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Oral History Collection

Since the 1970s, the Estes Park Museum and the Estes Valley Library collected over three hundred oral history interviews with individuals from the community. In the tabs below is a selection of interviews alphabetized by last name. Next to each name is a link to their oral history recording hosted on YouTube, Museum catalog entry, transcript (if available), and a list of subjects the interview contains. This project is on-going, interviews and transcripts will be added to this page periodically.

Oral histories and individual memories are a valuable asset to any community. The views and opinions expressed in each interview are specific to that individual and does not reflect the views of the Town of Estes Park, the Estes Park Museum or the Estes Valley Library. Due to the nature of reminiscence, information in the recordings may be factually inaccurate. Additionally, recording techniques have changed over time and may affect the quality of the interviews. Some recordings may only contain audio, others may be audio and video, and others still may only include the transcript from the interview or program. 

The Estes Park Museum, a department of the Town of Estes Park, holds copyright to images, audio recordings, and interview transcripts that are made available on this webpage.

Audio/video recordings, images, and interview transcripts are posted to provide public access to the resources of the Estes Park Museum collection, but does not constitute a right to copy, make a profit from, or publish the oral history materials located on this site. Access to these materials is provided strictly for educational and personal research purposes. Express permission is required from Estes Park Museum for use of all materials provided, including images, audio recordings and interview transcriptions, beyond Fair Use as described below.

Material from this collection may be used for educational and other non-commercial purposes without the written permission of the Town of Estes Park; provided appropriate credit is given to the Estes Park Museum. "Fair Use" criteria of Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act must be followed. Under the fair use doctrine of the U.S. copyright statute (Title 17 of the U.S. Code), it is permissible to use limited portions of a work including quotes, for purposes such as commentary, criticism, news reporting, and scholarly reports.

Please address all commercial requests and questions to Estes Park Museum Curator of Collections, Jessica Michak at jmichak@estes.org. Written requests can be sent to Estes Park Museum, c/o Curator of Collections, 200 4th Street, Estes Park, CO 80517.

Name(s):Interview Materials:Subjects:Year of Interview:
Baldwin, Roy & HazelBaldwin Recording | Baldwin Transcript | Baldwin CatalogEarly Estes Park, Historic Park Theatre, Lord Dunraven

1974

Brodie, Ronald C.Brodie Recording | Brodie Transcript | Brodie CatalogBrodie Brothers Grocery, Elkhorn Avenue, Safeway

1984

Caldwell, Michael "Mike"Caldwell (1) Recording | Caldwell (1) Transcript | Caldwell (1) CatalogClimbing, Rocky Mountain National Park, Lumpy Ridge

2012

Caldwell, TommyCaldwell (2) Recording | Caldwell (2) Transcript | Caldwell (2) CatalogClimbing, Mountaineering, Growing up in Estes Park

2014

Claassen, PaigeClaassen Recording | Claassen Transcript | Claassen CatalogClimbing, Women climbing, Growing up in Estes Park

2014

Cordes, KellyCordes Recording | Cordes Transcript | Cordes CatalogClimbing, Colorado Mountain School, Alpine author

2014

Dekker, RobertDekker Recording | Dekker Transcript | Dekker CatalogPlatte River Power Authority, Town of Estes Park Trustee, Mayor

2005

Detterline, JimDetterline Recording | Detterline Transcript | Detterline CatalogLongs Peak, Search & Rescue, Rocky Mountain National Park

2013

Donahue, PeggyDonahue (1) Recording| Donahue (1) Transcript | Donahue (1) CatalogClimbing, Colorado Mountain School, Wild Basin

2014

Donahue, TopherDonahue (2) Recording | Donahue (2) Transcript | Donahue (2) CatalogClimbing, Free climbing, Colorado Mountain School

2014

Dunning, Harold & Jack MoomawSee "Moomaw"See "Moomaw"

1973

Eagle Plume, CharlesEagle Plume Recording | Eagle Plume Transcript | Eagle Plume CatalogEagle Plume's Trading Post, Native American, Tourism industry

1979

Name(s):Interview Materials:Subjects:Year of Interview:
Gibbs, Dorothy ScottGibbs Recording | Gibbs Transcript | Gibbs CatalogOwls' Nest, Moraine Park, Elk Bugle Corps

2021

Gillett, BernardGillett Recording | Gillett Transcript | Gillett CatalogClimbing, Mountaineering, Author

2014

Hays, Tracy & JanetHays Recording | Hays Transcript | Hays Catalog2013 Flood, Business owners, Elkhorn Ave.

