Experience La Plata County History at the Animas Museum of Durango

Carolyn Bowra tells tales out of school. Well, out of a school, actually. The Historic Animas City School to be specific. Bowra, the Director of the Animas Museum, housed in the old school, is passionate about the history and culture of La Plata County and even more passionate about sharing it with locals and heritage tourists.

Bowra sees history, especially local history, not as a set of facts but as a personal story that can be told experientially, whether that’s kids sitting at wooden desks for a lesson straight out of the McGuffey Reader or visitors experiencing 19th century life in the C.B. Joy cabin. Bowra and a cadre of volunteers invite teachers to contact the museum to create a memorable historical experience for students. There’s also a very cool education trunk of ‘touchables’ available for teachers to take to their classrooms for hands-on history. The school, built in 1904 and used as a school until the late 60’s, now houses the Animas Museum.

Current exhibits will make you sweat: a history of fires and firefighting in La Plata County and FEmales Pumping Iron – an exhibit of 19th and early 20th century housekeeping tools, products, and techniques. October will be busy for Bowra and the museum. The annual Chuckwagon Breakfast fundraiser will be held October 1 and on October 8 the museum will participate in the Durango Heritage Festival with demonstrations of victorian arts such as hair work, ribbon work, and a display of victorian beauty products. Visit the Animas Museum at 3065 W. 2nd Avenue or online at www.animasmuseum.org.