OPENING: The New Interactive History Colorado Center's Grand Opening April 28th - a Must-See!

Colorado's up and coming cultural destination, the History Colorado Center, aims to ignite imaginations, provoke discussion and touch hearts in telling Colorado stories, ushering in a new era for the state's history museum on April 28th. Designed to ignite imaginations of all ages about Colorado's past, this new history museum and hub for civic engagement creates a rich experience for visitors through exhibits and programs featuring several Colorado actors that will blend technology, media, environments and artifacts.

"The History Colorado Center is more than a new museum-its development served as the impetus to transform the 132-year-old Colorado Historical Society into History Colorado and launch the organization into a new era," said Ed Nichols, History Colorado President and CEO.

"The History Colorado Center will be a place for self-discovery, inspiration, scholarship and fun," he said. "Our goal is to meet and then exceed the expectations of a savvy, modern, museum-going audience with original high-tech and hands-on interactive multimedia along with authentic artifacts and evocative stories of Colorado's diverse people."

The History Colorado Center is scheduled to open its exhibitions in three phases. Phase I opens April 28 with Grand Atrium Programs, Destination Colorado, and Colorado Stories. These stimulating, evocative, and audience-centered exhibits put the visitor in the story while highlighting the courage and persistence, and the triumphs and tragedies of that helped to shape the Colorado we know today.

The final Phase I exhibit, Denver A-Z, will open in the fall of 2012 while two temporary exhibits round out the inaugural year-LEGOrado (Memorial Day-Colorado Day) and an exhibit featuring Colorado's constitution (opening in June). Phase II is planned to open in 2013 with Living West. Phase III is slated for 2014 with the debut of the exhibit Dreams and Visions (Working Title) as well as a traveling exhibit in the building's new 10,000 square foot traveling exhibition space.

Designed to make visitors feel part of Colorado's stories and adventures, notable highlights include:

• Highly experiential exhibits. Authentic artifacts and high-tech attractions, including H.G. Wells-inspired storytelling "time machine," a virtual ski jump, a ride in a Model T, and more.

• Community gathering spaces for civic engagement, discussion and celebration. A sky-lit, four-story atrium features a large-format media screen and a 40-by-60-foot terrazzo tile map of Colorado created by nationally known artist Steven Weitzman; spaces for programs, lectures, classes and parties; retail and a restaurant/cafe; and private rentals offering breathtaking views of the Rocky Mountains.

• Highly efficient, climate-controlled collections storage. The Stephen H. Hart Library offers a public portal into collections.

• Green. Built to U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Gold certification. Recycled and local materials are incorporated throughout, including beetle-kill pine and Colorado sandstone.

The building was designed, managed and constructed by an all-Colorado team: Tryba Architects, Trammell Crow and Hensel Phelps. Exhibition developer Janet Kamien, whose credits include Philadelphia's National Constitution Center; internationally known exhibit designers Andrew Merriell & Associates; and Richard Lewis Media Group, whose current work is featured in the National Museum of Natural History, were retained to produce the first phase of exhibitions.

As a new Smithsonian Affiliate, the History Colorado Center is sure to make the "must see" list anyone attracted to the allure that is Colorado.

PHOTO CREDIT:  Frank Ooms & Colorado History