Manitou Springs Heritage Center Hours & Admission
Current Hours
Open 6 days a week (Wednesday through Monday, closed on Tuesday) from 12 noon to 4pm. However, please send an email to ManitouHeritage@gmail.com to make an appointment for any other time or day of the week. Thank you.
Admission
Admission is free, but your donations are welcomed, needed and appreciated.
Social Media
Phone: 719-685-1454
Email: ManitouHeritage@gmail.com
Location
The Heritage Center is located at 517 Manitou Avenue, in the same block as the Manitou Arts Center, across the street from the old Cog Train and Memorial Park. See map in the sidebar.
About the Manitou Springs Heritage Center
Historic Manitou Springs, Inc., is an educational non-profit based in Manitou Springs, Colorado, at the foot of Pikes Peak, which operates the Manitou Springs Heritage Center and was formed in 1997 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Our mission is to collect, preserve, research, and interpret the history and culture of Manitou Springs and the Pikes Peak Region.
The intent of the organization is to educate citizens and visitors in order to increase appreciation and understanding of this unique community. Before opening the Center, Historic Manitou was operated by a board of three persons–Jean Garrity, Deborah Harrison, and Michelle Anthony. During the initial 10 years, we developed a track record of participating in and supporting community projects and events, such as restoration of the Eastern Gateway Arch, rehabilitation of Mansions Park, installation of over 30 Historic Interpretive Plaques throughout town, and placement of the memorial in Crystal Valley Cemetery for Emma Crawford. We have presented the “Ghost Stories of Old Manitou” haunted walking tours as part of the Annual Emma Crawford Festival (i.e., the events surrounding the Coffin Races) since its inception.
Our Board
Prior to opening the Center, Historic Manitou increased the number of appointed board members and began seeking more volunteers. The following are the members of the current Board of Directors.
Michael Maio: President
Michael is a semi-retired real estate attorney who moved his family to Manitou Springs in 2005 and is presently a consultant for the old and gas industry as a Registered Professional Landman. While living in Ohio, he was honored by the Ohio Community Development Association as the 1994 Board Member of the Year in recognition of his professional contributions made to the Community Land Cooperative of Cincinnati. Michael was also awarded the 2010 “10 Who Care Award” by the Price Hill Press for his professional contribution and board membership with the Price Hill Historical Society and Western Life Corridor. More recently, he received the 2021 Manni Award from the City of Manitou Springs for service to his community.
Mr. Maio is no stranger to the non-profit world, having served as a co-founding board member for both the Price Hill Historical Society and Children Are Renters Too, a children’s housing advocacy group in Cincinnati. He has served as board chair for both the Community Land Cooperative of Cincinnati, which rehabilitates inner city properties to be sold to qualified low-income families, and Services to Area Youth, and organization that assists parenting and pregnant teenagers.
Since relocating to Manitou Springs, Michael hasn’t skipped a beat with community volunteer work. From 2008-2013, he served as Den Leader and member of the Leadership Committee for the local Boy Scout Troop 18. He is an active member of the Manitou Springs Heritage Brew Festival and the Manitou Springs Great Fruitcake Toss organizational committees. He had served on the Manitou Springs Open Space Advisory Committee from 2006-2007 and from 2015-2021 and had served as it Chair from 2018 until 2021. Michael was appointed as a board member of the Manitou Springs Heritage Center and Museum and has served as its President.
Michelle Anthony, AICP: Vice President
Michelle is Senior Planner with the City of Manitou Springs, serving the community in various positions (including as the City’s Historic Preservation Officer) in the Planning Department since June 1987. Michelle was given the “Preservation Pioneer Award” in 1999 by the Manitou Springs Historic Preservation Commission and received the first “Manni Award” for Civic Achievement (2014). She is a former board member of Colorado Preservation, Inc. and served on CPI’s Endangered Places Committee since the program’s inception. Michelle was selected as a member of a state advisory task force on preservation education and spoke at annual conferences for both CPI and Colorado Chapter of the American Planning Association. Her membership affiliations include CPI (current member and past board member from 1991–1997), the Colorado Historical Society, Friends of the Pioneers Museum, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and, of course, Historic Manitou. Michelle has been an active board member of Historic Manitou Springs, Inc. since its founding.
