News Items 
Donate to the Museum Dec. 6, 2011 Victor Lowell Thomas Museum to Participate in Second Annual Colorado Gives Day The Victor Lowell Thomas Museum will be part of the second annual Colorado Gives Day – an initiative to increase philanthropy in Colorado through online giving to Colorado charities. Once again presented by Community First Foundation and FirstBank, Colorado Gives Day is a 24-hour period to “give where you live” by making online donations to the hundreds of charities featured on Community First Foundation’s online giving resource, GivingFirst.org. As a profiled charity on GivingFirst.org, supporters will have the opportunity to donate directly to the museum which has been a part of Victor history for over 50 years.
The Victor Lowell Thomas Museum, which houses three floors of gold rush era artifacts as well as memorabilia of the famed newscaster and author Lowell Thomas, has undergone major stabilization and restoration work in the past few years. The museum board of directors is now focusing on raising funds for the addition of needed services such as water, sewer, heat and interior restoration of original tin ceilings and handicap access. Participating in Colorado Gives Day is one way the museum will be attempting to raise funds and awareness about the building restoration efforts.
“We are very proud of our local nonprofits—they add to the vibrancy and diversity of our communities—and we are honored to support them by providing an opportunity to raise more funds for their worthy causes on Colorado Gives Day,” said Marla J. Williams, president and CEO of Community First Foundation. “‘Give where you live’ is a simple concept but one with huge impact. Our goal last year was to raise $1 million online for local nonprofits. Instead, thanks to Coloradans’ generosity, we raised more than $8 million!” The museum is open Memorial Day to Columbus Day and will be open for special holiday hours Dec. 3, 4, 10 and 11. Admission will be free during these special hours and the gift shop will offer hot chocolate, cookies and a chance to complete holiday shopping.
For more information about the Victor Lowell Thomas Museum and how you can support Colorado Gives Day, please visit VictorColorado.com and to donate follow the Colorado Gives Day logo. For more information about Colorado Gives Day and other charities involved, please visit www.GivingFirst.org/COGivesDay. 2011 News Special Christmas Shopping Hours and Free Admission at the Victor Lowell Thomas Museum The Victor Lowell Thomas Museum will be open for special Christmas hours Saturday and Sunday Dec. 3 and 4 and 10 and 11 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. weather allowing.  As the museum’s gift to the community, admission to the museum will be free and there will be hot cocoa and cookies to warm up the spirits. The museum gift shop will be open and offer the chance to purchase a unique Christmas gift. Browse through local history books, unique jeweler, silver coins, gifts for kids, real gold and stuffed animals. The museum is normally closed during the winter months due to a lack of heat in the building. To support Victor’s efforts at having shops open for holiday shopping, and to offer the community a gift of free admission, the museum will open for those weekend days if weather allows. Put on an extra sweater and come see the museum and do some unique gift shopping. If weather is snowy and icy, please call ahead at 719-689-5509 to be sure we are able to open for the day. The Elf Emporium holiday gift bazaar is being planned for Dec. 10 and 11 at the Victor Community Center at Portland Avenue and Second Street. In the event of drastically cold weather that weekend, the museum will set up a table at the emporium with items from the gift shop. June 11 Fundraiser Event....More Info... Exterior Restoration Complete 
New logo window by Dixie Clare and Bill Debekker 2010 News  Exterior Restoration Under Way
 All new second story windows and structural stabilization restoration of the storefront will be completed over the winter months.
CDOT Grant to Fund New Roof A grant from the Transportation Enhancement fund sponsored by Teller County was awarded to the museum. The $129,548 grant will be matched by in-kind administration from Teller County Road & Bridge as well as funds raised by the museum from the community fundraisers. The project will begin in the spring of 2011. Experience Victor, City of Mines Through the Victor Lowell Thomas Museum Discover the rich history of Victor, City of Mines, in a special program during Victor Gold Rush Days this July.Sunday, July 18 the Steve Veatch will present the second annual Discover Victor program and guided tour. The program includes a one-hour presentation and two-hour guided tour of the Victor area, with stops at historic sites. The even benefits the Victor Lowell Thomas Museum. There will be two sessions for the event on July 18 – one at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. This is a great opportunity to learn about Victor’s gold rush history from a well-known geologist, historian and author. The presentation, which will be held at the Victor Community Center at Second and Portland Avenue in Victor, will be about one hour long, followed by a guided two-hour tour, packed with information.. A shuttle will be available for a limited number of participants, and for the rest, carpooling will be required. The cost for the event is $15 per person, including handouts. The fee also includes admission to the museum for the day. Please reserve by calling 719-689-5509 or email museum@victorcolorado.com. Walk-ins are welcome as long as you are willing to carpool. The event is sponsored by the Southern Teller County Focus Group, which is donating all the proceeds of this event to the Victor Lowell Thomas Museum’s building restoration fund. This 50-year old museum houses gold rush era history in downtown Victor. The presentation was first made last year courtesy of Veatch and the Lake George Gem and Mineral Club and has since been improved and presented all over the country. Veatch and the gem club’s study group delved into the little-known facts of Victor’s amazing history, the famous mines on Battle Hill that made Victor famous, and the