Thanks to our friends at Quatrefoil Associates, we are able to bring you very cool computer-generated video of the museum space. Click the play button and you will pan across the museum as if you were standing on the mezzanine. Be sure to look down--you're standing on top of a crevasse.
Less than a year from now, this computer-generated scene will be reality.
One of the many highlights of the museum will be a series of exhibit panels, with text and photographs, which will take visitors through the evolution of mountaineering and rock climbing. From the time when mountains were feared for harboring dragons, to the ultra-light and fast mountaineering expeditions of today, the museum will focus on the people, places, techniques, and peaks which will forever be remembered in the history of mountain climbing. You can read more about the evolution of mountaineering here, in this article that is currently on YourHub.com. Look for it in the print edition of YourHub in an upcoming Thursday edition of The Denver Post or Rocky Mountain News.
Here are two computer generated images of the museum space devoted to the evolution of mountaineering.
After much anticipation, construction has begun on the Bradford Washburn American Mountaineering Museum. To be more exact, demolition is underway on the space which the new museum will call home. At one point, this old gym hosted basketball games for the Golden Junior High School. Now, the floor is being pulled up and salvaged, the piping is being removed, the walls are being covered, and the space is being readied for renovation.
Join us in the fun. We've already discovered the best place to watch the construction is from the window overlooking what will be the mezzanine, in the lobby of the AMC. There is no doubt it will serve as a source of great distraction in the weeks and months to come. I hereby proclaim that it will be known as the Bradford Washburn American Mountaineering Museum Viewing Gallery. If you're in Golden, stop by and have a look yourself.
Here are the views so far (1) from the viewing gallery; (2) board by board, the floor is removed; (3) demolition headquarters, with the plans on the table, and John, the project manager from Sprung Construction, at the helm. No doubt he's arranging for something big.
Be sure to check back with us often as the changes will now be happening on a daily basis.
Fundraising for the new museum continues to bring donors, supporters, and individuals new to the museum together for dinners and slideshows of the design and layout of this amazing project.
We've installed a new display case to tease visitors to the AMC of the coming museum. It contains artifacts from our collection including the boots, camera, and ice axe of Bradford Washburn, as well as a display on Mt. Everest. This includes three models of the world's highest peak--one from 1953 in plaster, a more modern laser-cut piece from Rauda Scale Models in Seattle, and a beautiful alabaster carving--as well as text, maps, and photos of the Himalayan giant. Come check it out.
The American Mountaineering Center is already a world-class center for mountaineering and conservation. It is home to the Colorado Mountain Club, the American Alpine Club, and Outward Bound. It serves as a conference center for numerous events each year, including some of the nation's biggest and most influential conservation forums. The auditorium hosts lectures and movies, speakers and concerts. It is already an amazing place in which to work for those fortunate enough to do so, and a great place to learn and contribute.
But the final punctuation mark on the Center will be the museum. And it will serve to bring in many prestigious events and even greater speakers and movies, and more often. Which brings us to the title of this entry.
When deciding on a venue to host their New Year's celebration, the Sherpa community of Colorado decided upon the AMC because of the ammenities it provided, and also because of the natural connection between Sherpa people and the mountain environment. This past Saturday they celebrated the year of the Fire Pig, and we would like to share a few images from the event. It was a beautiful event and the organizations of the AMC were very proud to play host.
(1) Lhoppon Rechungpa, founding monk of the Buddhist Mipham Shedra of Boulder, began the festivities with a blessing for the New Year. (2) Traditional clothing meets modern technology. (3)(4)(5) Dancing lasted through the night, from traditional dances which told the tale of the Sherpa culture, to modern dances, and most everything in between. (6) At the end of the night, everyone was sad to go.
With the help of volunteers, we have begun the process of encapsulating and sorting through the collection. Because construction will begin shortly, we have had to move all of the artifacts out of their previous location and have sealed the rest of the less precious materials into the old collections space. Sorting continues for our near-100 year old collection of Trail & Timberline magazines. The process will continue in the upcoming weeks so if you'd like to volunteer, please contact Nina Johnson at johnsn@bwamm.org. Come back soon for some demolition photos.