2015

Hondius, Pieter Jr.Hondius Recording | Hondius TranscriptElkhorn Lodge, Growing up in Estes Park

2007

Hornbein, Dr. Thomas "Tom"Hornbein Recording | Hornbein Transcript | Hornbein CatalogClimbing, Mount Everest, Rocky Mountain Rescue

2012

Kent, HarryKent Recording | Kent Transcript | Kent CatalogClimbing, Kent Mountain Adventure Center

2013

Kimball, ScottKimball Recording | Kimball Transcript | Kimball CatalogClimbing, Guiding, Author

2013

Komito, Steven "Steve"Komito Recording | Komito Transcript | Komito CatalogClimbing, Komito Boots, Climbing equipment pioneer

2012

Kufeld, WesKufeld Recording | Kufeld TranscriptEstes Park Police Department, Town of Estes Park

2022

Lancaster, FrankLancaster Recording | Lancaster Transcript | Lancaster Catalog2013 Flood, Town of Estes Park, Town Administrator

2016

Lewelling, MikeLewelling Recording | Lewelling TranscriptRocky Mountain National Park, Cameron Peak Fire, East Troublesome Fire

2022

Name(s):Interview Materials:Subjects:Year of Interview:
MacDonald, BronsonMacDonald Recording | MacDonald Transcript | MacDonald CatalogClimbing, Women climbing, Coaching2014
Mace, Tommie Lee & PennyMace Recording | Mace Transcript | Mace CatalogBaldpate Inn, Key Room, Mace Family1977
Mall, Dr. Jacob O.Mall Recording | Mall Transcript | Mall CatalogEarly medicine in Estes Park, The Great Depression, Estes Park Hospital1981
Moomaw, Jack & Harold DunningMoomaw Recording | Moomaw Transcript | Moomaw CatalogArchaeology, Native Americans, Author1973
Northcutt, RayNorthcutt Recording | Northcutt Transcript | Northcutt CatalogClimbing, Tenth Mountain Division, Pioneer mountaineer2013
Pickering, JamesPickering Recording | Pickering TranscriptEstes Park History, Estes Park Museum2022
Pieper, RobPieper Recording | Pieper Transcript | Pieper Catalog2013 Flood, Business owner, Elkhorn Avenue2015
Pinkham, WilliamPinkham Recording | Pinkham TranscriptTown of Estes Park, Mayor2022
Reveley, ChrisReveley Recording | Reveley Transcript | Reveley CatalogClimbing, Rocky Mountain National Park, Ranger2012
Rose, EricRose Recording | Rose Transcript | Rose Catalog2013 Flood, Estes Park Police Department2015
Rumley, JackRumley Recording | Rumley Transcript | Rumley CatalogUpper Thompson Sanitation District, Lawn Lake Flood, Big Thompson Flood2005
Rusch, KateRusch Recording | Rusch Transcript | Rusch Catalog2013 Flood, Town of Estes Park Public Information Officer2015

Name(s):Interview Materials:Subjects:Year of Interview:
Sievers, GregSievers Recording | Sievers Transcript | Sievers CatalogClimbing, Mountaineering, American Alpine Club2014
Smith, LoisSmith Recording | Smith Transcript | Smith CatalogBaldpate Inn, Hospitality industry, historical buildings2021
Snively, DouglasSnively Recording | Snively Transcript | Snively CatalogClimbing, Documentary film2012
Steiner, Greig (1)Steiner (1) Recording | Steiner (1) Transcript | Steiner (1) CatalogSteiner Studio & Gallery, Dark Horse Players, Fine Arts Guild2021
Steiner, Greig (2)Steiner (2) Recording | Steiner (2) TranscriptSteiner Studio & Gallery, Gaslight Square, Art restoration2022
Wands, RobertWands Recording | Wands TranscriptArt, Painting, Wands Studio & Gallery2023
Wharton, JoshWharton Recording | Wharton Transcript | Wharton CatalogClimbing, Patagonia Ambassador, Climbing in Estes Park2014
White, GregWhite Recording | White Transcript | White CatalogTown of Estes Park Attorney, Stanley Historic District, Estes Park Urban Renewal Authority2021
Wolf, DavidWolf Recording | Wolf Transcript | Wolf CatalogEstes Valley Fire Protection District, Fire Chief, Cameron Peak Fire, East Troublesome Fire2021