Evergreen, Colorado may not top the list of the most exciting attractions in the state, but this quiet mountain community is a popular place to spend a day away from the city or even a long weekend. Situated on the banks of Evergreen Lake, this charming community is an all-season destination with numerous outdoor activities to make a trip worthwhile. It sits at 7,200 feet, so you will be surrounded by mountains and forests during your stay, all while enjoying a mild climate year-round.
While the outdoors is what beckons most people who plan Evergreen, Colorado vacations, the weather can turn rainy sometimes. If rain is pushing you indoors, consider visiting one of Evergreen’s museums. One of these, the Hiwan Homestead Museum, offers a chance to take a step back in time and see what life was like in the early days of Evergreen.
Experience History Firsthand at the Hiwan Homestead Museum
The Hiwan Homestead Museum is housed in a rustic log cabin that is over 100 years old. It has 17 rooms that are filled with furnishings and artifacts from some of the building’s original residents, including seven bedrooms and seven bathrooms.
The western art of the Pueblo and Navajo people is seen in every area of the building.
The Hiwan Homestead was once home to Dr. Jo, one of the first female doctors in the state in the late 1800s. Her influence is seen throughout the property, which she used as a retreat from her work.
When Dr. Jo married Charles Douglas, they moved more permanently into the cabin. Charles and their son, Eric, brought American Indian artwork and craftsmanship into the home.
The museum is not like most museums with artifacts and trinkets behind glass. This homestead is open to the community as a gathering place. School kids can often be seen making cookies in the old-fashioned kitchens, and a quilting group uses the facility for a regular quilting bee. The museum also houses a historical library, photo collection, and archives, and is open for guided tours.
If You Go
The Hiwan Homestead Museum sits at 4208 South Timbervale Drive off of Meadow Drive. The public viewing hours are Tuesday through Sunday. From September until May, it is open from noon until 5 p.m., and it opens at 11 from June through August.
To find out more about the facility or to learn about the current changing exhibits on display, visit http://jeffco.us/openspace/openspace_T56_R10.htm or call 720-497-7650.
Nicole Harms has been writing professionally since 2006, specializing in travel and finance writing, with work having been published on USA Today, the New York Stock Exchange and Hotels.com in addition to here on Go Colorado!
Special thanks to the Hiwan Homestead Museum for providing the photos featured in this article!