Preservation of Historic Mountaineering Artifacts

FAIN: PG-252946-17

Colorado Ski and Snowboard Museum and Hall of Fame (Vail, CO 81657-3616)
Dionisia Mathios (Project Director: May 2016 to June 2019)

The rehousing of the museum’s clothing and accessories collection related to recreational skiing, the Army’s 10th Mountain Division, the U.S. Forest Service and National Ski Patrol, and Olympic and Paralympic skiing.  They total 2,193 objects, which span the 1880s to the present and explore the history of skiing as a sport and method of transportation.  They include clothing, outerwear, technical base layers, and gear such as climbing skins (straps of animal skin or fabric attached to backcountry skis to add traction), goggles, and helmets.

Guided by previous assessments and with the help of our collections assistant, Dionisia Mathios, the Colorado Ski and Snowboard Museum and Hall of Fame (CSSM) is seeking support to purchase supplies to re-house our clothing and accessories collection to ensure better long term preservation. The clothing and accessories in the collection are used to interpret, honor, celebrate, and preserve the lives of World War II veterans, Olympians, and the human innovation of the ski and snowboard industry. The goal of this project is to ensure this collection is housed in a manner that holds up to the best museum standards for preservation. By archivally re-housing this collection, the Museum will safeguard the longevity of a collection important to the Museum's humanity themed exhibitions, special events and projects, research, and programs.