Visit to Denver

Jason and I took Monday and Tuesday off and went to Denver.
Monday we had sushi at Whole Foods then picked up my girlfriend from graduate school, Nikki at the airport. She was flying in to transport the Benjamin Franklin artifacts from Denver to Atlanta. We had a good time catching up with her and goofing off.

The next morning we took her to Denver’s Museum of Nature and Science. Because of Nikki, we got free tickets to the museum and spent about 3 hours exploring the animal dioramas, mineral collection and even a small exhibit on Egyptian mummies. It was so fun.
Trey and Nikki outside museum in wolf sculpture garden.
A view of Denver from the museum.

Next, we caught up with my history professor and his family (Goodson) also in from GA. We had lunched, watched it hail for about 20 minutes straight, and then braved the weather to visit the retro Curtis hotel where Steve rescued the staffs’ Frisbee from the hotel lobby. Next we visited the historic Molly Brown House and then the huge Denver Public Library where there were great views of Denver’s new art museum.

After traffic died down (does it ever in Denver?) Jason and I headed home. This morning we are checking in at work, cleaning house, and then going to see Jason’s parents in Elk Mountain. Later in the week, the Goodsons will visit us here in Laramie. I am THRILLED to have some time off work!

Unlocking Secrets in the Soil

Here are pictures from today's event celebrating the Save Our History grant from the History Channel. Check back for links to media coverage! http://www.laramieboomerang.com/news/archivemore.asp?StoryID=106622

After we watched the 20 min. documentary about the project, our sponsors, the History Channel, Lowes, American Express, and Bresnan Communication presented us with a huge, oversized check. The documentary has been picked up by Bresnan and will be shown locally in Wyoming. If you are interested in obtaining a copy of the DVD, please let me know. We are selling them at ONLY $5 a piece (Jason says: "a steal at twice the price").

After the check presentation, the students gave tours of the excavation site and prison.

Here I am with our History Channel rep., Lissy from New York, and Shawn, from Bresnan. Three of our wonderful students talking about the artifacts they found during the dig.
The crowd, including a rep. from Lowe's listens to a student presentation.

Kat and James, seen above, talked about the ice house as a potential excavation site for future study. The ice house sat in front of the prison but was removed when the facility became a stock farm. The students told a wonderful story about a prisoner, James Brown, who escaped from the ice house in 1903. James (the student) did his best James Brown impression by singing us a little diddy and dancing around!

The students head back to school after a job well done.

Thundering Ice Sloths Broomball Video

I finally got around to putting the broomball team highlight video on the 'net. Enjoy. (It is okay to laugh--it seems much faster when you are ON the ice!) Wildly appropriate music courtesy of ACDC. . .

My first day off in 11 days…

Although, four of those days were spent in Grand Junction, CO attending the Colorado Wyoming Association of Museums. It was a lot of fun! Everyone was so friendly and enthusiastic. We even attended the annual CWAM ball where pink flamingos reign! I talked about community collaboration and the Save Our History grant after the keynote speaker, Marjorie Schwarzer. She just finished, “Riches, Rivals, and Radicals: 100 Years of Museums in America”. (At the auction, I bid on a signed copy of her book and won.) I also presented a class on writing or revising a collections policy with the curator of the Old West Museum in Cheyenne. We had a good turn out; an enthusiastic crowd who asked great questions.

While in Grand Junction Jason and I snuck off to some local wineries. We’d never been wine tasting before. Our favorite was the Carlson Vineyards in Palisade, CO. Jason liked the Prairie Dog Blush and I liked the Hot Peach Wine. http://www.carlsonvineyards.com/

While I was teaching or in class, Jason took a hike outside of town. Some of his pictures:
We are one week away from the Save Our History, History Channel grant celebration at the historic site. For pictures and more information, go to: http://wyoparks.state.wy.us/secretsinthesoil.htm
If you are in the area, please come celebrate with us. The historic site will be free to the public from 12:30 to 3 May 11th. (Tell your friends in the media!)

Monday the historic site is hosting a dinner for the students going to Washington, D. C. as part of the grant. Wed. and Th. We are having “rehearsals” for the students who will be speaking on the 11th. With everything to do, I feel like I’m planning a second wedding! This grant has been a wonderful opportunity for the students and historic site.

Just yesterday our local cable affiliate, Bresnan Communications agreed to air the project documentary. We are thinking sometime in the next 2 months. I’ll post an air date and time when they are confirmed.

Thanks all for your support and well-wishes.

Trey

P.S. For Bill

P.S.S. Thanks again Bill and Dee for watching the pets. Next time, make sure they wear hard hats!