Join Centennial Village Museum for its opening weekend event, Centennial Celebration, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 28 at 1475 A Street. Explore the museum’s grounds and historical buildings, watch live demonstrations of late-1800s, early 1900s high plains living, and two special performances from the Buffalo Soldier re-enactors at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Centennial Village Museum opens for regular summer hours from May 27 through Sept. 3.
One of the many ways Centennial Village Museum showcases and preserves history is through live demonstrations of early West skills. This year’s Centennial Celebration includes blacksmithing and woodcarving demonstrations, offering visitors insight into the physical demands early settlers faced.
The Buffalo Soldier reenactors join Centennial Celebration with a special presentation, highlighting an essential part of early West history not widely known in modern times. Members of the 9th and 10th U.S. Cavalry, both all-Black regiments, the Buffalo Soldiers played an essential role in the country’s westward expansion, with the Colorado Territory being one of their earliest assignments. The regiment’s duties included building forts and railroads, delivering mail, guarding stagecoaches, and protecting settlers in the area.
Opened in 1976, Centennial Village Museum is a living history experience that features more than 35 historical buildings, costumed interpreters, heritage farm animals, and 8-acres of beautifully landscaped grounds. As a City of Greeley Museums site, Centennial Village Museum preserves and interprets American western heritage in the Colorado high plains region, housing some of Weld County’s oldest structures and hosting several annual special events. Visit to learn more.