Join Us!
Be the Backbone of the La Plata County Historical Society
As we prepare for Colorado 150 and America 250, your support will help us:
- Curate and localize History Colorado’s “Moments That Made Us” exhibit to highlight defining events in La Plata County.
- Record and preserve oral histories from across our community before they are lost.
- Partner in local and statewide 250/150 programming, including public programs, student outreach, and a passport experience designed especially for 4th graders.
- Keep the museum open, our collections protected, and our interpretation honest.
Join Us Today!
By becoming a member—or renewing your membership—you strengthen the Animas Museum and help us share the past in ways that shape the future. Thank you for your support. We look forward to welcoming you as a valued member!
Please join us today or renew your membership to help keep La Plata County history and culture alive for present and future generations. You can use the Pay Now buttons below to pay by credit card or PayPal account or you can download a .pdf version of our membership form here and mail it to us with your check.
We offer three levels of membership:
Silver Our basic membership level which includes online database access, quarterly newsletter (email or print), and monthly e-blasts. Cost per year is $50.
Gold Our supporting membership level includes online database access, quarterly newsletter (email or print), monthly e-blasts, and invitations to special events. Cost per year is $75.
Uranium Our highest supporting membership level includes online database access, quarterly newsletter (email or print), monthly e-blasts,and invitations to special events. Cost is $150 per year.
Be a sponsor!
We offer four levels of sponsorship:
Bronze Sponsorship includes your logo in the entryway to the Museum, on our website, and recognition in History La Plata. Cost per year is $500.
Silver Sponsorship includes your logo in the entryway to the Museum, on our website and our quarterly newsletter, and recognition in History La Plata. Cost per year is $1000.
Gold Sponsorship includes your logo in the entryway to the Museum, on our website and our quarterly newsletter, a sponsorship sign at all events, and recognition in History La Plata. Cost per year is $2500.
Platinum Sponsorship includes your logo in the entryway to the Museum, on our website, eblasts, educational material, our quarterly newsletter, and recognition in History La Plata. Cost per year is $5000.
For more information on sponsorship opportunities, please contact the Museum at info@animasmuseum.org.
Donate!
In 2026, the nation will mark 250 years of American history, and Colorado will celebrate 150 years of statehood. It’s a moment to reflect—but more importantly, to act. La Plata County has stories worth telling. Some have been told too often. Others, not at all.
At the La Plata County Historical Society, we’re taking this milestone seriously—not as a nostalgic exercise, but as a challenge. We aim to bring forward the full history of this region: the voices of Indigenous communities who never left, the endurance of Hispanic families through centuries of change, and the layered stories of ranchers, miners, educators, and others who shaped this place.
And we want you to be part of it.
Your gift will help us:
- Curate an exhibit developed by History Colorado “Moments That Made Us” tailored to the moments that defined La Plata County.
- Record and preserve oral histories from across our community.
- Partner in local and statewide 250/150 programming, including public events, student outreach, and a passport experience targeted at 4th graders.
- Keep our museum open and our history real.
⠀This isn’t about looking back for comfort. It’s about looking forward with clarity.
We invite you to support this vital work with a donation of $150, $250, or any amount that reflects your commitment to local history done right. Every dollar stays here in La Plata County—where the history is as real as the land beneath our feet.
Financial donations are an important part of our revenue for operations and preservation. The La Plata County Historical Society is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law.
You can donate via Colorado Gives all year long.
Or if you prefer, you can donate via PayPal.
To donate by check, make checks payable to LPCHS and send to LPCHS, PO Box 3382, Durango, CO 81302. To donate by credit card, please come by the Museum as we cannot accept credit cards over the phone.
The La Plata County Historical Society's latest Form 990 is posted here in .pdf format. A program such as Adobe Acrobat is required to read it.
Artifact Donations
We welcome donations of artifacts, documents, and photos that are in keeping with our mission. Items must have a connection to La Plata County. It is best if they tell an interesting story about La Plata County places, residents or events. Once an item is accepted into our permanent collection we assume responsibility for its care forever. This can be an expensive prospect. Please consider a monetary donation along with the item. Items may also be accepted for inclusion in our education collection. These items may be handled by students, or used. Please download and read this brochure for more information then call (970) 259-2402 or email collections@animasmuseum.org to discuss a potential donation.
Volunteers
From its inception, the Animas Museum has depended on volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering, please email us at info@animasmuseum.org.