History Colorado

What History Colorado does

History Colorado is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and the legislatively-chartered state historical society of Colorado, founded in 1879 and headquartered in Denver. It operates a network of eleven museums and historic sites statewide, including the flagship History Colorado Center, El Pueblo History Museum, the Georgetown Loop Railroad, the Ute Indian Museum, and several regional house and fort museums, supplemented by the Stephen H. Hart Research Center and a permanent collection of more than 15 million artifacts, documents, and historical items.

The organization runs a diversified portfolio of programmatic lines: museum admissions and membership subscriptions, event venue rentals at historic properties, gift shop sales, Tours & Treks excursions, Hands-On History camps, K-12 field trips and teacher professional development, and the Society 1879 legacy giving program. Its preservation and archaeology function operates the State Historical Fund (grants), Preservation Tax Credits, the National & State Register of Historic Places, the Office of the State Archaeologist, the Compass Database for cultural resource management, and the NAGPRA repatriation program working with 51 sovereign tribal nations.

History Colorado's revenue mechanics combine earned income (admissions, memberships, venue rentals, gift shop, tours) with philanthropic donations (online, DAF, IRA, stock, ACH/wire) and state appropriations. It serves general public visitors, tourists, K-12 schools and educators, researchers and historians, event planners, and tribal communities, and in 2024 was assigned new responsibility for the Colorado Black Equity Study under Senate Bill 24-053. Technology infrastructure centers on a digital collections management system, the Compass Database, and a statewide Certified Local Government network covering all 64 Colorado counties.

Name

History Colorado

Legal name

History Colorado

Website

https://historycolorado.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1879

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

History Colorado is a 501(c)(3) state-chartered historical society operating 11 museums and historic sites across Colorado, stewarding 15+ million collection items and serving visitors, schools, researchers, and tribal communities through exhibitions, education, preservation, and archaeological programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural and Historical Museum Services

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Museums (712110), Museums (71211), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Historical Sites (712120), Libraries and Archives (51921)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

History Museums (THAJADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA), Historic Sites, Heritage Landmarks & Archaeological Sites (THAJACAC), Indigenous & Community Cultural Institutions (THAJADAK), Cultural Heritage Institutions (Archives, Historic Houses, Monuments Foundations) (THAJADAI), Historic Preservation & Landmarks Conservation (BPAGAHAE), Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF), National Archives, Records & Information Governance (BPAIAAAG)

Keywords

• Historical museum operations
• State historical society
• Historical preservation services
• Archaeological resource management
• Educational museum programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Museum Admission: Ticket sales for museum entry at History Colorado Center and other statewide museums and historic sites. Adult admission typically $10, seniors $8, children and members free.
2. Membership Program: Annual membership providing unlimited access to all History Colorado museums plus annual tickets to the Georgetown Loop Railroad. Members receive benefits including free admission, exclusive events, and discounts.
3. Donations: Tax-deductible charitable donations as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 84-6000482). Multiple giving options including online donations, checks, DAF, IRA charitable distributions, stock transfers, and ACH/wire transfers.
4. Event Venue Rentals: Rental of museum spaces and historic venues including History Colorado Center Denver, Grant-Humphreys Mansion, El Pueblo History Museum, and other sites for weddings, corporate events, and gatherings.
5. Gift Shop Sales: Colorado Proud museum stores at various locations selling regional foods, crafts, books on Colorado and western history, and Colorado souvenirs.
6. Tours and Treks Programs: Historical community walking tours and overnight treks exploring Colorado's history at various locations throughout the state, with day tours and multi-day excursions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

History Colorado operates a network of 11 museums and historic sites across Colorado, providing exhibitions, educational programs, preservation services, archaeological and cultural resource management, and research access. The organization curates a collection of more than 15 million historical items, administers the State Historical Fund grants program, runs venue rentals and educational outreach, and supports NAGPRA repatriation and tribal consultation for Native American ancestral remains and cultural belongings.

