Mystery at the Museum Living History Event Oct. 23

Description: John W. Rawlings Heritage Center & Museum in Las Animas Invites You to Solve The Murder of Crows Mystery.


Published: 10/17/2021
Byline: Tomlin

MYSTERY AT MUSEUM - Living History Event

By Kathleen Tomlin

October 17, 2021

    Saturday evening, October 23rd, from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm, the community is invited to the John W. Rawlings Heritage Center & Museum to solve a mystery, enjoy some old-fashioned music with an “Old Fashioned Medicine Show,” and hear the stories of the characters involved in a murder mystery that happened at the Gardner House Hotel. 

You can enjoy light refreshments, wander around and look for clues and try to solve the murder of the Crows.  At 7pm in the grand hall, the mystery will be solved, and the perpetrator arrested by Sheriff Kenneth Dodson.  Pat Bertram has written about a very lively event that happened in Las Animas during the summer of 1899.  Mrs. Lottie Gardner will be present, as well as several other local characters. 

This is a “Living History Event,” and we would love to have you visit.  Admission is a $5.00 donation, and kids 12 and under are FREE.  Call 719-456-6066 if you have questions.

Fans of the board game “CLUE” will really enjoy this event!  This is the third annual “Family Night at the Museum,” and continues to be a popular event around Halloween but is an event that you don’t need to wear a Halloween costume. 

Volunteers or visitors dress in period costumes portraying some of our mannequins or figures in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.  Examples are school marm, blacksmith, bank teller, bartender, candy shop ladies, etc.  As you enter, you will be given a mystery to solve with a list of suspects, and you can find evidence and clues throughout the center as well as receive tips from some of the living history characters. 

At 7 pm in the Grand Hall, the event will wrap up, the murderer will be arrested, and we will award prizes to those that solved the mystery.  Another delightful twist this year will be the addition of four members of the Arkansas Valley Chamber Orchestra, who will be performing old-fashioned songs during the evening at various places throughout the Museum.  Their list includes, “By the Light of the Silvery Moon,” and “School Days,” just to mention a couple. 

The Museum has historical costumes that can be checked out free of charge if you wish to participate.  Drinks and light refreshments will be available in the Grand Hall and admission is $5.00 donation for adults and $1.00 per child. 

Call the Museum at 456-6066 if you have any questions. 



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