2013 CALENDAR OF EVENTS


May 2013

May: Turner Farm opening, to be announced.

May 18: Annual meeting and fundraiser, Buena Vista Heritage Museum, 506 E. Main St. Meeting at 6 p.m. Happy hour, silent auction, musical entertainment at 6:30 p.m. "Madams of Central Colorado" performance at 7:30 p.m. Tickets: happy hour and show, $25 (purchase by May 15); show only, $15 (purchase by May 17). Buena Vista Chamber of Commerce, 395-6612.

May 24: Buena Vista Heritage Museum opens.


May 28-31: Buena Vista Heritage Museum closed for floor refinishing.


June 2013

June: St. Elmo Town Hall/Jail and St. Elmo Schoolhouse opening, to be announced.

June 1-7: Special exhibits, lectures on history of river rafting and kayaking in Chaffee County. Details to be announced.

June 7: Vintage Wedding Dress Fashion Show - 7 p.m. at Buena Vista Heritage Museum, 506 E. Main St.

June 8-15: Vintage Wedding Dress Exhibit at Buena Vista Heritage Museum, 506 E. Main St.

June 15-22: River rafting and kayaking exhibit continues.

June 29: Mount Olivet Cemetery tour - 7 p.m. at 257 CR 321. Costumed characters from Buena Vista's past, including Alsina Dearheimer, "Mother of Buena Vista," are featured in this tour through the old section of the cemetery. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for children 12 and under.


July 2013

July 4: Free admission to Buena Vista Heritage Museum, 506 E. Main St.

July 5: "Madams of Central Colorado" - 7 p.m. at Buena Vista Heritage Museum, 506 E. Main St. Historical production portraying Elizabeth "Cockeyed Liz" Spurgeon, Laura Evens and other "ladies of the evening." Tastefully presented, but not recommended for children under 13. Tickets are $15 and are available at Buena Vista Chamber of Commerce (719-395-6612), Buena Vista Heritage Museum (719-395-8458) or at the door.

July 6: "Incidentally: Gilbert Gregg" - 7 p.m. at Turner Farm and Apple Orchard, quarter-mile west of Buena Vista traffic light. History enthusiast Tom Tomson portrays Gilbert "Gib" Gregg, who was editor of the Buena Vista newspaper for 46 years. "Gib," who called his opinion column "Incidentally," will tell stories about Buena Vista's past. Tour of the farm precedes the show. Tickets are $10 for adults ($8 for Buena Vista Heritage members), $6 for children.

July 12: Mount Olivet Cemetery tour - 7 p.m. at 257 CR 321. Costumed characters from Buena Vista's past, including Alsina Dearheimer, "Mother of Buena Vista," are featured in this tour through the old section of the cemetery. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for children 12 and under.

July 20: "Zebulon Pike" - 7 p.m. at Buena Vista Heritage Museum, 506 E. Main St. Tom Rollings portrays Captain Zebulon Montgomery Pike, whose 1806 expedition included Chaffee County. Refreshments provided. Ticket information to be announced.

July 26: "Father Dyer" - 7 p.m. at Buena Vista Heritage Museum, 506 E. Main St. The Rev. Don Cummings portrays the Rev. John Lewis Dyer, itinerant preacher to Colorado mining camps of the late 19th century. Refreshments provided. Ticket information to be announced.

July 27: "Incidentally: Gilbert Gregg" - 7 p.m. at Buena Vista Heritage Museum, 506 E. Main St. History enthusiast Tom Tomson portrays Gilbert "Gib" Gregg, who was editor of the Buena Vista newspaper for 46 years. "Gib," who called his opinion column "Incidentally," will tell stories about Buena Vista's past. Tickets are $10 for adults ($8 for Buena Vista Heritage members), $6 for children.


August 2013

Aug. 1: Colorado Day. In observance of Colorado's 137th birthday, admission to Buena Vista Heritage Museum will be free (donations gratefully accepted).