Product overview

History Colorado is a state-designated historical society operating a network of eleven museums and historic sites across Colorado, including the flagship History Colorado Center in Denver, eight regional museums (El Pueblo History Museum, Center for Colorado Women's History, Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center, Healy House Museum & Dexter Cabin, Trinidad History Museum, Ute Indian Museum), and the Georgetown Loop Railroad. The organization offers a unified portfolio of educational programs including field trips, school classroom programs, teacher professional development, and Hands-On History camps at multiple locations. Core programs include preservation services through the State Historical Fund (grants), the Compass Database (archaeological and cultural resource management), NAGPRA repatriation program, Office of the State Archaeologist, and National & State Register of Historic Places administration. Research initiatives include the Stephen H. Hart Research Center (public research), Colorado Encyclopedia (online knowledge base), The Colorado Magazine (publication), Podcasts, Oral Histories, and the Museum of Memory initiative. Additional offerings include venue rentals for events at museum properties, Tours & Treks (guided historical excursions), museum membership, Society 1879 legacy giving program, and traveling exhibition rentals. Notable exhibitions include Moments That Made US, Votes and Dreams, The Sand Creek Massacre, and Winter Warriors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• State Historical Fund (SHF): Grants program to identify, preserve and restore significant historical sites, structures, and districts.
• Society 1879
• Colorado Black Equity Study
• NAGPRA Program

Products and services

• History Colorado Center The flagship museum facility in Denver serving as the primary venue for rotating exhibitions, events, and programs at History Colorado.
• El Pueblo History Museum A museum in Pueblo showcasing the region's cultural and ethnic groups through innovative exhibits, featuring a re-created 1840s adobe trading post and an archaeological excavation site of the original 1842 El Pueblo trading post.
• Georgetown Loop Railroad Historic narrow gauge train rides through the Colorado Rockies at Georgetown, including an 1880s silver mine tour, gold panning, and seasonal experiences.
• Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center A museum and cultural center in Fort Garland preserving the history of the San Luis Valley and its people.
• Center for Colorado Women's History A museum in Denver dedicated to preserving and sharing the stories of women who shaped Colorado's history.
• Healy House Museum & Dexter Cabin A historic house museum in Leadville showcasing Victorian-era life in Colorado's highest city.
• Trinidad History Museum A museum in Trinidad exploring the history of southern Colorado and northern New Mexico.
• Ute Indian Museum A museum in Montrose dedicated to preserving Ute Native American history and culture.
• Grant-Humphreys Mansion A historic venue and mansion in Denver operated by History Colorado for events, tours, and historic preservation.
• Venue Rentals Event venue rental services at multiple History Colorado museums and historic sites, including the History Colorado Center, Grant-Humphreys Mansion, El Pueblo History Museum, Ute Indian Museum, Trinidad History Museum, Fort Garland History Museum, Center for Colorado Women's History, and Healy House for weddings, corporate events, and private gatherings.
• Museum Membership Program Annual membership program providing unlimited access to all History Colorado museums plus annual tickets to the Georgetown Loop Railroad, plus member-exclusive events and discounts.
• State Historical Fund Grants program administered by History Colorado to identify, preserve, and restore significant historical sites, structures, and districts across all 64 Colorado counties.
• Compass Database A database supporting archaeological research, preservation programs, geographic mapping, and cultural resource management across Colorado.
• NAGPRA Program Program implementing the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, working with tribal partners to return Native American Ancestors and cultural/sacred belongings to affiliated tribes.
• Stephen H. Hart Research Center A public research center providing researchers and the public access to History Colorado's collections and archives.
• Field Trips & School Programs Educational programs including field trips, school classroom programs, and teacher professional development opportunities for K-12 students and educators across Colorado.
• Hands-On History Camps Year-round day camps and classes for youth at multiple locations across Colorado (Denver, Fort Garland, Montrose, Pueblo, Trinidad), offering hands-on historical education experiences.
• Tours & Treks Historical community walking tours and multi-day treks exploring Colorado's history at various locations throughout the state.
• Colorado Black Equity Study Evidence-based historical research program mandated by Senate Bill 24-053 to document practices, systems, and policies of the State of Colorado that have harmfully impacted Black Coloradans, with quarterly updates and community engagement sessions.
• Office of the State Archaeologist State-level programs within History Colorado to preserve and protect Colorado's archaeological, paleontological, and historic resources, including administration of state and federal laws.
• National & State Register of Historic Places Official record of Colorado's historically and architecturally significant places, administered through History Colorado's preservation programs.
• Centennial Farms & Ranches Recognition program for Colorado farms and ranches that have been in continuous operation for 100 years or more, preserving the state's agricultural heritage.
• Preservation Tax Credits Information and administration of state and federal historic preservation tax credits for restoring and rehabilitating historic places, including commercial uses and affordable housing.
• Traveling Exhibitions Rental Exhibition rental program allowing other institutions and venues to host History Colorado exhibitions at their locations.
• Certified Local Governments Program Program supporting local government preservation efforts across Colorado's municipalities through the national Certified Local Government partnership.
• Review & Compliance Services Resources and consultation on engaging historic places that may be impacted by state or federal projects or funds, including Section 106 review.
• Society 1879 Legacy Giving Estate gift and legacy giving program recognizing donors who include History Colorado in their estate plans, with special events, behind-the-scenes tours, and Annual Report recognition.

