Hinsdale County Museum – Lake City, CO

Managed by the Hinsdale County Historical Society, the first museum opened in 1975 and is now housed in the historic Finley Block Building. Rotating displays and artifacts are located throughout the museum, in a number of buildings. Photography from the 1870’s-1910’s is featured.

Exhibits

Pioneer medicine – medial instruments, medicines
Vintage firearms – late 19th century firearms used in town
Trapper and prospectors tent – model of early pioneer life
Alferd Packer doll house – built by the “cannibal” during his jail time
Denver & Rio Grande Railroad caboose – narrow gauge train that ran from Sapinero, now flooded, to Lake City
Rise & fall of Lake City’s Corner Saloon – artifacts from an early bar
Communications, Lake City style – early 1880’s musical concerts
Helen’s Garden – flowers and vegetables from an 1890’s garden.
Barlow and Sanderson stage route

Tours

Cemetery guided tour
Historic District guided tour
Ghost tours
Interior historic homes tour
Interior modern homes tour

There is also a lecture series held through the summer. While in town, drive down CO-149 south a few miles to the Alferd Packer Massacre Site. It’s a simple gravesite marking the victims and telling some of its history.

Finley Block Building.