Douglas County History Research Center
Online Exhibits
Speaking to the Future: Voices from the Past (Oral Histories) - Listen to and read transcripts of the stories of veterans, long time residents, and other people with stories of Douglas County
Historic Schools of Douglas County - Explore the more than 40 rural schoolhouses in Douglas County. Find out which school was a shelter for snowbound children during the "Blizzard of 1913", which school is named after a pioneering Douglas County woman, and which school had a "Mountain Goat Club." Photos of many schools are available, as well as information about each school and the part that it played in Douglas County History.
Browse by name of school, district number or location.
Images along the Trail: Hiking Photographs by Guy Watson Smith - See images taken while hiking from Boulder, Colorado to Long's Peak at the beginning of the Twentieth Century. Photos in the album were taken by Guy Watson Smith, son of Douglas County pioneers Upton Treat and Lizzie Grout Smith.
Hell or High Water: Floods of Douglas County - Douglas County's most devastating natural disasters have shaped the Front Range for most of its history. Learn about the major floods in the history of Douglas County, with special emphasis on the 1965 flood that wiped out all the bridges between Castle Rock and Denver.
Horse Power: On the Ranch and on the Road - Through historic images, visitors can see how horses were used in the County during the late 1800's and early 1900's. The exhibit features photos of the Bartruff/Bihlmeyer Ranch, now Prairie Canyon Ranch, an important part of Douglas County Open Space
Castle Rock Starlighting (2002) - Learn about this history of this unique Douglas County landmark: a 45 foot tall electric star that lights up the skies around Castle Rock from the week after Thanksgiving to the end of the National Western Stock Show every year. The exhibit features photographs illustrating past starlightings and a timeline on the history of the star.
If you would like more information on sharing YOUR story, or would like to volunteer to help, call the DCHRC at (303) 688-7730.