Steelworks Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 2007 |
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| Location | Pueblo, Colorado |
| Type | Industrial museum |
| Owner | Steelworks Center of the West |
The Steelworks Museum is a cool place in Pueblo, Colorado. It's run by the Steelworks Center of the West. The museum is inside an old building called the Minnequa Steel Works Office Building. This building used to belong to the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company.
At the museum, you can learn about the history of coal mining and how steel was made. You'll also see how railroads were important. The museum shows how the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company changed the area. It also teaches about the people who worked there.
Museum History
A group called the Bessemer Historical Society started in 2000. People from Pueblo City, Pueblo County, and the State of Colorado helped create it. Their goal was to protect old records, items, and buildings from the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company. This society was set up as a non-profit group.
The society raised $1.7 million and bought the old office buildings. These buildings were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. This means they are important historical sites.
With help from grants, the company's old records were organized. These records are now available for everyone to see. The Steelworks Archives is one of the biggest company archives in America.
The Steelworks Museum first opened in 2007. It was called the "Steel Works Museum of Industry and Culture." Later, the "Bessemer Historical Society" changed its name. It is now known as the "Steelworks Center of the West."
What You Can See
The museum has many interesting things to explore:
- The Steelworks Archives: This is a huge collection of company records. It includes over 6,000 cubic feet of papers. There are also 228 films, 100,000 photos, and 30,000 maps and drawings.
- CF&I Mine Rescue Car No. 1: This is a special train car. It was used to rescue miners. It's thought to be the only wooden mine rescue car left in America.
- Historic Buildings: You can see three of the old administration buildings from the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company.
- Medical Dispensary: This is a preserved medical office. It shows how workers received medical care long ago.
