Lafayette History Museum


The Lafayette History Museum, formerly known as the Lafayette Miners Museum, is a local history museum in Lafayette, Colorado, United States. Established in 1976 and housed in a historic miner's cottage, the museum is dedicated to preserving and interpreting the cultural and historical heritage of Lafayette, with a strong emphasis on its coal mining legacy, early settlement, and community life.

History

The museum is housed in the historic Lewis House, a miner's cottage originally constructed in the 1890s at the Gladstone Mine site northeast of Lafayette. After the mine ceased operations, the house was moved to its current location at 108 East Simpson Street in Lafayette's Old Town district in 1905. The building served as a private residence until 1975, when Hannah Lewis, the last occupant, passed away at the age of 95.
In 1976, the Lafayette Historical Society converted the house into the Lafayette Miners Museum, focusing on the town's coal mining history. The museum's founding coincided with the United States Bicentennial celebrations and marked a renewed effort to preserve local heritage.
In 2022, the museum was renamed the Lafayette History Museum to reflect an expanded mission that includes other aspects of Lafayette's history, such as agriculture, education, domestic life, and civic development.
The museum's scope includes interpreting Lafayette's broader social history beyond coal mining. One example is the story of the Rose Lueras swimming pool, the city's first public pool, which became a focal point of racial segregation in 1934 when Latino families who had helped fund its construction were barred from entry. Local civil rights activist Rose Lueras and other families challenged the policy in court, but the pool closed during the case and never reopened. This episode, remembered through later commemorations such as the naming of the Rose Lueras pool at the Bob L. Burger Recreation Center, has been integrated into local historical interpretation.

Exhibits and collections

The museum's permanent exhibits focus on different facets of Lafayette's historical development:
  • Coal Mining Heritage: Displays include mining tools, helmets, and historical artifacts, illustrating the significance of coal mining in shaping Lafayette's economy and community
  • 1920s Kitchen: A recreated domestic interior offering insight into everyday life during the early 20th century
  • Outdoor Exhibits: The museum grounds display original mining, blacksmithing, and farming equipment, along with a vintage outhouse, reflecting the agricultural and industrial background of the town
Rotating and special exhibits highlight various themes, including the contributions of women and immigrant communities, the impact of local businesses, and evolving civic identity:
  • Radical Lafayette: The Colorado Coal Strike of 1927-1928: Explores the tensions between the owners of the Columbine Mine strike police and protestors, which came to a violent head on November 21, 1927
The museum also documents local folklore, including the legend of the "Lafayette Vampire", associated with miner Fodor Glava, who was buried in Lafayette Cemetery in 1918. According to a 2015 report by KUSA-TV, museum staff have interpreted the story as a blend of myth and local tradition that reflects the town's coal mining immigrant history.

Programs and outreach

The museum plays an active role in community education and engagement. Programs include:
  • Guided walking tours of historic Old Town Lafayette
  • Educational programming for schools and community groups
  • Collaborations with other local heritage and arts organizations
  • Online Collections Database, which offers digital access to historic photographs, documents, and artifacts relevant to Lafayette's development.
  • Way Back Whensday, objects from the museum's collections are brought to local children's museums for exploration
On February 4, 1989, the Lafayette Historical Society commemorated the centennial anniversary of the founding of Lafayette and its first post office. The society made available commemorative envelopes bearing a special Centennial Station cancellation.
The museum has also supported historical research by authors and community historians. For example, George Ogle credited the museum as a major resource in his collection Stories from the Colorado Coal Mines, a work of historical fiction drawing on events such as the Ludlow Massacre, the Columbine Mine massacre, and the experiences of Japanese immigration to [the United States|Japanese immigrant workers] in Colorado's coal mining communities.
In 2024, the museum collaborated with the City of Lafayette on the development of a memorial plaque for the Lafayette Cemetery to recognize individuals buried in unmarked graves. Museum staff conducted historical research and proposed the final plaque text, which was later approved by the Lafayette City Council.

Governance and operations

The Lafayette History Museum is operated by the Lafayette Historical Society, an independent 501 nonprofit organization. While the museum receives support from the City of Lafayette's Arts and Cultural Resources Division, including municipal funding, it retains its own governance, curatorial independence, and decision-making authority. Additional support comes from donations, grants, and fundraising efforts. Volunteers play an essential role in staffing and organizing museum events.
In 2024, the Lafayette History Museum was awarded two grants totaling more than $52,000 to support a comprehensive inventory and preservation of its coal mining map collection. The funding, which represented ~78% of the museum's annual budget, included an Inspire! Grant for Small Museums award from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Community role and historical research

In 2023, the museum contributed historical expertise to local reporting on the rediscovery of the Hi-Way Food Store facade during renovations in Old Town Lafayette. Museum director Chelsea Pennington Hahn provided background on the building's origins, including its 1908 construction by Ernest Johnson, subsequent relocation to South Public Road by John Gordon, and later uses as a food market, electronics store, and most recently the Cannon Mine Coffee shop.

Awards