Dear Historians,

What does an old prospector and his burro, who died almost 90 years ago, have to do with our lives in Colorado today? At first glance, it might not seem like much. But if we look closer, we see the past lives on in the present–the foods we eat, the words we use, the stories we tell, and, most importantly, the things we believe about ourselves.

Everyone has a Colorado story–what brought them here and how they made it. Understanding the prospector and the burro’s story might help us better understand our own. And that’s why we learn history. It’s a mirror that helps us more clearly see ourselves.

Sincerely,

Mr. Heimbuck