ABOUT / MISSION & VISION
OUR MISSION
History happens here. The Museum of Boulder showcases inclusive community stories, preserves them for the future, and inspires all of us to effect positive change.
OUR VISION
The Museum of Boulder will be a dynamic reflection of our community, a center where history is a resource for understanding our own lives and times.
- We will safeguard artifacts that transport visitors to the past and materials that preserve unwritten histories.
- We will balance curiosity about the essential themes of Boulder’s past with attention to untold and underrepresented stories.
- We will encourage community creation and engagement, while offering inspiring space and historical context to reach a broad audience across generation, origin, identity, and creed.
OUR VALUES
The Museum of Boulder is committed to the following:
- Relevance — we share power to create community-led exhibits and programs.
- Discovery — we design spaces and experiences where visitors make new and meaningful connections.
- Authenticity— we embrace unembellished and unfiltered local history.
- Sustainability — we preserve Boulder’s history for future generations.
- Excellence — we maintain the highest professional standards for every exhibit, program, and event.
OUR HISTORY
THE NEW MUSEUM OF BOULDER
The Boulder Historical Society was founded in 1944 by A.A. ‘Gov’ Paddock, then publisher of the Boulder Daily Camera, to collect, document, preserve and interpret the history of the Boulder area. Over the years, we have accumulated a significant collection of artifacts, documents and photographs that chronicle the history of the area. Today, the Boulder Historical Society operates as the Museum of Boulder. It is a private 501(c)3 organization with an annual operating budget around $1M.
The Boulder Historical Society was officially organized on October 10th, 1944, when the “Territorial Pioneers” and other interested citizens convened with the intent to establish an organization and a facility to collect, preserve and display the history of the area. In 1945, voters approved a citywide bond to build a new municipal building in downtown Boulder, which would include the history museum. Rising construction costs after the war resulted in the museum getting cut from the project. Instead of moving into a brand new municipal building, the history museum occupied the second floor of a downtown school building until 1957.
Over the years, the museum continued to play an important role in the life of the City. In addition to the small museum, the museum continued to collect artifacts, host programs and publish a few manuscripts. It changed locations a number of times, including an historic home and a former Safeway store. In 1985 the museum moved to its prior location, the historic Harbeck House, on University Hill. The Harbeck House is a 4,000 square-foot historic landmark home built in 1899. The building is located in a residential section of Boulder, just a few blocks from the University of Colorado, Boulder. The building is owned by the City of Boulder and was returned to the City when the Museum relocated to the present site at 2205 Broadway.
For many years, the Museum was a small, volunteer run organization. Support came from memberships, contributions and small grants. Over the years we have made great strides in providing Boulder with nationally touring exhibits as well as developing exhibits based on Boulder stories including Native Americans, aerospace history, natural foods, sports and beer. We now reach thousands of school children in the Museum and through outreach programs, with some of the highest quality education programs in the region. We have become a visible and reliable source of information in the Boulder community, as well as a place to bring friends and family.
In April 2013, the Museum purchased the Masonic Lodge building in downtown Boulder. We embarked on a capital campaign and have converted this building into the Museum of Boulder. It is now a state-of-the-art museum that explores not only the roots of our community, but the accomplishments today that will be history tomorrow; it brings the community together for exploration and conversations about issues facing Boulder today and in the future.
STAFF

Lori Preston
Executive Director

Lori Preston
Executive Director

Elizabeth Nosek
Curator of Collection and Exhibits

Elizabeth Nosek
Curator of Collection and Exhibits

Emily Zinn
Director of Education

Emily Zinn
Director of Education

Kayla Simmering
Director of Events

Kayla Simmering
Director of Events

Savannah Snody
Communications Coordinator

Savannah Snody
Communications Coordinator

Addie Tomsyck
Guest Service Coordinator

Addie Tomsyck
Guest Service Coordinator

Beverly Silva
Community Outreach Liaison

Beverly Silva
Community Outreach Liaison

Nyasha James-Davis
Creative Director of Programming

Nyasha James-Davis
Creative Director of Programming

Jen Lomeli
Museum Administrator

Jen Lomeli
Museum Administrator

Kyra Hamel
Guest Services Team Member

Nicola Randle
Guest Services Team Member

Nicola Randle
Guest Services Team Member

Kevin Lacjak
Guest Services Team Member

Kevin Lacjak
Guest Services Team Member

Glenda S. Robinson
Oral History Coordinator

Glenda S. Robinson
Oral History Coordinator

Adrian Miller
Co-Project Director and Lead Curator

Adrian Miller
Co-Project Director and Lead Curator

Myles Cork
Event Team Member

Carol Banks
Website Designer

Carol Banks
Website Designer

Cori Chavez
Digital Media Producer

Cori Chavez
Digital Media Producer

Aubrie Reed
Instructional Designer

Aubrie Reed
Instructional Designer
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OFFICERS

Cynthia Schmidt
CHAIR

Cynthia Schmidt
CHAIR

Joshua Harrison
VICE CHAIR

Joshua Harrison
VICE CHAIR

Jerilyn Decoteau
Secretary

Jerilyn Decoteau
Secretary

Jacob (Jake) Puzio
Treasurer

Jacob (Jake) Puzio
Treasurer
MEMBERS

Catherine Burgess

Dr. Jeanette Domber

DR. MARY MARLINO

Karla Rosete Nuñez

Kelly Cochran

Susan Glow

Jill Dodson Hunter

Alice Brown

Andy Burgess
