CELEBRATING 55 YEARS
Education
In the 1890s, Reynolds Ranch was a thriving dairy farm and apple orchard at the foot of Pikes Peak. Today, you can experience that history firsthand. Join WMMI for Farming & Ranching Super Saturday — a family-friendly celebration of Colorado's agricultural roots, with unique exhibitors, live outdoor machinery demonstrations, and so much more.
This lecture will trace the history of electric power in Colorado from its earliest use in the mining districts, towns, cities and finally to the farms and ranches as a result of the Rural Electrification Act (REA) of 1936. The emphasis will be on the impact of electric power to the lives of rural families. Many artifacts will be displayed showing the progression of electrical devices from crude and dangerous to modern and safe. Guests will be encouraged to examine the displays after the presentation.
Russert was raised on a dairy farm where they generated their own 32 VDC power and did not connect to the grid until 1950. Having always been interested in electrical/mechanical machinery and pursuing that career, Wayne retired from Lockheed-Martin in 2003 after 41 years in the trade. Russert maintains a complete shop to build and restore museum displays, old Fords and vintage radios. With his wife Bonni, they collect many antiques and pasture a few head of cattle each year.
We are pleased to welcome geocachers from near and far for Rocky Mountain Geo-Rendezvous – Gold Rush! This location will play host to the 2nd of 8 official events, bringing together adventurers from across the region.
Date: Thursday, August 13, 2026
Time: 10:00am-12:00pm
Location: Western Museum of Mining & Industry
225 North Gate Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80921
Come dig into Colorado’s rich mining history at this incredible museum! Explore historic equipment, discover stories from the mining frontier, and connect with fellow geocachers in a setting that perfectly matches the Gold Rush spirit.
Enjoy free parking and geocaching giveaways just for attending!
This event is hosted by Rocky Mountain Geo-Rendezvous.
This year’s event will be a little smaller, but that’s okay. We’re focused on building something special, and this is just the beginning. Our goal is to make the Colorado Heritage Games bigger and better every year.
If you’re planning to compete, please register as soon as possible.
📅 Registration closes July 31st for athletes. Don’t wait until the last minute!
And one more thing…
🤠 Bring your cowboy boots! We’ll be hosting the inaugural Cowboy Caber event with a cash prize on the line. It’s going to be one of the most entertaining events of the day, and you won’t want to miss it. 💰🔥
Showed up for STEM event and left a fan. This museum is not like any other mining museum i had been to. I working blacksmith and stamp mill was a pleasant touch. Flourscent Blacklight Mineral room is also a winner. Its an affordable and educational experience that is worth the value.
