Any established community had to put down its roots and require people to build its foundations into what it will eventually become. In downtown Pueblo, one of these early visionaries was the Thatcher family.
The Thatchers’ former home, now the Rosemount Museum, stands at 419 W. 14th St., next to the Parkview Medical Center. Initially built in 1893 as a 37-room mansion, the house has been preserved as the goal for the museum is for it to be kept as original as possible. The Rosemount made the National Register of Historic Places in 1984, following a 9 to 12-month approval process.
Executive Director Deb Darrow shared insights about the museum and what it can provide for individuals, both locals and visitors. Open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., the museum conducts house tours and various events on the property.
“On average, the museum sees around 12,000 to 15,000 visitors annually,” Darrow said. “The heaviest foot traffic at the museum usually occurs in the summer, as well as between Thanksgiving and the new year.”
People who come to visit the museum can view what is essentially the original state of the house as when the Thatcher family lived during their time. Throughout the 37 rooms are items collected by the Thatchers, which Darrow states is “85% percent from the original family.” The museum also houses a room of over 600 collectibles on loan from the city of Pueblo that are rotated on and off the display.
The museum hosts various events and fundraisers to draw in crowds, showcasing the history and architecture and advertising travel guides for tourists. Annual events that the Rosemount holds are its Halloween event, Night Terrors, a Victorian-style storytelling event, Easter egg hunts for kids, Christmas events, a car show, and more to bring in people of all ages and interests.
The museum’s secondary building, known as the Carriage House, is available to rent for any small-scale occasion. “We rent it out around 1 to 3 weekends a month for events of 50 to 60 people,” Darrow said.
Visiting Rosemount, whether just to tour the museum, view an event, or host an event of your own, is like taking a brief step back in time.
