Broomfield Historical Society

06/09/2026

06/02/2026

Our latest issue of the is now available. Check it out!

05/28/2026

Broomfield Trail Adventure
June 6 • 8 am - 3 pm

The 25th annual Broomfield Trail Adventure (BTA) will be held on National Trails Day, June 6, 2026, at Broomfield County Commons at the Main Pavilion (13200 Sheridan Blvd). This milestone event celebrates local trails and how getting outdoors can promote community health, quality of life, and connection. There will be interpretive tables, light refreshments, music, and information about opportunities to volunteer with the City and County of Broomfield or join other community organizations doing great work. For example, the Broomfield Open Space Foundation will have a table with Colorado native perennials. These hardy, drought‑tolerant plants are grown by board members to support local pollinators.

The BTA will begin promptly at 8:00 a.m. Routes are designed to showcase trails throughout Broomfield County Commons Open Space and to highlight features such as Tom Frost Reservoir, public art, and the recently acquired Miller property! Information tables will open at 7:30 a.m., and a prize drawing will take place shortly after the routes are completed, around 9:00 a.m.

The event will also kick off the 2026 Broomfield 100, a community challenge promoting healthy living and outdoor exercise on local and lesser-known trails, running from June 6 to September 19. We hope to see you there!

The Broomfield Historical Society strives to enliven Broomfield’s community identity, share Broomfield’s rich history, and support Broomfield’s historic Depot Museum

05/28/2026

Join us for Trivia Night !

05/20/2026

Join us for "Beer & Horses: An Unexpected Broomfield Origin Story of the Zang Family" with Fred Martin
June 10 at 3:15 pm
Eisenhower Meeting Room
Broomfield Library, Arts and History

05/19/2026

Last Chance to see the "Creatures of Fame" Exhibit at the Broomfield Depot Museum!

Open most Saturdays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Catch the last month of the "Creatures of Fame" exhibit at the Broomfield Depot Museum on Saturdays until the end of June. Learn more about the famous animals that hail from Broomfield. From Shep the Turnpike Dog to Champagne the Percheron, Broomfield has a long and storied history of lovable and noteworthy animals.

(link in comments)

05/19/2026

Email from Broomfield Open Space Foundation Get outside and be grateful! Dear Open Space supporters, When was the last time you visited Metzger Farm and Open Space? The historic farmstead and open spa

05/04/2026

The Broomfield History Collections website showcases quite a few books, including the cover pictured above, Old Names and Golden Splendors, by Lou Walther. Walther’s 1983 book offers an alphabetical list of Boulder County locations in Colorado, with particular attention paid to names that incorporate the word “gold.” Walter provides a short description and history behind each name, including Broomfield.

“Broomfield: So named for the broomcorn fields in the area. As legend has it, some broomcorn fell from a passing freight train, took root, and thus Broomcorn got its start, and Broomfield, its name. A man named Putnam is credited with naming the early settling. Broomfield has mushroomed in the past 20 years, from 5,000 in 1961 to 23,000 in 1982. First known as Zang's Spur. Inc., 1961.”

Of course, there are several different stories about the origins of Broomfield’s name, and most involve broomcorn. What do you think of this version?

Curious about the names of other towns in this part of Colorado? Check out the PDF at the Englewood Public Library: online PDF version of this book.

We hope you enjoyed this glimpse into Broomfield history!