PRESS CONTACT:
Courtney Ellis, Philosophy Communication
303.884.5911 | cellis@philosophycommunication.com

The state-wide mobile guide currently includes four regional tours featuring important locations, artifacts and photographs alongside oral histories from History Colorado’s collections. This initiative provides the unique opportunity, both virtually and in-person, to trace the history and contributions of Black communities across the state of Colorado from pioneer days to modern times.

“The History Colorado app lets the public explore the state’s collection from the palm of their hands. Users can look at historic photos and 3D objects, as well as listen to podcasts and watch YouTube videos all relating to Colorado history,” shares Dexter Nelson II, History Colorado’s associate curator of Black history and cultural heritage. “It provides us the possibility to connect with the public in new ways, while onsite at one of our museums or in the comfort of their own home.”

The app’s technology presents easy navigation by category allowing users to explore specific regions of the Black History Trail, from learning about the legacy of Barney L. Ford to accessing information about the vibrant Denver neighborhood of Five Points.  Future updates will encourage deeper engagement through multimedia content, games and augmented reality features. The Black history trail will be the first of many trails on the History Colorado app which will continue to expand to honor and share stories from other marginalized communities across our state.  

Designed in collaboration with Guru Experience Co., the app was made possible by a grant from the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and with support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

The free app is available for Android and iOS devices and can be downloaded through the App Store.

About History Colorado
History Colorado is a division of the Colorado Department of Higher Education and a 501(c)3 non-profit that has served more than 75,000 students and 500,000 people in Colorado each year. It is a 143-year-old institution that operates eleven museums and historic sites, a free public research center, the Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, and the History Colorado State Historical Fund (SHF), which is the nation’s largest preservation program of its kind. More than 70% of SHF grants are allocated in rural areas of the state.

History Colorado’s mission is to create a better future for Colorado by inspiring wonder in our past. We serve as the state’s memory, preserving and sharing the places, stories, and material culture of Colorado through educational programs, historic preservation grants, collecting, outreach to Colorado communities, the History Colorado Center and Stephen H. Hart Research Center in Denver, and ten other museums and historic attractions statewide. History Colorado is one of only six Smithsonian Affiliates in Colorado. Visit HistoryColorado.org, or call 303-HISTORY, for more information.