Since the 1970s, the Estes Park Museum and the Estes Valley Library collected nearly two 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, and/or transcript (if available). 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 while others are audio and video.
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 & Hazel | Recording | Transcript | Catalog | Early Estes Park, Historic Park Theatre, Lord Dunraven | 1974 |
Brodie, Ronald C. | Recording | Transcript | Catalog | Brodie Brothers Grocery, Elkhorn Avenue, Safeway | 1984 |
Caldwell, Michael "Mike" | Recording | Transcript | Catalog | Climbing, Rocky Mountain National Park, Lumpy Ridge | 2012 |
Caldwell, Tommy | Recording | Transcript | Catalog | Climbing, Mountaineering, Growing up in Estes Park | 2014 |
Claassen, Paige | Recording | Transcript | Catalog | Climbing, Women climbing, Growing up in Estes Park | 2014 |
Cordes, Kelly | Recording | Transcript | Catalog | Climbing, Colorado Mountain School, Alpine author | 2014 |
Dekker, Robert | Recording | Transcript | Catalog | Platte River Power Authority, Town of Estes Park Trustee, Mayor | 2005 |
Detterline, Jim | Recording | Transcript | Catalog | Longs Peak, Search & Rescue, Rocky Mountain National Park | 2013 |
Donahue, Peggy | Climbing, Colorado Mountain School, Wild Basin | 2014 | |
Donahue, Topher | Recording | Transcript | Catalog | Climbing, Free climbing, Colorado Mountain School | 2014 |
Dunning, Harold & Jack Moomaw | See "Moomaw" | See "Moomaw" | 1973 |
Eagle Plume, Charles | Recording | Transcript | Catalog | Eagle Plume's Trading Post, Native American, Tourism industry | 1979 |
Name(s): | Interview Materials: | Subjects: | Year of Interview: |
Gibbs, Dorothy Scott | Recording | Transcript | Catalog | Owls' Nest, Moraine Park, Elk Bugle Corps | 2021 |
Gillett, Bernard | Recording | Transcript | Catalog | Climbing, Mountaineering, Author | 2014 |
Hays, Tracy & Janet | Recording | Transcript | Catalog | 2013 Flood, Business owners, Elkhorn Ave. | 2015 |
Hornbein, Dr. Thomas "Tom" | Recording | Transcript | Catalog | Climbing, Mount Everest, Rocky Mountain Rescue | 2012 |
Kent, Harry | Recording | Transcript | Catalog | Climbing, Kent Mountain Adventure Center | 2013 |
Kimball, Scott | Recording | Transcript | Catalog | Climbing, Guiding, Author | 2013 |
Komito, Steven "Steve" | Recording | Transcript | Catalog | Climbing, Komito Boots, Climbing equipment pioneer | 2012 |
Kufeld, Wes | Estes Park Police Department, Town of Estes Park | 2022 | |
Lancaster, Frank | Recording | Transcript | Catalog | 2013 Flood, Town of Estes Park, Town Administrator | 2016 |
Lewelling, Mike | Rocky Mountain National Park, Cameron Peak Fire, East Troublesome Fire | 2022 |
Name(s): | Interview Materials: | Subjects: | Year of Interview: |
MacDonald, Bronson | Recording | Transcript | Catalog | Climbing, Women climbing, Coaching | 2014 |
Mace, Tommie Lee & Penny | Recording | Transcript | Catalog | Baldpate Inn, Key Room, Mace Family | 1977 |
Mall, Dr. Jacob O. | Recording | Transcript | Catalog | Early medicine in Estes Park, The Great Depression, Estes Park Hospital | 1981 |
Moomaw, Jack & Harold Dunning | Recording | Transcript | Catalog | Archaeology, Native Americans, Author | 1973 |
Northcutt, Ray | Recording | Transcript | Catalog | Climbing, Tenth Mountain Division, Pioneer mountaineer | 2013 |
Pickering, James | Estes Park History, Estes Park Museum | 2022 | |
Pieper, Rob | Recording | Transcript | Catalog | 2013 Flood, Business owner, Elkhorn Avenue | 2015 |
Pinkham, William | Town of Estes Park, Mayor | 2022 | |
Reveley, Chris | Recording | Transcript | Catalog | Climbing, Rocky Mountain National Park, Ranger | 2012 |
Rose, Eric | Recording | Transcript | Catalog | 2013 Flood, Estes Park Police Department | 2015 |
Rumley, Jack | Recording | Transcript | Catalog | Upper Thompson Sanitation District, Lawn Lake Flood, Big Thompson Flood | 2005 |
Rusch, Kate | Recording | Transcript | Catalog | 2013 Flood, Town of Estes Park Public Information Officer | 2015 |
Name(s): | Interview Materials: | Subjects: | Year of Interview: |
Sievers, Greg | Recording | Transcript | Catalog | Climbing, Mountaineering, American Alpine Club | 2014 |
Smith, Lois | Recording | Transcript | Catalog | Baldpate Inn, Hospitality industry, historical buildings | 2021 |
Snively, Douglas | Recording | Transcript | Catalog | Climbing, Documentary film | 2012 |
Steiner, Greig (1) | Recording | Transcript | Catalog | Steiner Studio & Gallery, Dark Horse Players, Fine Arts Guild | 2021 |
Steiner, Greig (2) | Recording | Transcript | Steiner Studio & Gallery, Gaslight Square, Art restoration | 2022 |
Wands, Robert | Art, Painting, Wands Studio & Gallery | 2023 | |
Wharton, Josh | Recording | Transcript | Catalog | Climbing, Patagonia Ambassador, Climbing in Estes Park | 2014 |
White, Greg | Recording | Transcript | Catalog | Town of Estes Park Attorney, Stanley Historic District, Estes Park Urban Renewal Authority | 2021 |
Wolf, David | Recording | Transcript | Catalog | Estes Valley Fire Protection District, Fire Chief, Cameron Peak Fire, East Troublesome Fire | 2021 |