Quantifiable outcome

• State Historical Fund provides grants to identify, preserve and restore significant sites, structures, and districts for education and cultural experiences

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• U.S. Postal ServiceminorOthers · 24 January 2026The USPS issued a new commemorative stamp celebrating Colorado's 150th statehood anniversary, featuring photographer John Fielder's image 'Foggy Jagged Mountain, Weminuche Wilderness.' The first-day-of-issue ceremony took place at the History Colorado Center in Denver.
• Colorado Commission of Indian AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs, Southern Ute Indian Tribe, and Ute Mountain Ute Tribe to develop a standing process for consultation, transfer and reburial of culturally unidentifiable Native American human remains and associated funerary objects from state and private lands.
• Southern Ute Indian TribecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTribal partner in the Colorado Human Remains Process Protocol for NAGPRA compliance, working with History Colorado and Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs on repatriation of culturally unidentifiable Native American human remains.
• Ute Mountain Ute TribecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTribal partner in the Colorado Human Remains Process Protocol for NAGPRA compliance, working with History Colorado and Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs on repatriation of culturally unidentifiable Native American human remains.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Minnesota Historical Society: Minnesota's state historical society operating multiple historic sites, museums, and a statewide preservation program. Closest analog to History Colorado in scope, mandate, and operating model among state historical societies.
• Wisconsin Historical Society: Wisconsin's state historical society operating historic sites, museums, and statewide preservation programs. Comparable in legislatively-mandated role, multi-site operations, and research/library mission.
• Ohio History Connection: Ohio's private nonprofit state history organization operating historic sites and museums statewide. Similar scale, governance structure (private nonprofit with state partnership), and multi-site museum operations.
• Oregon Historical Society: Oregon's statewide historical society operating the Oregon History Museum and statewide research/preservation programs. Comparable mandate, geographic scope, and revenue mix of admissions, memberships, and donations.
• Missouri History Museum: St. Louis-based state/county-affiliated history museum with research library, exhibits, and educational programming. Operates with a comparable hybrid state-nonprofit funding model and educational mission.
• Autry Museum of the American West: Los Angeles museum dedicated to the history of the American West, with overlapping content focus (frontier, Native American, and Western history). Comparable exhibition-driven model and educational programming.
• Heard Museum: Phoenix museum focused on Native American art and history with strong tribal partnerships. Direct overlap with History Colorado's Ute Indian Museum and NAGPRA-related repatriation work.
• Virginia Museum of History & Culture: Virginia's state-affiliated history museum and research library with statewide preservation programs. Comparable private nonprofit operating under state charter model.

Others

• National Trust for Historic Preservation: National nonprofit focused on historic preservation advocacy and grants, including a significant statewide grant-making footprint. Complementary to History Colorado's preservation programs but operates at national rather than state level.

Regional players

• Denver Art Museum: Major art museum located in Denver serving the same regional audience. Competes for Denver tourism, cultural philanthropy, and corporate sponsorship dollars within the same local market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HistoryColorado
• Facebookfacebook.com/HistoryColorado
• Instagraminstagram.com/historycolorado

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about History Colorado