remarkable minerals of the mining district. Gold Rush Days, July 16-18, honors the town’s mining heritage with mining games that give visitors a close-up look at mining skills of yesterday and today such as jackleg drilling, hand mucking and hand steel drilling as well as gold panning. Pan for real gold at the museum and take a modern mine tour. CC&V gold mine tours are offered during Gold Rush Days this year Friday, July 16 and 17 at 10 and 1 – reserve on line at VictorColorado.com to see the giant trucks, rock crusher and open pit mine. All proceeds from these tours benefit the Victor Lowell Thomas Museum. Families can also enjoy vendors, Victorian home tours, a street dance on Friday night, the District Reunion dance on Saturday night, kids games and clowns, and a parade on Sunday afternoon. Victor, one of the last authentic mining towns in the state of Colorado, offers the visitor an interesting selection of eateries, saloons, hotels and turn-of-the-century manufacturing, products and antiques all on the sunny southern slope of Pikes Peak, just one hour west of Colorado Springs. The Gold Rush Days event is presented by the Victor Elks Lodge #367. Modern Mine Tours & Museum Hours Expanded in 2010 This summer we will be expanding our mine tours and our hours, thanks to the Cripple Creek & Victor Mining Company. Tour s will be held at 10 am. and 1 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday from June 1 to 30 and Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday July 1 - Sept. 4. See giant trucks hauling ore, boulders mashed into pebbles in the crusher, the depths of the largest gold mine in Colorado. Reservations are suggested for tours. 2009 News Miner's Dinner and Live Auction Sept. 12, 2009 A traditional miners dinner and auction helped Saturday, Sept. 12 raised over $10,000. Event Sponsors: Gold Sponsor at $2500 level 
$250 sponsors: Jade Diamond Consulting, Inc., Eaton Smith Book Signing Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009 - Meet the Authors and Book Signing at the Victor Lowell Thomas Museum from 10 a.m. to noon. Three authors of new books will be on hand to sign their books. VCTA Registration 2009 Victor Celebrates the Arts artists will register at the museum Aug. 28 and 29 beginning at 9 a.m. For more information, visit vvictorcelebratesthearts.org. July 18, 2009 Discover Victor Victor Gold Rush Days - July 18 at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. a special presentation and guided tour of the Victor area will be presented by Steven Veatch of the Lake George Gem & Mineral Club. The cost is $10 per person with all proceeds going to the Victor Building Restoration Fund. Phase 2 Funded The State Historical Fund (SHF) awarded the museum 194,613 toward Phase 2 stabilization on Aug. 1, 2009. This means that work on making the museum safe, more useable and spacious will begin this winter. We will also have second story windows restored. Thanks SHF!!! Gold Rush Days 2009 A special tour of Victor History presented by the Lake George Gem and Mineral Club netted the museum's building fund $540. Nearly 65 people attended Steve Veatch's tour and thoroughly enjoyed his presentation. Over 360 people entered the museum over the weekend and even more panned for real gold. Thanks to all who supported our Gold Rush Days events at the museum. Foundation Grant The John G. Duncan Foundation granted our project $1000. Thanks to the foundation for helping us save the museum! Window Challenge Your Donations Save Windows to the Past! Dear supporter of the Victor Lowell Thomas Museum – We Need You! Reserve a window in your name – or the name of your choice – and help us restore the wonderful Reynolds Block/Museum Building in Downtown Victor. More info... Capital Plan - 2009 Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mining Company in 2009 donated $10,000 toward the creation of a Master Plan for capital improvements at the museum. We are currently working with an architectural firm to define needs for the future. Phase I Underway - 2009 The first phase of stabilization got underway March 30. TEPA will be working on the stabilization of the foundation and north wall into early summer. 2008 News December 2008 - The Gates Family Foundation awarded the museum $80,000 toward phases 2 and 3 stabilization. If the State Historic Fund awards the museum the next grant for phase 2 on Feb. 1, work on phase 2 will begin next summer/fall. Work on phase 1 is scheduled to begin later this winter. July 2008 - The Boettcher Foundation awarded the museum stabilization effort a $20,000 grant. This means we will be able to begin the north wall project this fall. Thanks Tim chutlz and the Boettcher Foundation Board of Directors! &n July 26, 2008 - Over 75 people attended a fundraiser event at the Victor Elks sponsored by the Victor Heritage Society. The event featured a historic look at the 1904 labor wars. Donations to the museum talled over $522. May 28, 2008 - the Edmund T. and Eleanor Quick Foundation awarded the museum a $10,000 grant for the stabilization work. Thanks to their generosity and with the assistance of other upcoming grant awards our stabilization project will be underway this fall. May 24, 2008 - Museum opening celebration a huge success. March 25, 2008 - Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mining Company granted our cause $10,000. Thanks CC&V! March 19, 2008 - City of Cripple Creek grants our project $25,000...The Cripple Creek District Museum and the City of Cripple Creek has granted the Victor Improvement Association $25,000 from the historic preservation funds allotted for the Cripple Creek museum's matching funds budget. This cooperative effort is greatly appreciated! March 8, 2008 - Victor Elks Lodge Benefit Dinner/Auction raised $15,139 for the museum. Feb. 4, 2008- The Victor Improvement Association was awarded a $208,177 Colorado State Historical Fund Grant to stabilize the north wall of the museum building. $5,000 Challenge Grant - An anonymous donor challenged local residents to raise $5,000 to help the museum match a Colorado Historical Society State Historic Fund grant - donations from the Cripple Creek/Victor area were matched by the challenger and the challenge was met March 8, 2008 | 
