Over the years, the Littleton Historical Museum has gone beyond
providing a historical record of the city to become a multi-faceted
cultural resource.
As a result, the museum’s name has changed from the Littleton
Historical Museum to Littleton Museum: History, Art, Culture.
“The name will better reflect the mission of the museum and will
acknowledge the city’s longstanding commitment to history, art and
cultural programming,” said museum director Tim Nimz at a city
council meeting, March 3.
In short, the new name better describes what the museum has
always done.
On Sept. 15, the museum unveiled its new sign, showcasing its
new name, prestigious Smithsonian Affiliation, and accreditation by
the American Association of Museums.
While local and regional history has remained the primary focus
of the mission, arts and cultural programming has become equally
important over the years.
In 2003, the museum underwent an $8.5 million expansion, adding
galleries, a lecture hall, a research center, and educational
classrooms.
During that time, city council also directed the museum staff to
develop more cultural programming to add to the two living farms,
permanent exhibits on Littleton’s heritage, and daily and special
programming.
Since the new building opened in 2005, the museum has presented
more than 130 programs in the form of four annual Fine Arts
Committee shows, the Summer Concert Series, a lecture series, and
major traveling exhibitions.
As a result, attendance has been up 36.5 percent since the
expansion, according to city officials.
Through the first six months of 2009, museum and event traffic
was on pace to break its attendance record established in 2007.
The museum is one of only 750 accredited by the American
Association of Museums and one of 140 Affiliates of the Smithsonian
Institution. There are more than 20,000 museums in the United
States.
The Littleton Museum anticipates accessing Smithsonian
collections for permanent and temporary exhibits, traveling
exhibitions, and educational resources through its Affiliates
membership. Planning is under way to prepare to incorporate
Smithsonian artifacts into the museum’s exhibits when the planned
expansion is complete. Currently, there are 123 other Affiliates in
36 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The Littleton
Museum will be the first Affiliate in the Denver area and the first
collecting museum in Colorado to be accepted as a Smithsonian
Affiliate.
The Littleton Museum’s new name, and its multi-faceted purpose,
will be widely publicized during the museum’s 40th anniversary
celebration in 2010.