google-site-verification: googlee16c7726ecc34510.html

Events and Programs

To find out more about any of these programs, contact the Aurora History Museum & Historic Sites education team, 303.739.6660 or email us.

Weekly Programs

Morning at the Museum
Every Wednesday, 10:30 - 11:15 a.m.
Spend the morning with your preschooler at the Aurora History Museum for stories, crafts and hands-on activities. A new program is offered every week. Please note, children must be supervised by an adult.
Adult admission is included with $1 children's admission, no registration required.

Upcoming Events

The History of Neon 
Tuesday, April 21, 6 p.m.  
Discover the magic behind Denver’s glowing signs with neon tube bender, Todd Matuszewicz. See real neon samples, learn how these luminous works of art are made, and hear the fascinating stories that keep their history shining bright. From chemistry to craftsmanship, this talk brings the wonder of neon to life. 
Cost: Program is included with museum admission ($5 or free for members) 
History of Neon Tickets

“Mosaic of Cultures: Aurora’s Filipino Community” Opening Celebration 
Saturday, April 25, 4 to 8 p.m. 
Help us welcome a new Mosaic of Cultures exhibit with Aurora’s Filipino community and join us to thank our community partners. Check out the exhibit, hear about how it came together and stay for fun crafts, music and games.  
Free event, please register. 

Aurora’s Story presentation
Thursday, April 30, noon.  -Or-  
Saturday, May 2, 2 p.m. 
April 30, 2026, marks Aurora’s 135th Birthday. Join us on April 30, or after the birthday party event on May 2, to discover the history of your city. This free presentation discusses Donald Fletcher, the early years of Aurora history and the places and people that made up the young town. Both Events are Free!
Register for April 30 presentation.
Register for May 2 presentation.

Aurora’s 135th Birthday Party 
Saturday, May 2, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 
Celebrate Aurora’s 135th Birthday with the Aurora History Museum. This family-friendly open house will have cake, party games and activities for the whole family. 
Museum admission is free during the event. No registration required

Homeschool Day: Archaeology 
Tuesday, May 5, 9:30 a.m. 
May is Archaeology Month. Explore the science, techniques and ethics used in archeology with this fun, hands-on lesson! Students will partake in a mock dig with professional archaeologists at DeLaney Farm Historic District, 170 S. Chambers Road. 
Cost: $8 per participating student. 

History Hike: Fitzsimons Army Hospital to CU 
Saturday, May 16, 10 a.m. 
Join us for our first History Hike of the year! Whether you call it Guthiel Gardens, Army Hospital #21, Fitzsimons or Anschutz, that piece of land has gone through a lot of changes in the past century. Explore the history of the base, its buildings and its people while strolling around the campus. This History Hike is free thanks to a donation from Aurora's Historic Preservation Commission. 
Meet at General's Park, 1561 Quentin St.  
Free Event. Registration is required, space is limited.

“Behind the scenes” Artifacts Presentation for Memorial Day 
Thursday, May 21, 6 p.m.  
Did you know that most of the museum’s collection isn’t on exhibit? We have thousands of items in our collections’ storage. Explore selected military artifacts with AHM Collections Curator, Kerrie Iyoob as you prepare for Memorial Day. This special, free event is only for AHM members.
Email [email protected] to learn more and reserve your spot.

Local LGBTQ+ History Talk at Hoffman Heights Library 
Thursday, June 4, 5:30 p.m. 
Explore the history that shaped LGBTQ+ life in Colorado, from Denver’s “Stonewall” uprising to grassroots activism across the state.  The presentation highlights Aurora’s role in this history, including a national lesbian civil rights gathering and a Colfax motel that served gay travelers. 
Free Event, no registration required.
Location: 23911 E. Arapahoe Road 

Aurora Prehistory Talk at Mission Viejo Library  
Saturday, June 6, 10:30 a.m. 
What roamed in your backyard? Discover Colorado's distant past with a discussion of how Aurora would have looked in prehistory, what animals we know lived here and what exciting fossils have been found right in our backyards. 
Free Event, no registration required.
Location: Mission Viejo Library, 15324 E. Hampden Circle 

Aurora Fest  
June 13, 3 to 10 p.m. 
Join us at Aurora’s annual celebration of international cultures, Aurora Fest! See the parade of nations, fashion show, and enjoy food, music and vendors from around the world. The Museum is free for the day, and open from 11. a.m. to 8 p.m.  
Free Event, no registration required. Learn more about Aurora Fest.

June History Hike: Birding and Jewell Wetlands 
Sunday, June 15, 8:30 a.m. 
Walk around a wetland in the heart of Aurora and learn the basics of birding and the history of the park. Binoculars may be supplied, bring your own if possible. This hike will be approximately one hour and 15 minutes and approximately one mile. Best for adults and children over 13. 
Cost: $4 per person. 

The Colorado Freedom Memorial with Rick Crandall  
Saturday, June 20, 11 a.m. 
Air Force Veteran and 30-year local radio fixture, Rick Crandall is the founder of The Colorado Freedom Memorial, the first memorial of its kind in the US. Through perseverance and community, Rick created a memorial that honors the fallen from Colorado while enriching future generations. Hear about updates and future plans for the memorial. 
Cost: Program is included with museum admission ($5 or free for members) 

City of Aurora Fourth of July Spectacular 
Friday, July 4, 6 to 10 p.m. 
Join the fun and see the fireworks at the Aurora Municipal Center. AHM will be open with free admission from 2 to 8 p.m. 
Free Event, no registration required. Learn more about the July 4 Spectacular. 

