What is Civic Season?
Civic Season is a new tradition for self-discovery and civic upskilling, co-created by Gen Z and cultural institutions. Between Juneteenth and Independence Day, discover your story and how you'll power our democracy, aided by a vast array of credible, relevant sources. Civic Season is the flagship program from Made By Us, a network of hundreds of museums, historic sites, libraries and archives unleashing access to history for younger generations who have the most at stake.
This summer over 500 communities will take part with events like film screenings, picnics, pizza parties, videos about history, holiday celebrations and more.
Aurora History Museum Events:
Events are at the museum and free unless otherwise noted in the description.
Vote to Shape the Museum
June 19 - July 4
Which past exhibit deserves more time on our walls? What should we name our heroic new dehumidifier? Make your voice heard at AHM!
Open Days at Centennial House (1671 Galena St.)
June 21, 2 to 5 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. The house will be open to the public and tours are available.
Open Days at DeLaney Farm (170 S Chambers Rd.)
June 22 10 a.m. to 1 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. Join us on the following days to see inside the historic buildings on this site.
Yarn and Yap at Hoffman Heights Library (1298 Peoria St.): The Community Effort to Create Jewell Wetlands
June 21, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Bring your current knitting or crochet project to work on while we discuss the amazing community effort that went into creating Jewell Wetlands. Today Jewell Wetlands is a park with trails, a boardwalk and a butterfly garden, but not long ago it was slated for development. Discover the work that went into creating this park we all enjoy.
Legendary Ladies of Colorado
Saturday, June 21, 4 p.m.
The costumed performers and researchers of Legendary Ladies portray important women from Colorado History. This Civic Season, we’re hosting homesteader and cattle rustler, Jodie Bassett, Utopian author, Miriam Colt Davis, WWI Army Signal Corps operator, Merle Anderson, and opera singer, Lillian Russel.
Purchase tickets. $8 per person.
The Smoky Hill Trail Presentation at Mission Viejo Library
Saturday, June 29, 3 – 4 p.m.
Join us at your local library to learn about the adventure, hardship and excitement of the Smoky Hill Trail, one of the major routes that people used to travel from the East Coast to Colorado in the 1800s.
Mission Viejo Library, 15324 E Hampden Circle
Watch Fireworks and Visit the Museum
Thursday, July 4, 5 - 8 p.m.
Visit us during special hours on Independence Day. Aurora History Museum will open between 5 and 8 p.m. so you can learn about the city's history, vote on our exhibit and explore the landmark, Trolley Trailer 610.