Breckenridge History is celebrating a gold-rush settler, Edwin Carter, and the people who settled here centuries before him.
Long before the gold rush brought Carter to Colorado, the Ute people called the Blue River valley home.
On Aug. 22 from 5 to 7 p.m. is a free history talk by Ute tribal member Skyler Lomahaftewa and Aspen Historical Society. Co-sponsored by the Friends of the Dillon Ranger District, this event highlights the Ute people’s rich and complex history and culture, which has existed here for thousands of years.
On Aug. 24 from 1 to 3 p.m. is the 150th anniversary of the Carter Museum (111 N. Ridge St. in Breck). The free event will include cupcakes from Hotel Alpenrock, historical games and a look at the museum through the years. There will also be live music courtesy of the Pine Beatles and activities with FDRD.
“We’re excited to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Carter Museum,” Breckenridge History Executive Director Larissa O’Neil said in a statement. “It is one of the oldest museums in the state, but this milestone is also an opportunity to recognize the stories and people who were here long before Carter.”
During his time in town, Carter traded buckskins with the Utes while pursuing his passion for the wildlife of Colorado. A dedicated observer of nature, Carter built and opened a museum in 1875 in the same cabin where it operates today.
Through the decades Carter created more than 3,300 taxidermy animal specimens, using personal observations and field notes to handcraft each piece.
Today, the museum tells Carter’s story and holds some of his original work, though most of his collection formed the foundation for the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Some pieces are still on display in Denver.