Historic Lecture Series

Summer Lunchtime Lecture Series

The Summer Lunchtime Lecture Series will take place on Wednesdays, June 16 – August 25 at 12:00pm. All lectures (except for the lecture on July 7) will be held at a new location this year, the Summit County Community and Senior Center. Learn about the rich history of Frisco and surrounding areas in Colorado with a Q&A after each lecture. Lectures are free to attend.

June 16, 2021

Asian-American History presented by Dr. William Wei

Join us for our first Lunchtime Lecture of the season featuring Dr. William Wei from the University of Colorado-Boulder. Author of “Asians in Colorado: A History of Persecution and Perseverance in the Centennial State,” Dr. Wei will be presenting on Asian-American history in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region. Hear what lasting cultural impacts Asian-Americans have made, and are making, with the 2019-2020 Colorado State Historian.

June 23, 2021

Finding Gold in Colorado presented by Kevin Singel

Have you ever wanted to find gold in these hills? Summit County local and author Kevin Singel is passionate about the history of Colorado’s gold prospecting and its lasting impact in our county. Join us to hear more on his gold and mineral finding expertise. Bring the whole family out to learn about what could be your next favorite pastime. Books will be available for purchase after the lecture.

June 30, 2021

Lecture cancelled. Instead, join us for a free Historic Town Tour at 12:30pm at the Schoolhouse Museum. This tour has a maximum capacity of 15 people and is first come-first serve.

July 7, 2021

Seasons of the Nuche; Tales of the Ute People presented by Nina Gabianelli and Skylar Lomahaftewa

Picnic at the Park! Join us as we welcome back Nina Gabianelli, Aspen Historical Society, and special guest, Skylar Lomahaftewa of the Northern Ute Tribe as they look at the role of storytelling in the history of native peoples in Colorado. Bring your picnic, picnic blankets, and lawn chairs to the Historic Park Gazebo for this family-friendly lecture. Come early to get your spot and don’t forget your sunscreen!

July 14, 2021

Lecture cancelled. Instead, join us for a free Historic Town Tour at 12:30pm at the Schoolhouse Museum. This tour has a maximum capacity of 15 people and is first come-first serve.

July 21, 2021

UPDATE! Dr. John Seebach’s lecture will be virtual due to the Glenwood Canyon closure. We will be streaming the lecture at the Senior Center and on Facebook for our followers at home. Start time is 12:00pm.

Archaeology in Colorado presented by Dr. John Seebach

What did Colorado look like in prehistoric times? Archaeologist Dr. John Seebach is here to tell us. Join us for a riveting journey through time to the Paleoindian and Late Formative periods. Seebach is a professor at Colorado Mesa University of Colorado and program director for the Archeology department’s minor. A great lecture to bring all those interested in times of the past.

July 28, 2021

New speaker! Our scheduled speaker, Dr. Erica Jackson, is not able to join us. Instead, please help us welcome Glen Kraatz!

Summit County Rescue Group presented by Glen Kraatz

Join the Frisco Historic Park & Museum for one of our favorite local speakers, Glen Kraatz with the Summit County Rescue Group. The Summit County Rescue Group is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization incorporated in 1973. A seasoned storyteller, Kraatz shares his most memorable rescues, plenty of photos, and more than a few laughs along the way. July 28, 2021, at 12:00pm at the Summit County Community and Senior Center.

August 4, 2021

Chicano History: Past, Present, and Future presented by Ricardo LaFore

Join us as we welcome back longtime activist Ricardo LaFore discussing Chicano history in “Chicano History: Past, Present, and Future”. LaFore recounts the seminal moments with stories of his own experience and their impact on Chicano gains in subsequent years. LaFore currently serves on the Chicano Movement Advisory Committee for History Colorado. He also received the Cesar Chavez Leadership Award in 2003.

August 11, 2021

New speaker! Our scheduled speaker, Elizabeth Nozek, is not able to join us. Instead, please help us welcome Bill Brown!

Rocky Mountain Trains presented by Bill Brown

Trains forever changed the landscape and culture of the American West. Brown is here to speak on those transformations and changes brought on by trains throughout the Rocky Mountain region. Brown joined the Colorado Railroad Museum in 2016 as a volunteer doing research, restoration, and cataloging. He is also a longtime model railroader having grown up on the Burlington Route in Illinois. This is a great lecture for fans of the narrow-gauge railroad!

August 18, 2021

Western Art presented by Meg Erickson

The Wild West is often overly romanticized in books, movies, plays, and art. Come hear Meg Erickson from the Denver Art Museum give a lecture on Western idealism and the role of manifest destiny in 19th Century art. Erickson is the curatorial assistant for the Petrie Institute of Western American Art and has worked on several exhibitions including Natural Forces: Winslow Homer and Fredric Remington. Join us to hear a compelling lecture on art capturing history.

August 25, 2021

Water and Colorado presented by Dr. Jeffrey Sellen

How will water change the future? Join us for our final lunchtime lecture of the series as we welcome Western Colorado University professor, Dr. Jeffrey Sellen and his discussion on the importance of water and the need to preserve and protect our water resources here in the Centennial State. Water is a hot topic so this is one lecture you won’t want to miss.

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Winter Lecture Series

We hope to bring the après ski winter lecture series back in winter 2021-2022 and will provide updates as we have them.

Watch Lectures from Previous Years

If you’re interested in learning more about the rich history of Frisco and surrounding areas or want to watch some of these educational presentations from previous years, check out out the Frisco Historic Park video page with lecture recordings from 2019 and 2020.