There are two museums on the property. One is the Bowie Schoolhouse Museum which was moved from Bowie in 1979. The other is the Paonia Museum which was the Parks family home and was built in the early 1900s.
To preserve the history of the North Fork Valley.
The Bowie School was a two room schoolhouse that was located in Bowie, CO. It was the school for the children of coal miners who worked at the Bowie Mine. The Paonia Museum was located in Midway - between Paonia and Hotchkiss - and was the home of the Parks family.
The school has the original desks and blackboards and material that was used by the teachers. The home is furnished with furniture, kitchen items, etc., from the North Fork.
There is an extensive collection of black and white photographs that date back to the 1800s. There are also histories of local families, businesses, churches, etc.
The Bowie Schoolhouse has two large classrooms plus an entrance hall. The Paonia Museum was a three bedroom home and has a room used as an office with a sink and storage, a kitchen furnished as an "old" kitchen and a bathroom.
We have a curator and a board.
We are a totally volunteer organization.
Access: General Public
Appointment required: False
We offer the public the opportunity to learn about the history of the area.
Other visits can be arranged by calling 970-527-3970.
Free