Woven in Metal: A Journey Through Filigree Jewelry

Discover the intricate beauty and rich heritage of filigree jewelry in this engaging and informative workshop. Guests will explore the origins of this delicate metalworking technique, tracing its roots across cultures and centuries. Learn how artisans skillfully twist and shape fine threads of gold and silver into timeless works of art. Through storytelling and visual examples, this workshop brings history to life while deepening your appreciation for this elegant craft. Perfect for history lovers, art enthusiasts, and anyone captivated by the artistry of handmade jewelry.

Juan Lopez

Juan began his jewlery-making career with beadwork and silver overlay pieces. After seeing a piece of filigree work at Santa Fe's Museum of International Folk Art, Juan was inspired to learn the art of gold and silver filigree. He was unable to obtain any tools or firsthand information because the filigree work in New Mexico had died out in the 1950's. Undaunted, Juan learned the art by looking at old filigree work and experimenting with silver until he was happy with the results.

Date & Time: Friday, June 12, 2026 ~ 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM

Cost: $15/person

 Please contact mcarrillo@thefort.com or call 720-689-9894 with any questions or to cancel a reservation.

TANNING YOUR HIDE USING YOUR BRAINS

This presentation introduces brain tanning by explaining its purpose, history, and how it compares to other tanning methods. It outlines the process from skinning an animal and understanding hide structure, through fleshing and scraping techniques, to preparing and applying brain solutions or alternatives. It also covers softening the hide through various working methods, followed by smoking to finish it. The presentation concludes with staining, care, preservation, and an overview of the uses and significance of brain-tanned hides.

Date & Time: Friday, July 10, 2026 ~ 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Cost: $15/person

 Please contact mcarrillo@thefort.com or call 720-689-9894 with any questions or to cancel a reservation.

Ken Wee

Ken Wee is a historian, artist, primitive technologist, experimental and experiential archaeologist.  Earned undergraduate degrees in pre-med, sculpture, painting and drawing and studio arts from Wichita State University and a Masters of Fine Arts degree in Sculpture from the University of Colorado in Boulder.  Long standing educator for Tesoro Cultural Center for 18 years.  Lived full time in canvas shelters for 27 years of which 12  1/2 were in tipis.  Educator in fur trade history, fine arts, karate, archery, primitive weapons, muzzle loading history, safety, hunting and replication; stone age, traditional and modern outdoor living and survival skills. National champion in primitive archery and World Atlatl Open championship winner 1992, 1994, 1998 and 2000, finalist in the American Pie Councils national pie baking champion. Exhibited in national and international juried art competitions and work displayed by various museums and private collections.    

Update on Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site

Learn more about ongoing planning and management efforts regarding the 1976 replica fort at Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site. This presentation will provide an inside look at current stabilization work, and the challenges of maintaining a modern replica fort constructed with a complex mix of incompatible materials that began to fail before the building was completed. Ongoing planning and projects will be discussed, highlighting what these updates mean for future visitors and the continued storytelling of life at this unique cultural crossroads. 

Date & Time: Wednesday, September 9, 2026 ~ 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Cost:  $15/person

 Please contact mcarrillo@thefort.com or call 720-689-9894 x204 with any questions or to cancel a reservation.

Eric Leonard

Eric Leonard serves as superintendent of the High Plains Group of parks in Colorado and New Mexico. The High Plains Group includes Amache National Historic Site, Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site, Capulin Volcano National Monument and Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site. With nearly three decades of experience in the National Park Service, he brings a deep commitment to preservation, public history, and cultural stewardship. Leonard earned a master’s degree in history from the University of Oklahoma and a bachelor’s degree in history from Fort Hays State University. His career began at Fort Larned National Historic Site on the Santa Fe Trail as a seasonal ranger and living history interpreter, an experience that continues to inform his leadership today.

Ryan Badger

Ryan Badger is a historian and interpretive leader specializing in public history, museum interpretation, and immersive storytelling, with particular expertise in the North American fur trade and early American frontier. He has held leadership and interpretive roles with organizations including the National Park Service, Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, The Alamo, and Littleton Museum, where he focused on historical interpretation, material culture, and experiential learning. Much of his work explores the cultural and political relationships that shaped the Southwestern fur trade in New Mexico and Spanish/Mexican Texas during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Originally from Utah, Ryan has lived throughout the American West and is passionate about making history approachable, engaging, and relevant for modern audiences.

The Ragged Edge: The Early Fur Trade Along Colorado's Front Range

Step back into the rugged frontier of early Colorado and explore the beginnings of the fur trade before 1820, when trappers, traders, and explorers first ventured into the Rocky Mountain West. This presentation examines how the demand for beaver pelts fueled exploration, trade networks, and cultural exchange across the region long before Colorado was officially settled. Guests will learn about influential figures whose journeys helped shape the history of the American frontier. Through stories of survival, commerce, and diplomacy, the program offers a fascinating look at the people and partnerships that laid the groundwork for the Santa Fe Trail and Colorado’s early development.

Date & Time: Wednesday, October 21, 2026 ~ 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Cost:  $15/person

 Please contact mcarrillo@thefort.com or call 720-689-9894 x204 with any questions or to cancel a reservation.

Sacred Stories in Wood and Paint: The Living Tradition of Retablos

Discover the rich tradition of retablo making through the eyes of a santera—an artisan devoted to crafting sacred devotional images. This presentation explores the historical roots of retablos in the American Southwest, blending Spanish colonial influence with Indigenous artistry and spiritual expression. Guests will learn about traditional materials, symbolism, and the storytelling embedded in each piece. The role of the santera as both artist and cultural preserver will be highlighted, offering insight into a practice that continues to thrive today. Join us for an engaging journey into faith, history, and artistic heritage.

Date & Time: Wednesday, November 11, 2026 ~ 4 PM to 5 PM

Cost:  $15/person

 Please contact mcarrillo@thefort.com or call 720-689-9894 with any questions or to cancel a reservation.

Teresa May Duran

Teresa May Duran is a fifth generation Coloradan who can trace her ancestry to the early settlements of Santa Fe.  Her work as a Santera has shown in various galleries, universities and museums. Her art work was selected to market the 1994 and 2011 Chili Harvest Festival in Denver, Colorado, 1997 and 2014 Colorado Santeros Exhibit at Regis University and the 2022 Santa Fe, New Mexico Spanish Market. Teresa has been the recipient of various awards including the Our Lady of Guadalupe and prestigious E. Boyde award at Santa Fe Spanish Market. Her art work is in the Denver Art Museum and Regis University collections.