Project Description
History Alive! Colorado West Chautauqua
History Alive! Colorado West Chautauqua (formerly Two Rivers Chautauqua) got its start in 2006, thanks to the Museum of Western Colorado, Colorado Humanities, and local donors. It is a two-day event held each year on a Friday and Saturday.
Friday, September 13 – Saturday September 14, 2019 in the Avalon Theater. This year’s theme, “That’s The Way It Is: Our Baby Boom Years” will bring the history of the 1950s and ‘60s to life in the most fun and enjoyable way. Admission is $9.50 for ages 13 and older. Historical figures include Walter Cronkite, Walt Disney and Julia Child. Also featured are Young Chautauquans and the Grand Valley Living History Players.
You’ll probably notice that some of our Chautauquans portray very well-known American icons; others are not so well-known. We believe that part of the fun of Chautauqua is learning more about our country’s history through historical figures we may not know so well, or at all. Previous themes have included “The Call of the West,” with professionals portraying Kit Carson, Jessie Benton Fremont, Teddy Roosevelt, and Marie Curie; and “Lighten Up”, which featured portrayals of American humorists Mark Twain, Dorothy Parker and Will Rogers.
2017 Two Rivers Chautauqua
Today, Chautauqua has been reinvented as a way to bring the humanities, especially history, back to life. Organizations across the country bring in professional scholar-actors (Chautauquans) who portray historical characters then answer questions in and out of character. These modern-day Chautauquas are usually sponsored by state humanities councils.
Special thanks to our sponsors
Lois and Edward Gardner
