The Palmer Lake Historical Society was founded by Marian McIntyre McDonough in October, 1956. There are approximately 150 current members who support the Society through their dues ($10.00 individual or $15 family for a one-year membership; print out our Membership Form to join or renew your membership). Both the Palmer Lake Historical Society and the Lucretia Vaile Museum are non-profit.

The PLHS holds special occasion programs once a month which have included "An Evening with John Fielder," famous Colorado Author/Photographer and "The Semi-Annual Tour of Estemere," a magnificent Queen Anne Victorian home. Calendar of Events

Chautauqua!

The Chautauqua Planning Meeting will be held on Tuesday Feb 9 at 6:00PM at the Palmer Lake Town Hall.

We are asking for anyone interested in volunteering to help with the Chautauqua this year. This will be the third year of the Chautauqua revival, sponsored by the Historical Society. Come and learn more about this exciting event and opportunity.

Come Dizzy

The bronze statue of Dizzy may be seen in the Village Green of Palmer Lake.  Dizzy helped build the Star of Palmer Lake in 1935, during the Great Depression. Dizzy was presented as a gift to the people of Palmer Lake on October 21, 2006 to commemorate the Society's 50th anniversary.  In keeping with our unofficial motto, "History Should Be More Than a Memory," Dizzy will be watching over the Star on Sundance Mountain for many years to come.  Read the full story of the Star and Dizzy here:  The Star of Palmer Lake

Monument 1879

The Society has commissioned a bas-relief panel titled "Monument 1879" to display and commemorate significant historical events and people of The Town of Monument.  The sculpture is a gift of the Society to the people of Monument.  The panel measures six-feet wide by four-feet in height.  The bronze panel is done in medium relief by noted artist Ronny Walker of Palmer Lake.  Ronny has captured the essence of Monument history in the scenes and people portrayed.  The three people in the middle of the panel are from the top:  Caroline & Henry Limbach with David McShane under.  The panel, presented to the Town of Monument on June 13, 2009, is now on permanent display in the new Monument Town Hall. Click on the brochure cover at the right to open a new window explaining the history seen in the bronze sculpture.

Click on image to enlarge it.

In 1998, the PLHS provided a fountain for the lake to partially replicate the one that existed at the turn of the century. The fountain runs during the spring, summer and fall months.

In 1964 the Historical Society opened the original museum which was housed in what is currently the Town Sheriffs' offices (originally the AT&SF Section Foreman's house). The Museum moved to the current building as the Lucretia Vaile Library and Museum in October, 1981. The PLHS Board of Directors oversees and appoints a director for the museum and pays major museum expenses.

The Rocky Mountain Chautauqua

The original Chautauqua came to Palmer Lake in 1886 and was an annual summer event for over two decades. Palmer Lake had the distinct honor of hosting the very first "Rocky Mountain Chautauqua." Due to changing times, the Chautauqua faded away by 1910. The Palmer Lake Historical Society revived the summer tradition in 2008 and also in 2009 with a vaudeville show, dinner theater, old-fashioned baseball game, history walk, nature walk, ice cream social, church service in the historic Pinecrest Church, Model A and T classic cars, box lunches and much more.

Follow this link to the Chautauqua website for more information.  Click here: Chautauqua Home Page

Historical Society & Museum New Projects/Exhibits
Contact us by e-mail for the latest up-to-date information.

A Brief History of the Palmer Divide Area

This is a one page history introduction to the area including early explorers and native American tribes that were along the front range.
 

The Tales of Two Towns

Our area has interesting people and historical events that will acquaint you with the Towns of Palmer Lake & Monument as well as the surrounding countryside.
 
"As Rare As Fairies" - Lucretia Vaile
Countess Katrina Murat
 
The most famous pioneer woman of Colorado was sixty-three years old when she retired to Palmer Lake in the spring of 1887 and built a cottage below Sundance Mountain in which she spent the remainder of her life. She died there on March 13, 1910. Life had taken her far away from her ancestral vineyards in Germany where she had passed her carefree girlhood, but the spirit of generosity and independence for which she was noted, and her love of the western wilderness, never left her. She is remembered as the Betsy Ross of Colorado.
Read the story of the Countess.
 

Old Town Walking Tours

Join us for a virtual tour of the historic sites in the picturesque Towns of Palmer Lake & Monument.
 

Lucretia Vaile Library-Museum

The Museum maintains a collection of historical data, artifacts and other items of significance relating to Palmer Lake, Monument, and the Palmer Divide area and arranges changing exhibits of local interest.
 

Current & past exhibits

The Vaile Museum is open every Saturday from 10 AM - 2 PM year round. From June through August, the Museum is also open on Wednesdays from 1 PM - 4 PM. We are located at 66 Lower Glenway St. in Palmer Lake with easy access from Highway 105. You may leave a message at 559-0837.

 

Calendar of Events

See a list of Historical Society activities for the current year.
 

The Historical Society Newsletter (.pdf )

Historical Society & Museum happenings and information. Read the current and past editions.
 

William John Crawford Memorial

View this memorial dedicated to Bill, who was the recipient of our nations highest award, the Medal of Honor, for service in WWII.
 

Books for sale

The Historical Society offers a variety of books and other gift items related to the history of the Tri-Lakes region.
 
The Society announces that the book, Through The Years At Monument, has been fully revised, and expanded to 168 pages. This fifth edition has been totally redone with new material, and a new layout with over 130 photographs rescanned and digitally enhanced. The book now includes a Timeline, an Index with over 550 entries, and a Table of Contents. Many new photographs have been included some of which have never been published. Professionally reprinted. The definitive volume of the History of Monument, Colorado.
 

DVD, Video and Gifts

The Society has just sponsored and released a new DVD by historian/filmmaker; Jim Sawatzki titled "Summer Sojourn." This offering is a History of Glen Park & the 1st Rocky Mountain Chautauqua which was held in Palmer Lake. Long before silent movies, radio, and television, over 45 million rural Americans relied on the Chautauqua stage for their cultural entertainments. President Theodore Roosevelt called the Chautauqua "America at its best." The Chautauqua may have been the forerunner of today's community colleges. As such, it was an experience that moved forward the idea that continuing education was worthwhile. The Chautauqua was sometimes referred to as the "peoples university."
 
The DVD includes another video "The Village on the Divide" a history of Palmer Lake, Colorado plus 30 minutes of bonus footage of Glen Park (The Glen) for a total running time of about 90 minutes. Produced by the Palmer Lake Historical Society.
 

Order form

Print out our order form to order books or other gift items from the Historical Society.
 

Patrons and Benefactors

We wish to recognize the patrons and benefactors that have made very generous contributions thus furthering the mission of the Vaile Museum and the Historical Society. Please visit the websites of these fine people & organizations. They have all helped make the job of preserving and displaying the history of the Tri-Lakes area possible.
 

Links

Visit other websites dealing with Colorado history.

The Board of Directors of the Historical Society

All are volunteers. Without their many hours and dedication to community service, the many fine projects and accomplishments of the PLHS would not have been possible.

President: P. Bonser
Vice President: A. Walter
Secretary: J. Harrington
Treasurer: V. Vaile

Museum Director: R. Davis
Book Sales: J. Sawatzki
At Large: H. Post
At Large: K. Braun
At Large: P. McCarthy

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