Our first destination was the History Colorado Center, and based
on the lineup of yellow school buses, we were prepared for the lively crowds of
school children inside. The floor of the
main hall of this museum is a huge topographical map of the state, where a very
pleasant docent named Dani welcomed us and told us what to expect on our visit.
The Center is a great place for kids to learn about their
state. “Destination Colorado” replicates a small agricultural town in the 1920s
where kids can shop at the general store, climb into a real Model T Ford, see
what it’s like to milk a cow and learn about life on the farm.
On the upper floor “Colorado Stories” describes experiences
of various residents, including hard rock miners, traders at an early fort, and
wartime Japanese internees. It was impressive to see the candid accounts of
prejudice against the Japanese, as well as the African Americans who were targeted
by the Ku Klux Klan. There was also a simulated Rocky Mountain ski jump where
visitors could step onto a pair of boards and watch the steep slope unfold on a
screen in front of them.
We stepped inside a farmhouse kitchen where, with voices,
video and sound effects, we relived the “Black Sunday” Dust Bowl storm of the
1930s when the sky went dark and winds howled for hours. There was also a
hands-on display about the importance of water to the region, and a replica of
a ski lodge.
The state capitol building was our next destination, and it
was a short walk away so we left the car in the parking lot by the Center. A fierce
wind whipped at our hair as we walked, though the sun was shining. We noted the
wide range of clothing choices made by Denver residents – some were in parkas,
while others had on shorts and t-shirts!
Our arrival at the magnificent capitol building, with its
gold-plated dome, coincided with the start of a public tour, so we attached
ourselves to the group and tried to hear the soft voice of our young guide,
describing the two houses, the brass chandeliers and large paintings of prominent
Colorado citizens.
By this time we were ready to head back to the RV park, a
40-minute drive from downtown. The trip ended up taking much longer because of
a crash on the Interstate! Fortunately, when we gave up waiting, we were able
to bushwhack across to an off-ramp and try to find an alternate route. It was just plain luck that the direction we
chose led to a junction with the I-70 which got us past the huge tie-up. Whew! The
open road and big sky were a welcome sight after our tiresome wait.
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