Kevin Abney: Board Treasurer
Kevin was elected to the Board of Historic Manitou Springs, Inc. in 2010 and appointed to the position of Treasurer. He previously served on the board of the Bed and Breakfast Innkeepers of Colorado on the state level and the Bed and Breakfasts of the Pikes Peak Region on the local level. For a number of years, Kevin operated The Avenue Hotel—a bed and breakfast in Manitou Springs—before selling the lodging at the end of 2009. Kevin is a former member of the City’s Historic Preservation Commission and now owns a small home in Manitou Springs.
Neale Minch: Board Member
Neale Minch joined the Board in 2016 and is most active in fundraising and events. After spending 20+ years at Hewlett Packard serving in a variety of Business Management and Operations roles, Neale retired in 2015. Neale has lived in Manitou since 2012 and has served on the City’s Historic Preservation Commission for several years.
Shirley Wade: Board Member
Shirley Wade is a self-employed antiques dealer 31 years. She is a 31-year retired federal civilian manager serving 15 years managing an Air Force wide program. At the same time, she was an active volunteer and full member of the San Antonio, TX Conservation Society and served on a large Federal Credit Union’s board. Upon her return to Manitou in 1995, she became a founding member as a MHS alumnus of the school’s Heritage Hall exhibit recently transferred to MSHC. She served in the planning stages of the Manitou Springs Heritage Center. Shirley is sure the love of Manitou history and antiques took hold during her years at the Cliff House Hotel during the 1940s and 1950s. Shirley Wade is also a Manitou High School Graduate. Shirley also serves as the Archives coordinator.
Lynn Beckner: Board Member
Lynn joined the Board in 2024 and serves as our Exhibit Project Manager. Lynn spent 35 years working in the computer tech industry at Digital Equipment Corporation, Compaq Computers and Hewlett Packard Enterprise. She has a background in technical support, technical writing and program management. Her organizational skills and attention to detail have helped the exhibit team stay on track and produce some high quality and engaging exhibits. Prior to joining the board, Lynn led the creation and implementation of the Manitou Springs 150th Anniversary Exhibit. Lynn is comfortable with construction tasks and led the team through a very challenging 2024, where all exhibits had to be removed, then later reconstructed following the building renovation. Lynn lived in Manitou from 2003-2014 but currently resides on the west side of Colorado Springs. When she retired in 2017, her love of Manitou and its history drew her back to the Manitou Springs Heritage Center and Museum.
Deborah Harrison: Board Secretary
Our Valued Volunteers
Exhibits & Educational Events
- Lynn Beckner
- Michael Maio
- Michelle Anthony
- Deborah Harrison
Fundraising Events
- Neale Minch
- Michael Maio
Archive Team
- Debbie Jackson
- Lance Huffman
- Sydne Dean
Heritage Brew Festival
- Ceilidh Mar
- Jenna Gallas
- Andrew Hershberger
Brand, Website & Graphics
- Gretchen Wieshuber
Our Building
In July 2008, Historic Manitou Springs, Inc. obtained a Purchase Option on the building at 517 Manitou Avenue, started a membership campaign, organized new fundraisers, and set up a small gallery and office on the building’s second floor. On August 26, 2009, we opened the Manitou Springs Heritage Center in the building’s ground floor. The Heritage Center houses a museum space—free to the public—with exhibits about the history and culture of Manitou Springs and the Pikes Peak Region. Our growing collection of documents and artifacts are housed upstairs, and our Lew Archer Research Room is now open to the public. All the donation of materials we have received are important and cherished. The following are examples of what we have received from donors for the growing collection:
- City Archives: A collection of documents donated in 2011 about the history of the Manitou Springs City government dating back to 1872
- Heritage Hall Collection: An archive of school memorabilia created by alumni dating between 1872-1956 when Manitou Springs Elementary housed all 12 grades.
- Dr. Lewis Archer Collection: books donated in 2014 about Manitou Springs, Colorado and Western history.
If you have photos, papers, drawings, paintings, information or objects associated with people or places in Manitou Springs’ history, please consider donating them to the Center. If you would like to donate to our building fund, please visit to the Capital Campaign page.
Operations
Operation of the Heritage Center allows us to extend the commitment to collaborate with many local organizations such as the Mineral Springs Foundation, the Business of Art Center, the Manitou Springs Woman’s Club, the Manitou Springs Chamber, and a coalition of 18 regional History Museums, to name just a few.
The Manitou Springs Heritage Center and Museum is supported by donations and memberships and operated entirely by volunteers. We have a membership program and allow a community dialog through our Facebook and Instagram Pages. The Manitou Springs Heritage Center and Museum is proud to bring to light and share Manitou Springs’ stories.
