History Hike: Sod Houses
Aug. 9, 9 a.m.
Did you know that some American settlers in Colorado found so little wood for construction that they used the earth and plants of the high plains to build homes? See how topography and ecology led to the construction, use and longevity of sod homes for homesteaders in the late 19th century.
Plains Conservation Center, 21901 E. Hampden Ave.
Tickets: $5
Open Days at DeLaney Farm
August 9, 1 to 4 p.m.
Discover Aurora’s agricultural past at DeLaney Farm. This site contains the Gully Home, the oldest building standing in Aurora and the only known round barn in the state of Colorado.
DeLaney Historic District, 170 S. Chambers Road
Open Days at Centennial House
August 10, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Explore what life was like in early Aurora by visiting the Queen Anne style Centennial House, built in 1891 by Aurora’s founder, Donald Fletcher. A tour of Galena St architecture will begin at 10:30 a.m.
Register for the tour.
Sept. Homeschool Day: The Gold Rush
Thursday, Sept. 4, 9:30 a.m.
Gold was one of the important factors that brought Americans across the Great Plains to Colorado. In 1859, thousands of people moved here in hopes of striking it rich. Try panning for gold and learn about Colorado’s gold rush and how it shaped our region.
DeLaney Historic District, 170 S. Chambers Road
$8 per participating child.
Centennial House Open Day
Saturday, Sept. 6, 1 to 4 p.m.
Centennial House is a Queen Anne style Victorian 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. This is our last open day at the house for the summer. A tour of Galena St. will begin at 2:30 p.m.
Centennial House, 1671 Galena St.
Register for the tour.
History Hike: Colfax, A Road Through Time
Saturday, Sept. 6, 4 p.m.
Walk from Centennial House, through "Original Aurora" to Colfax Ave. Colfax has been the heart of Aurora since the 1890s and has gone through many changes. Points of interest include the Hornbein Building, Riviera Motel, Fox Theater, the People's Building, and Mango House.
Centennial House, 1671 Galena St.
Register.
Delaney Historic District Open Day
Sunday, Sept. 7, 1 to 4 p.m.
Tour the DeLaney Historic District to learn about early Aurora history. Free and fun for all ages! This is your last chance to see inside the round barn and Gully house until the holidays.
DeLaney Historic District, 170 S. Chambers Road
Prehistoric Roots: Flora and Fauna of Ancient Aurora
Saturday, Sept. 20, 1:30 p.m.
Take a short walk around the museum to explore how Colorado’s animals have evolved since prehistoric times and learn which ones have remained remarkably unchanged. This family-friendly event at the Aurora History Museum is perfect for kids ages 8 and up.
Register.
Aurora Mini-Con
Saturday, Sept. 27, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Mini-Con is a free, family-friendly festival celebrating comics, cosplay, and all things pop culture. Enjoy lectures and panels at the museum from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., including a look at Aurora’s forgotten sci-fi amusement park, the hidden history of classic horror films, and a paleontologist panel unpacking the science behind the Jurassic Park franchise.
History Hike: The Smoky Hill Trail
Saturday, Oct. 4, 9:30 a.m.
In the 1860s, the fastest route west to Colorado was the Smoky Hill Trail. People traveled this trail in their covered wagons in search of gold and farmland. The middle branch of the trail was known as the Starvation Trail. Learn why and see the landscape as westward travelers saw it over 150 years ago.
Pronghorn Natural Area, 27800 E. Quincy Ave.
Register
Arapaho Culture with Fred Mosqueda
Wednesday, Oct. 8, 6 p.m.
Fred Mosqueda is the Arapaho Language and Culture Program Coordinator for the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma. He will visit the museum to discuss Arapaho culture as a part of the City of Aurora’s celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
Register
History Mystery Tour at Fairmount Cemetery
Saturday, Oct. 18, 6 p.m.
Explore local history on this fun evening stroll through Denver's most prestigious cemetery. Our evening begins at the Ivy Chapel and slowly moves through Fairmount Cemetery in the dark, led only by the flashlights of your tour guides.
Fairmount Cemetery, 430 Quebec St., Denver
Tickets: $27
Arsenic and Old Lace Radio Play
Saturday, Oct. 25, 5:30 p.m.
Arsenic and Old Lace is a gleeful, ghoulish comedy. This script is taken from the original live radio broadcast in 1948. Four actors take on all the roles, create sound effects, and perform musical interludes, just as if you were watching a live radio broadcast.
Tickets: $4
Native American Storytelling and Contemporary Music with Red Feather Woman and Eric Many Winds Herrera
Saturday, Nov. 1, Noon
Join us for an afternoon with award winning recording artist and member of the Assiniboine/Sioux Tribes, Red Feather Woman. Accompanied by Eric Many Winds Herrera on the flute, Red Feather Woman will blend song and oral storytelling together for a unique and engaging event. Ages 8 and older.