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The elk population that inhabits the Rocky Mountains descends from a Eurasian species that most likely migrated across the Bering Strait twelve million years ago. Those elk claimed this portion of the Southern Rockies as their home for the past twelve thousand years and their descendents have become an integral part of the ecosystem. When the original population in this area was decimated due to hunting in the late 1800s, two groups consisting of 29 and 24 elk each were transplanted from the Jackson Hole region of Wyoming in 1913 and again in 1915. The elk we see in Estes Park today originate from those groups. Due to their size, mating rituals, and prominence in Estes Park, elk are a draw for millions of tourists annually.
Make a stop at the Museum during Elktober and discover the unique role the elk have contributed to the Estes valley's history, from their interactions with Native Americans and settlers, to current issues such as overpopulation and chronic wasting disease. Objects on display include historic photographs of the elk transplant project, artwork, and collectible souvenirs from the Elkhorn Lodge. Interactive stations throughout the exhibit encourage learning about the animal. Rocky Mountain Elk: A Local History will be on display through April 25, 2010 at EP Museum.
Kids can earn a badge (similar to ones Rangers wear) in Rocky Mountain National Park's Junior Ranger program for children in kindergarten through eighth grade. Emphasis is placed on park preservation, flora and fauna facts, and environmental education. Go to either the Beaver Meadows or Kawuneeche Visitor Center for the booklet, complete the activities and pickup a badge.
The program is free, self-paced and available year-round.
CNN published this article: Junior Ranger programs captivate young park visitors on April 20, 2009.
Also see the National Park Service and Rocky Mountain National Park pages on the Junior Ranger program.
Have you ever taken time to get to know a quilt? Usually utilitarian in purpose, these often intricate works of art speak to us through fabrics, colors and detailed patterns. Many quilts are much more than patchwork -- they are imaginative storytellers. The Estes Park Museum invites you to get to know some historic quilts by visiting a new temporary exhibit, Patchwork Storytellers, which runs January 30, 2009 through January 3, 2010 in the historic Rocky Mountain National Park Headquarters building at the Museum.
The Museum exhibit will feature select pieces from the quilt collection including various styles of patch- and stitch- work. The quilts are from different eras, from those made in the 1880s to a contemporary 1996 quilt. The diverse sampling will also represent the multiple uses for quilts throughout history. During exhibit preparations, members of the Estes Valley Quilt Guild were invited to the Museum to comment on the unique attributes of individual quilts. Their comments are scattered throughout the exhibit to guide the attention of visitors to specific qualities of each quilt.
For the quilt novice, the exhibit will explain various methods of hand- and machine-quilting. Safe methods of storing and caring for your own prized quilts will also be addressed.
The Community Quilting Bee will give everyone, children and adults, a chance to make a quilt together. After designing and decorating personalized paper quilt patches, visitors can place them in the community quilt for display throughout the exhibit.
Curator Derek Fortini notes the purpose of the exhibit is to get people to look at the nuances that set quilts apart from one another and to gain an appreciation for the artistry behind them. "The exhibit allows people to get close to the quilts, to explore the different materials, the various ways they were created, and their functions, which were at one time a mere necessity," says Fortini. When asked about his personal favorite, Fortini continued, "It is hard to pick a favorite, especially after seeing the variations of them all. But I particularly enjoy one quilt, with a mariner compass pattern, because of its great historical significance. It was owned by Cornelius H. Bond, an important figure in the history of Estes Park."
The mission of the Estes Park Museum is to collect, interpret and preserve local history, as well as present exhibits, programs and events, for the education and benefit of residents and visitors of all ages. For more information call the Estes Park Museum at 586-6256 or visit the Museum's website at www.estesnet.com/Museum. The Museum is located at 200 4th Street and is open Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. through the month of April. Admission is always free.
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October 2009 -
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