Pine River Valley Heritage Society

Pine River Valley Heritage Society Our all-volunteer free museum captures the past of the Pine River Valley in Bayfield, Colo. — 20 m

Our newest display shares the backstory of the iconic chimney standing alone on County Road 501 en route to Vallecito. C...
08/07/2026

Our newest display shares the backstory of the iconic chimney standing alone on County Road 501 en route to Vallecito. Come visit 10-2, Tuesday-Saturday through Sept. on Mill Street and Pearl in historic downtown Bayfield.

Museum President Joanne McCoy (nee Hickman) and Jim Sower attended the 1953 Junior Prom together in Bayfield, where the ...
08/01/2026

Museum President Joanne McCoy (nee Hickman) and Jim Sower attended the 1953 Junior Prom together in Bayfield, where the visited Saturday at the town's 120 birthday bash at the library.

Let's party at the library!
07/31/2026

Let's party at the library!

Old-timers swear the 2026 July Fourth parade in Bayfield was the best attended ever. We were thrilled to see our longtim...
07/07/2026

Old-timers swear the 2026 July Fourth parade in Bayfield was the best attended ever. We were thrilled to see our longtime volunteer and friend Jerry Haga serve as grand marshal. Charles Talley drove the museum’s entry, courtesy of Southwest Ag, with longtime museum volunteer and past president Anne Schrier and her schnauzer, Bandit. And outgoing museum treasurer Pam Talley was among many participants dressed in grand style.

If you haven’t stopped by the museum on Mill Street and Pearl lately, put it on your to-do list because we’re now a two-...
07/07/2026

If you haven’t stopped by the museum on Mill Street and Pearl lately, put it on your to-do list because we’re now a two-organ museum. Thanks to Becky and Dennis Hillyer, a beautiful new church organ now graces the front room. Built in the late-1800s by the J. Estey Co. in Brattleboro, Vermont, the organ has been in Becky’s family for five generations. Becky’s father, Moore Bell, was a Presbyterian minister who bequeathed it to the Hillyers, who’ve had it in their home for more than 50 years before donating it to the museum this month. It now joins the Wollmer family wooden pump organ built in the 1930s and purchased for $600 from the Montgomery Ward’s catalog by Evelyn Gosney Wommer. Don Gosney recalls his mother playing the organ — no simple feat with all the pumping required. The new organ features darker wood than the Wollmer organ.

When I moved to Bayfield 12 years ago, I discovered that volunteering at the Pine River Heritage Society Museum is both...
03/30/2026

When I moved to Bayfield 12 years ago, I discovered that volunteering at the Pine River Heritage Society Museum is both rewarding and easy. We'll be among many groups at the upcoming volunteer fair at the library April 18. See you there.

Oodles of thanks for everyone who attended tonight's pie auction. From the fabulous bakers to the chili servers to the g...
03/01/2026

Oodles of thanks for everyone who attended tonight's pie auction. From the fabulous bakers to the chili servers to the generous bidders, your support will help our free, all-volunteer museum keep the Pine River Valley's past smack-dab in the present and future. Dennis Hillyer presented fellow longtime volunteer Grace Sossaman with the Jim Frahm Award for years of service. Dan Percell won the drawing for Andy Trujillo's scrumptious blueberry pie. Auctioneer Ron Dunavant and his tireless bookkeeping sidekick Janice kept things rolling with laughter and Richard Espinoza's western music set the mood.

Greetings friends of the Pine River Heritage Museum in Bayfield,We’re less than two weeks away from our lone fund-raiser...
02/15/2026

Greetings friends of the Pine River Heritage Museum in Bayfield,

We’re less than two weeks away from our lone fund-raiser and cherished social outing: The annual Cabin Fever Pie Auction is set for 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb 28 at the Church of Christ at 2011 Bayfield Parkway in Bayfield. Free chili and soup dinner provided, along with music from longtime Bar-D-Wrangler Richard Espinoza. Auctioneer Ron Dunavant will auction off delicious homemade pies straight from the ovens of the valley’s amazing bakers. Slices will also be sold. Cash or check only. All proceeds go to the always-free, all-volunteer museum on Mill Street — open June through September.

NEW SPECIAL RAFFLE: For new members or those ready to renew our affordable dues, we’ll raffle off a free pie to anyone paying dues at the auction. Memberships range from $20 for seniors, $30 for singles, $40 for families. Business sponsors $250 and lifetime memberships from $500-$750.

See you soon

Fire up your taste buds because the Pine River Valley's top bakers are firing up their ovens for the wildly popular Cabi...
01/14/2026

Fire up your taste buds because the Pine River Valley's top bakers are firing up their ovens for the wildly popular Cabin Fever dinner and PIE AUCTION on Feb 28, 2026, at the Church of Christ at 2011 Bayfield Parkway. Doors open at 5:; pie drop-offs start at 3:30. Longtime Bar-D-Wrangler Richard Espinoza will provide entertainment during the FREE chili and soup supper. All proceeds benefit our all-volunteer, free Pine River Valley Heritage Museum on Mill and Pearl Streets in historic downtown Bayfield.

Address

Mill Street And Pearl
Bayfield, CO
81122

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 2pm
Wednesday 10am - 2pm
Thursday 10am - 2pm
Friday 10am - 2pm
Saturday 10am - 2pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Pine River Valley Heritage Society posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category