Telluride Historical Museum Announces Smithsonian Affiliation

02 Jul Telluride Historical Museum Announces Smithsonian Affiliation

Telluride Historical Museum

When the Telluride Historical Museum reopened its doors to the public this summer, it was with a major triumph: an affiliation with the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

The Smithsonian Affiliations program allows selected organizations to have greater access to the collections and educational resources of the museums, libraries, and research centers in the Smithsonian network. As an Affiliate, the Telluride Historical Museum will have access to Smithsonian’s wide range of resources, including its 136 million-object collections, scholarship and staff expertise, traveling exhibitions, and more.

“Becoming an Affiliate with the internationally recognized Smithsonian is an honor. It enables us to further our mission and maximize the educational impact of the Museum,” said Erica Kinias, Executive Director of the Telluride Historical Museum. “Gaining greater access to some of the Smithsonian’s extraordinary scholars, collections, and research collaborations will be a wonderful asset to visitors and our community as we develop engaging programming and exhibitions in the years ahead.”

“It’s encouraging to see a local history museum have such a strong presence in the community,” said Harold Closter, director of Smithsonian Affiliations. “We are proud to partner with the Telluride Historical Museum, an organization dedicated to telling an important part of our nation’s history, and look forward to collaborations that will enrich the work of both of our organizations. A public celebration is scheduled to take place this summer, with representatives from the Smithsonian Institution, local and state representatives.

The Telluride Historical Museum joins a network of 177 Affiliate organizations in 42 states, Puerto Rico, and Panama and is one of only three Smithsonian Affiliate museums in Colorado, including the History Colorado, Denver, and Littleton Museum, Littleton, and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Denver.

Established in 1996, Smithsonian Affiliations is a national outreach program which develops long-term collaborative partnerships with museums, educational, and cultural organizations to enrich communities with Smithsonian artifacts, scholars, educational programs, and professional development opportunities. The long-term goal of Smithsonian Affiliations is to facilitate a two-way relationship among Smithsonian Affiliates and Smithsonian museums, research, education, and outreach organizations to increase discovery, inspiration, and lifelong learning in communities across America.

Through the affiliation, Telluride Historical Museum members also have the added opportunity to become members of the Smithsonian Institution at a reduced rate, enjoying a full package of benefits including 10 percent off all purchases from the Smithsonian catalogue, and 20 percent off publications from Smithsonian Institution Press.