Promoting the Parks: Images, Brochures and Postcards

of Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park

Friday, July 11 through Sunday, August 31, 2008

A duelexhibition of early advertising brochures, postcards, photographs, and artistswho painted in Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park will open at theByers-Evans House Gallery, Friday, July 11, with a reception from 5:00 p.m. to9:00 p.m.

Mountainand Meadow: Historical Art and Photography in the Estes Park Area

Soonafter its documented 1859 discovery and settlement by pioneer Joel Estes, EstesPark was visited by both tourists and adventurers. Those with an eye toreproducing its unique natural beauty and attractions put hand and camera, penand paintbrush to the task. Artists and photographers came to live and visit,as well as to record and interpret the park's wonders. Railroads and regionalcommunities advertised their proximity to it, and began promoting Estes as adestination. This trend continued with the expansion of wagon and auto roadswest over the Continental Divide to other resort communities. This exhibit willprovide examples of the history of photography and art in the Estes Park area,from the 1870s to the contemporary period. Paintings, photographs,postcards, and brochures are drawn from the collection of William Scott.

Promotingthe Park: Historic Brochures and Postcards

Afterseveral years of intense lobbying by Enos Mills and his friends, the U.S.Congress declared the area north and west of Estes Park as the tenth nationalpark, Rocky Mountain National Park, in September of 1915. Railroads andchambers of commerce had long promoted the Estes Park area to tourists. Aftergaining National Park status, the Department of the Interior also beganpromoting Rocky Mountain National Park to the new visitors who came via therailroads and automobile. This exhibit, drawn from the collection of BobbieHeisterkamp, features brochures and ephemera from the early 1900s, as well aspostcards published to promote Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park.Many of the images are of buildings and natural features that no longer exist.Travel back to the 1920s, and view the promotional materials that luredtourists to the park for the first time.

TheByers-Evans House Museum is located at 1310 Bannock Street, Denver, Colorado.Hours are 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Admission to theByers-Evans House Gallery is free.

Promotingthe Parks:

Images,Brochures and Postcards of Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park

July 11- Aug 31

Byers-EvansHouse Museum, 1310 Bannock St., Denver

Openingreception Fri., July 11 from 5 - 9 p.m.

Tues -Sun, 11 a.m. to 3p.m.; 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on first Fridays.

Gallery Admission: Free

Moreinformation at 303-620-4933 orwww.coloradohistory.org/be