Over the course of a year, we worked with the Museum’s Director, Education Director, and exhibit’s creator to thoroughly design this two-room exhibit’s graphic panels, artifact labels, exterior banners, web pages, supporting collateral, and the exhibit space itself, including flow and layout (placement of installations, interactive elements, AV, art, and artifacts). Our concept integrated Kente patterns, mountain motifs, and strong, key usage of silhouettes—emphasizing the very real lack of faces to accompany Black history. We made marketing recommendations including integrating social media via the hash tag #whatkindofancestorwillibe? (on a custom-painted selfie wall) and adding QR codes through the exhibit to become a member, access more information, and submit personal stories about Colorado’s Black history. The Committee’s hope is to customize the exhibit and tour statewide after the exhibit closes in August 2025.

This exhibit opened in the Museum’s main gallery in October of 2023, and has won awards including American Association for State and Local History award and the 2024 Autry Public History Award by the Western History Association.