Sci Fi land Talk 
Saturday, July 11, 2 p.m.,
Discover one of Aurora’s most interesting failures, the surprising story of Science Fiction Land, the wildest theme park that was never built, featuring futuristic rides, a monorail and security guards with jetpacks.  
Free Events, no registration required. 
Location: Tallyn’s Reach Library, 23911 E. Arapahoe Road 
 
Centennial House Open Day 
Saturday, June 20, 3 to 6 p.m. 
Located in Original Aurora, Centennial House is a Queen Anne style home. It is the oldest of the nine remaining houses Donald Fletcher built for his speculative community east of Denver. We will have snacks and lawn games.  
Free event, please register. Location: 1671 Galena St. 

Centennial House Open Day 
Sunday, Aug. 9, 9 a.m. to noon 
Located in Original Aurora, Centennial House is a Queen Anne style home. It is the oldest of the nine remaining houses Donald Fletcher built for his speculative community east of Denver. We will have snacks and lawn games.  
Free event, please register. Location: 1671 Galena St. 

Sci Fi land Talk 
Saturday, Aug. 29, 10:30 a.m.
Discover one of Aurora’s most interesting failures, the surprising story of Science Fiction Land, the wildest theme park that was never built, featuring futuristic rides, a monorail and security guards with jetpacks.  
Free Events, no registration required. 
Location: Mission Viejo Library, 15324 E. Hampden Circle 

History Hike. Colfax: A Road Through Time 
Saturday, July 18, 4 p.m. 
See how Aurora has changed along Colfax, from the time of the trolley to today. We will meet at Centennial House and walk two miles through "Original Aurora."  
Cost: $4 per person. 

History Hike. The Smoky Hill Trail 
Saturday, Aug. 8, 7:30 a.m. 
In the 1860s, the fastest route west to Colorado was the Smoky Hill Trail. The middle branch of the trail went through Aurora and was known as the Starvation Trail. Learn why and see the landscape how westward travelers saw it over 150 years ago. 
Cost: $4 per person. 

Historic Site Open Day: DeLaney Farm 
Saturday, Aug. 8. 3 to 6 p.m. 
DeLaney Farm was settled before the city of Aurora was founded. Explore the historic buildings, including the oldest remaining home in Aurora and the DeLaney Round Barn. There will be pioneer games and crafts for kids.  
Free Event, please register.
Location: 170 S. Chambers Road 

Save the Date

Jewell Wetlands: A Local Activism Success Story  
Wednesday, June 24, 6:30 p.m. 
Today, Jewell Wetlands features trails, a boardwalk and a butterfly garden. This special Civic Season program will explore the individual and community action that preserved the natural wetlands from development and created a brand-new park for Aurora 
Cost: Program is included with museum admission ($5 or free for members) 

Legendary Ladies Performance 
Friday, June 26, 5:30 p.m. 
The costumed performers and researchers of The Legendary Ladies portray important women from Colorado and American history. This year, the Aurora History Museum will host Helen Hunt Jackson, Mary Rippon, Captain Jack, Merle Eagan Anderson and Mary Chase. 
Cost: $9 per person. 

Local Cost of Freedom Gallery Talk  
Friday, July 4, 2 p.m. 
Explore the Local Cost of Freedom exhibition about Colorado Servicemen who died in foreign wars and learn more about the men featured. Our Exhibit Curator will discuss the process of finding and recording the names, photos and stories for the Local Cost of Freedom.   
Free Event 

Colorado, Leading the Nation: A Colorado Day Presentation 
Saturday, Aug. 1, 10:00 a.m.  
Celebrate the 150th anniversary of Colorado’s statehood with a discussion about times the state was on the forefront of American policy. From early questions about who could vote to more modern policies, discover how Colorado has led the nation. 
Cost: Program is included with museum admission ($5 or free for members) 

Proclaiming Colorado’s Black History Exhibit Reception 
Saturday, Aug. 1, 2 to 5 p.m. 
This is your chance to dig deeper into the award-winning “Proclaiming Colorado’s Black History” exhibit created by the Museum of Boulder while it’s right here in Aurora. Join us for refreshments and speakers discussing Black history and culture in Colorado.  
Free Event. 

Online Content

Social Media

When Was It? Every Wednesday we post #WhenWasItWednesday with an object or photograph from our collection to social media (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter). You’ll need to guess the year based on what you see (car models, stores, fashion, hair styles and trends). Here's the catch: we don't have dates for every object or photograph in our collection; we are counting on you to help us narrow down the time frame! @AuroraHistoryCO on all platforms.

Geocaches

Find geocaches located at Aurora Landmarks No. 5, No. 9, No. 11 and No. 26 using Geocaching.com. After you find the cache, visit the Aurora History Museum during regular business hours and receive a limited edition coin for each geocache you find. We showcase a different historic landmark every year, so start your collection today!
Coins are limited and are available on a first come, first serve basis. You do not need to pick up the coin on the same day you find the cache.

Discover DeLaney Homestead
The Discover DeLaney Homestead series is a great way to compliment a walk through the DeLaney Homestead Historic District and Open Space. Click a link below to learn more about the historic site.

Loading...
Documents Loading
Loading...
Documents Loading

Accreditations

City of Aurora | All Rights Reserved | Powered by CivicLive | © 2026 Civiclive.