Sanford History Museum

We will deeply miss Scott Kreps, who began serving as President of the Sanford Museum Board President earlier this year. Many a museum visitor had the good fortune to be guided through display after display by Scott, a gifted storyteller. The Sanford Historian newsletter was Scott’s brainchild, and he coined the tagline at the top of the newsletter: “Today is tomorrow’s history.” His passion for history and his love of learning shone brightly in the work he did on behalf of the museum. We offer our thanks to Scott, and our love and condolences to his family.

Join us for an evening of story as we take a step back in history with special guest veterans sharing their experiences.

An engineering assessment was completed during the fall to help us prioritize needed building repairs. The assessment identified several parts of the building that are showing duress. We are in the process of collecting bids for repair work, which will help us firm up our fundraising goals. Our strategic plan to repair and revitalize the Museum will soon be available for viewing in the Museum and on our website.

As noted in the first issue of the Historian in June 2021, the museum building itself has a rich and important history that deserves to be preserved. There is much to be done, and many hands make light work. We need your support.

How can you help?

1. Encourage your friends and family members to visit the Museum and learn what a treasure it is.
2. Become a volunteer or a member of the Sanford Museum Board. We need hands and hearts of those who love our local heritage.
3. We have a special need right now for expertise in fundraising, grants, publicity, and oversight of building projects.
4. Make a donation. See the back of this newsletter for details.  
5. Let the Sanford Town Board members know what the Museum means to you.
6. Help get the word out! Follow us on Facebook (@SanfordHistoryMuseum)

“The present is not enough, the future hasn’t happened, the past is all we have, we must save it,” said Ruth Marie Colville, a founding member o the San Luis Valley Historical Society.

Colville was an avid historian, and those with an interest in San Luis Valley history do not need to go far to see her contributions to our understanding the people and events that made us who we are. In 2003, the Colville and Edward R. Crowther contributed to an edition of the San Luis Valley Historian with the theme “Southern Saints: Making a Mormon Community in the San Luis Valley.” The history of Sanford is closely tied to the events they describe. The Sanford History Museum’s collection of donated histories includes stories of people who came here from the southern states, including members of the Catawba tribe. Our

The Sanford History Museum has a display offering more information about Sanford’s Catawba settlers. This week, at 1pm on Saturday July 17th, we will have a special presentation from John Canty about his Catawba history. We hope you can join us.

Do you have a story to tell about your family’s history? Let us know!

Take a look at this month’s issue of the Sanford Historian.

The museum has launched a monthly newsletter, the Sanford Historian. You can check out our first issue here. If you would like to sign up to receive the newsletter via email, you can make your request by clicking here.

Check out our first issue, which features a short history of Silas Sanford Smith, as well as a rundown of our plans for Heritage Month (July).

The Sanford Colorado History Museum is located in the original Sanford Town Hall,  which was built in 1937 as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project. Over the years, the Town Hall was the site of town offices, dances and other social events, band practice for the Sanford School, and fire department. A tower was added after World War II which served as an airplane lookout station during the Cold War. In 1995, Mary June Miller, Madge Perko, and Gary Bailey organized the Sanford Museum in the Town Hall building. They collected memorabilia, photos, and artifacts relating to the history of the Sanford and Las Sauces, the geographical area included in the Sanford School District.