Historic Photography Series
New this summer, the Historic Photography Series is a three part program lead by local professional photographer, Kara Collin. Starting with a lecture on Monday, June 9th, followed by a walking tour on Monday, July 7th and finishing with a hands on workshop on Monday August 11th, please find detailed descriptions below. The Crested Butte Museum is excited to be able to share more of our local photo collection publicly, while fostering appreciation for the magic of photography, through this engaging series. Drop in for one or join for all three.
Monday, June 9th | 10:00am – 12:00pm | The Camera Through Time: A Hands On History A lecture
A lecture lead by local photographer Kara Collin, The Camera Through Time: A Hands On History is an engaging, chronological look at photography’s evolution—from the 1800s to modern digital. This interactive talk invites guests to handle real cameras from different eras and learn how they were used, loaded, and processed.
Experience Includes:
- Talk on the history of photography Cameras from the artist’s collection
- Demonstration of film loading & mechanics
- Tactile learning for all ages
- Connections to historic photos from the museum’s archive
Tickets for members are $20 each and $25 for non-members.
Monday, July 7th | 10:00am – 12:00pm | Historical Walking Photo Tour
Step into the past with a guided walking tour through Crested Butte’s historic downtown, highlighting archival photographs of familiar locations. Participants will see side-by-side comparisons of “then and now” from the museum’s collections while learning about the photographic methods used to capture early life in the valley.
Please wear good walking shoes, if time allows we will continue up to the bench from Elk Avenue. Also be sure to bring drinking water and be prepaired for summer weather at 9,000ft. Feel free to bring your own camera.
Tickets for members are $30 each and $35 for non-members.
Monday, August 11th | 10:00am – 12:00pm | Polaroid Lift Workshop: Photography Meets Fine Art
Explore a hands-on artistic process that blends historic photography and painterly expression. Participants of all ages (recommended for ages 4+) are invited to reimagine personal photos through the Polaroid lift technique—a process that delicately transfers a Polaroid print onto watercolor paper, creating a dreamy, hand-crafted piece of photographic art. Use your own photograph or choose one from our collections.
Experience Includes:
- Brief history of Polaroid and instant photography
- Demonstration of the lift technique
- Individual creation time with one-on-one guidance
- Option to bring your own digital photo for conversion
- Your own piece to take home, one per participant
Space is limited so please register ahead of time. We encourage you to join us for the Historic Photography Series Walking Tour on July 7th to take photos around town that can be used to make your own Polariod lift.
Tickets for members are $40 each and $45 each for non-members.