Artifact Donation FAQ:
Is the Royal Gorge Regional Museum & History Center still accepting items?
Yes! The Museum is interested in artifacts relating to the Royal Gorge Region. This encompasses the areas of Fremont County, Colorado; Custer County, Colorado; and parts of Chaffee County, Colorado. The areas of Cañon City; Florence; Penrose; and Western Fremont County. The Museum is particularly interested in items with specific historical contexts to this region, as well as archival materials, such as letters, diaries and photographs. After you have submitted the form regarding your item(s), a member of the Collections or Curatorial team will follow up with you.
Can I just drop off the items I want to donate?
No! Please wait until our staff is able to review your form and get in contact with you. When an item is dropped off without the proper paperwork being filled out and without information on its provenance, it loses a great deal of historical value and also risks falling into legal limbo.
When will my donation be on exhibit?
The Museum does not guarantee artifacts will ever be exhibited. Once an object, document or photo is donated, it immediately becomes available to staff and researchers who are working on a variety of projects. We cannot predict what specific uses your items will have, but your generosity will instantly and permanently expand the amount of local cultural resources and history that is available to the public!
How will my donation be credited if it is ever placed on exhibit?
The Museum allows, within reason, the individual donors to include what they want the credit to read. For example, “Gift of Dall DeWeese.” or “Donated in Memory of William Dallas DeWeese”.
Where are the items if not on exhibit?
Artifacts are housed in Collections Storage. This is an area belonging to the Museum, with systems for environmental regulation and monitoring, as well as security. Artifacts are typically housed in storage containers specifically designed and selected for museum artifacts. To safeguard museum artifacts, we rotate out our items on display in exhibit to protect against light damage and other environmental factors.
Will the Museum appraise items for donors or other members of the public?
No. The Museum is not qualified to give a monetary appraisal of any artifact in its collection or any potential artifact to its collection. This would be a conflict of interest for the Museum as well as against Museum policies.
Can I see the items I have donated if they are not on display?
With an appointment, donors are welcome to bring family members to view their donations if they are not on public display. Some items may have viewing restrictions placed on them. These will be discussed with you upon request for a viewing.
