Freedom's Frontier

Visiting the museum is like taking a step back into the past. Each room is filled with exhibits that highlight Gardner's early heritage. Local residents have donated and loaned hundreds of artifacts to the museum inventory.

The Gardner Historical Museum, Inc., was founded in 2002. One of the first actions of the organization was to purchase this historic Gardner residence. In order to transform the property into a museum site, renovation was performed on the inside, as well as several needed improvements to the outside, including landscaping and parking. Our Grand Opening event occurred on September 20, 2003, and included a ribbon cutting, tours, and dinner.

The Herman B. Foster house was built in the Spring of 1893. A classic example of Folk Victorian architecture, the house was the residence of one of Gardner's early storekeepers, a partner in the Bigelow-Foster Mercantile Company. In 1902, H. B. Foster and his family moved to Colorado Springs due to his health. His last trip back to Gardner was in 1911, when he died, and was buried in the Gardner Cemetery. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 28, 2007.

The adjacent Bray House, built in 1952, was originally the home of Robert and Doris Bray. The Gardner Historical Museum acquired the property in 2010 for use as an administrative, archive and research facility. The home retains its original 1950 – 1960 era feel. The house is open to the public for research purposes.