Palmer Lake Historical Society, Sept. 18 – Pioneers Museum: past and present

By Marlene Brown

On Sept. 18, the Palmer Lake Historical Society (PLHS) held its regular membership meeting at the Palmer Lake Town Hall. Diane Kokes, vice president of PLHS, introduced Leah Davis Witherow, executive director of the Pioneers Museum in Colorado Springs. Witherow presented What’s New and Old at the Pioneers Museum.

Many people who have lived in El Paso County don’t realize that the Pioneers Museum was the first County Courthouse, built in 1903, and is now the city’s most important artifact. The building served as the County Courthouse from 1903-73. It has been home to the museum since 1979. Recently, the building was closed for a year for major renovations, including HVAC systems, plaster repair, and new lighting, and reopened July 13, 2024.

Many new exhibits are available for viewing. Included is 50% of the Story: Women Expressing Creativity. Women have always been artists, and their work has gone mostly unrecognized. Using historic artwork and artifacts, this exhibit creates important conversation across time.

Another exhibit, Until Forever Comes: This is Ute Homeland has been five years in the making. With consultation and conversation with Tribal members of the Southern Ute, the Ute Mountain Ute, and the Utes of the Uintah and Ouray Reservations, this exhibit is permanent and highlights the ongoing history and culture of the Ute People in the Pikes Peak Region.

The Pioneers Museum is located at 215 S. Tejon St., Colorado Springs. It’s open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; admission is free. 719-385-5990 to schedule a tour.

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PLHS meetings are usually held on the third Thursday of the month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 pm) at the Palmer Lake Town Hall, 28 Valley Crescent St. Free and open to the public. For more info regarding memberships and future programs, go to palmerdividehistory.org/events.

Marlene Brown can be reached at marlenebrown@ocn.me.

Other Palmer Lake Historical Society articles

• Palmer Lake Historical Society, Jan. 15 – 2026 board installed at annual meeting (2/4/2026)
• Palmer Lake Historical Society, Oct. 16 – Ancient days of Garden of the Gods explored (10/30/2025)
• Palmer Lake Historical Society, July 19 – The power of print (7/31/2025)
• Palmer Lake Historical Society, June 15 – Father’s Day Ice Cream Social (7/3/2025)
• Palmer Lake Historical Society, May 15 – Author recounts life of Nikola Tesla (6/7/2025)
• Palmer Lake Historical Society, April 17 – Women of the Colorado gold rush era (5/3/2025)
• Palmer Lake Historical Society, April 21 – General Palmer’s life explored (4/5/2025)
• Palmer Lake Historical Society, Jan. 16 – 2024 events recalled (2/1/2025)
• Palmer Lake Historical Society, Dec. 19 – Palmer Lake holds 91st annual Yule Log Hunt (1/4/2025)
• Palmer Lake Historical Society, Nov. 21 – Life of town hero explored (12/5/2024)