The Tread of Pioneers Museum’s popular History Happy Hours are back, unveiling the conflicts, crimes and controversies in Routt County and Colorado history — paired with tasty, local craft beverages.

History Happy Hours are held the first Tuesday of each month from October through April at 5:30 p.m. in Olympian Hall at Howelsen Hill, 845 Howelsen Pkwy.

These free events invite adults 21 and older to enjoy complimentary craft beer from Storm Peak Brewing and Mythology Distillery spirits tasting. Although all of the topics aren’t squarely focused on the darker side of history — We want to have a little bit of fun! — History Happy Hours promise to deliver compelling topics for everyone.

October — ‘Dry Times in the Centennial State’

The season opens Oct. 7 with “Dry Times in the Centennial State,” presented by Sam Bock, director of interpretation and publications at History Colorado Center.

“Today, it seems incredible that a state with more than 400 breweries helped lead the way toward Prohibition in 1916 (four years before the rest of the nation),” said Bock. “The results of banning alcohol can still be felt in Colorado — from the brewery to the voting booth, and everywhere in between.”

Bock is co-author of “Brewed at Altitude: A Beer Lover’s History of Colorado.” He hails from Boulder — that hub of homebrew — where his graduate studies focused on the history of the American West.

November — ‘Vietnam: America’s Most Controversial Conflict’

Vote early to make sure you are free on November 4 for “Vietnam: America’s Most Controversial Conflict” with Flint Whitlock. A regular at the History Happy Hour series, Whitlock is an award-winning author and military historian.

He is a former U.S. Army officer who served in active duty from 1965 to 1970, including a tour in Vietnam. Flint is a member of the Colorado Authors Hall of Fame and travels the U.S. giving talks and presentations.

December — ‘Still Here: A Past and Present Insight of Native American People and Culture’

On Dec. 2, don’t miss “Still Here: A Past and Present Insight of Native American People and Culture” with Danielle SeeWalker. SeeWalker is Húŋkpapȟa Lakȟóta and a citizen of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in North Dakota. She is a fine artist, muralist, writer, activist, and mother based in Denver.

Alongside her passion for creating visual art, SeeWalker is a freelance writer who published her first book titled, “Still Here: A Past to Present Insight of Native American People & Culture.” She is dedicated to staying connected and involved in her Native community and has served as a mayoral-appointed City Commissioner for the Denver American Indian Commission since 2019.

“I (wanted to) offer a high-level overview of the history and culture of Native American peoples in the U.S… (with) accurate facts and not continue to perpetuate romanticized ideas or micro-aggressions toward Native American people and culture,” said SeeWalker.

SeeWalker is also the curator of the Tread of Pioneers Museum’s exhibit opening Oct. 22, “This is Native Art,” featuring over 25 Indigenous contemporary artists from around the country.

The exhibit opened in 2023 at the Colorado State Capitol, before moving to the Golden History Museum.

January — ‘Unknown Tales of the 10th Mountain Division’

Jan. 6 unveils “Unknown Tales of the 10th Mountain Division” with Lance Blyth, author, historian and professor.

“The 10th Mountain Division is well-known in Colorado, but its history and legacy are not always well-understood,” said Blyth. He will share stories uncovered while researching and writing his book “Ski, Climb, Fight: The 10th Mountain Division and the Rise of Mountain Warfare.”

Blyth is the command historian of North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command and an adjunct history professor at the U.S. Air Force Academy.

February — ‘Olympic Memories’

On Feb. 3, don’t miss “Olympic Memories” with local Olympians, in partnership with the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club.

This free all-ages event with hot chocolate and craft beer kicks off this year’s Winter Carnival, builds excitement for the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympic Games, and invites everyone to learn more about our Olympic heritage in the museum’s new exhibit, “Triumph and Perseverance: The Olympic Legacy in Steamboat Springs.”

March — ‘The History of Black Cowboys’

On March 3, Acoma Gaither, assistant curator of Black History at History Colorado Center, will present “The History of Black Cowboys.” Black cowboys have long been integral to the history of the American West, yet their contributions remain under-recognized. Gaither explores their legacy through biography and material culture, revealing how Black presence shaped — and continues to shape — the myth and reality of the West.

April — ‘Tough Women: Colorado’s Unconventional Trailblazers’

Finishing up the series on April 7, Ella Rupp presents “Tough Women: Colorado’s Unconventional Trailblazers.” Rupp draws on both her research and her experience working at the Center for Colorado Women’s History, a History Colorado museum highlighting the stories, memories and experiences of Colorado women. She now serves as a research assistant at History Colorado, contributing to the Colorado Black Equity Study.

Join the Tread of Pioneers Museum to explore the history of our county and state. Grab a friend, and come thirsty for a pint of beer or a taste of whiskey.

Candice Bannister is executive director of the Tread of Pioneers Museum.