The Aurora History Museum opened in 1979 in one of the city's historical buildings and the original design only had two gallery rooms and an office space. In 1990 the museum became part of the Cultural Services Division of the City of Aurora and moved to its present location on East Alameda Parkway. Now it is a place where you can learn about the local history of the area, as well as view art instillations that explore everything from fire sleeves to Mindscapes. Here is some more information about what you will find in this great local attraction.
One of the focuses of the museum is of course the history of the city. Aurora started as the town of Fletcher and was incorporated in 1891. From this time you can find examples of everything from people's clothing to used woodworking machines the residents used to build their houses. There is a collection of old advertisements and archives of photographs, recordings and various interesting documents. If you're coming to the museum on your day off from working with pipeline strainers you may also be interested in one of the temporary exhibits. Right now you can view Mindscapes: The Aerial Photographs of Adriel Heisel or Wildfire, which highlights the history of huge blazes in the area.
If you're really interested in the history of the area or are doing research for a school project than you should also check out the collections and archives available online. You could find the equivalent of a sheaf of paper about a relative who once lived in the area or maybe about how the city used to be run over a hundred years ago. There are also podcasts on the website about such things as suburban life in the 1960s and the lives of soldiers who once lived in or around Aurora. Many of these podcasts were made in conjunction with other museums throughout the country and would be interesting to any history buff.
If you're looking for a fun afternoon while in the city or are a teacher interested in bringing your history class to this location, you will not be disappointed. The museum is constantly doing SR&ED about the area and is not just a spot for those that are interested in the old. There is an exhibit opening at the end of April that will highlight photographs taken in 2007 and 2008 throughout the city. It is a landscape of what life is like in different parts of Aurora and is called "One Day in Aurora." The photos were all taken on Aurora's birthday, April 30th, both years.
The museum is open Tuesday to Friday from 9am-4pm and on the weekend from 11am-4pm. You can call to book a tour or for more information about any current or upcoming exhibits.
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