curator of paleontology Dr. Julia McHugh from the ..read more