Aug. 10: "Madams of Central Colorado" - 7 p.m. at Buena Vista Heritage Museum, 506 E. Main St. Historical production portraying Elizabeth "Cockeyed Liz" Spurgeon, Laura Evens and other "ladies of the evening." Tastefully presented, but not recommended for children under 13. Tickets are $15 and are available at Buena Vista Chamber of Commerce, 343 Hwy. 24 S. (719-395-6612), Buena Vista Heritage Museum (719-395-8458) or at the door.

Aug. 12-13: Registration for TransRockies Run. Buena Vista Heritage Museum (upstairs), 506 E. Main St.

Aug. 16: "Incidentally: Gilbert Gregg" - 7 p.m. at Buena Vista Heritage Museum, 506 E. Main St. History enthusiast Tom Tomson portrays Gilbert "Gib" Gregg, who was editor of the Buena Vista newspaper for 46 years. "Gib," who called his opinion column "Incidentally," will tell stories about Buena Vista's past. Tickets are $10 for adults ($8 for Buena Vista Heritage members), $6 for children.

Aug. 17: Mount Olivet Cemetery tour - 7 p.m. at 257 CR 321. Costumed characters from Buena Vista's past, including Alsina Dearheimer, "Mother of Buena Vista," are featured in this tour through the old section of the cemetery. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for children 12 and under.

Aug. 17-18: King Boletus Mushroom Festival. Features a two-day seminar with classroom and field instruction. Learn how to locate, identify and prepare mushrooms. Pre-registration required at Buena Vista Chamber of Commerce office, 343 Hwy. 24 S. (719-395-6612). Details to be announced.

Aug. 31 through Sept. 8: Antique Toy Show at Buena Vista Heritage Museum, 506 E. Main St.


September 2013

September: Museum hours change. To be announced.

Through Sept. 8: Antique Toy Show at Buena Vista Heritage Museum, 506 E. Main St.

Sept. 7: "Incidentally: Gilbert Gregg" - 7 p.m. at Buena Vista Heritage Museum, 506 E. Main St. History enthusiast Tom Tomson portrays Gilbert "Gib" Gregg, who was editor of the Buena Vista newspaper for 46 years. "Gib," who called his opinion column "Incidentally," will tell stories about Buena Vista's past. Tickets are $10 for adults ($8 for Buena Vista Heritage members), $6 for kids).

Sept. 14: Apple Fest at historic Turner Farm and Apple Orchard, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Quarter-mile west of Buena Vista traffic light. Festivities include picking and pressing apples, croquet, horseshoes, a cake walk, children’s activities, tractor rides, tours of the farm and demonstrations of old-time sewing, spinning, blacksmithing, butter making and log sawing. Apples and apple pie for sale. Entertainment by local musicians on the farmhouse front porch. Donations gratefully accepted.

Sept. 14: Mount Olivet Cemetery tour - 3 p.m. at 257 CR 321. Costumed characters from Buena Vista's past, including Alsina Dearheimer, "Mother of Buena Vista," are featured in this tour through the old section of the cemetery. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for children 12 and under.

Sept. 14: "Madams of Central Colorado" - 7 p.m. at Buena Vista Heritage Museum, 506 E. Main St. Historical production portraying Elizabeth "Cockeyed Liz" Spurgeon, Laura Evens and other "ladies of the evening." Tastefully presented, but not recommended for children under 13. Tickets are $15 and are available at Buena Vista Chamber of Commerce (719-395-6612), Buena Vista Heritage Museum (719-395-8458) or at the door.

Sept. 30: Buena Vista Heritage Museum closes for the season.


All Summer: 


 St. Elmo Schoolhouse and Town Hall: open most days June - early September. We're proud of this restoration project. The St. Elmo Schoolhouse Museum is decorated with original, and mostly local, artifacts typical of a one-room schoolhouse at the turn of the last century.  The Town Hall has a small exhibit on life in St. Elmo. 



Buena Vista Depot Transportation Museum Summer hours to be determined. Winter tours by appointment. 

September 30 - Museum and Depot close for the season.

To schedule an appointment or group tour for the Museum or Depot, please e-mail or call (719) 395-8458.     

Buena Vista Heritage - Making History Come Alive!