Just walking into the Aspen Historical Society, you might think the
Crystal Palace has moved. With Nina Gabianelli's coordinating tours and
sites, I expected her to break into song at any moment. Then there's
the famous Michael Monroney who's Mr. Theatre in Aspen having
performed, directed, written, staged and anything else involving
theater. Monroney is leading a new tour called "The History Coach." Of
course Georgia Hanson, AHS director, should be congratulated for
plucking these two thespians.
"Our vision for the society is to engage the community in new and
memorable ways," says Hanson. "Having talented and enthusiastic staff
who can bring our audience into our story is a dream come true."
It was finding that talent that was the important part.
"Georgia came to me about her vision of utilizing my talents from the
performing world in the museum field," says Nina Gabianelli.
Next Hanson and Gabianelli talked with Mike Monroney about developing
the history coach. It's a bit of a play on words - an idea coined by
another talented staff member, Tom Egan. Mike is the 'history coach' -
telling the history and coaching participants to learn about Aspen
history, and he also drives history coach. Coates Reid & Waldron
purchased the six-person electric cart which is a street legal GEM-6.
The route was developed with Larry Fredrick, Aspen's resident
historian.
"I like to consider the relationship of our many historical buildings
as well as the human element that created them," says Monroney. "I also
touch on the gossip, ghosts and, of course, the similarities of Jerome
B. Wheeler and Walter Paepcke with their great influence on Aspen."
The History Coach Tour starts at the historic Wheeler Opera House
because it represents those two historians: Wheeler and Paepcke.
"We stand across the street at the fountain and reminisce about silver
mining glory days and the skiing renaissance that followed," says
Monroney. "I like finding parallels with politics and speculation,
today spelled 'greed.'"
Then the history coach cruises past the Mother Lode, Crystal Palace,
Carl's Pharmacy, Jerome Hotel, Isis Theatre, City Hall/Armory, Pitkin
County Courthouse, St. Mary's Catholic Church and Galena St. historic
buildings.
"At the Courthouse, I point out the unblindfolded Lady of Justice and
modern history like Ted Bundy," states Monroney. "Another comparison is
that the current Silver Queen Gondola, built in 1987, departs from the
same site that the Midland Railroad arrived in 1888. The Maroon Creek
bridge that is 120 years old and was built in six weeks and the new
bridge has taken three years."
A docent offers a Wheeler Stallard house tour and then it's onto Holden
Marolt Mining and Ranching Museum. Tours are scheduled Tuesdays through
Saturday with custom tours on Sunday. Most interesting questions relate
to what happened to the silver and Jerome B. Wheeler.
Gabianelli plans to create a living history experience incorporating
all the society's sites - Holden Marolt, Ashcroft and Independence as
well as the Wheeler Stallard house.
Gabianelli adds, "I feel the 'Quiet Years,' 1893 to 1946, have many
stories to develop, since nothing was torn down. If those buildings
could only talk."
Gabianelli came to Aspen to open the Chart House. She and her family
vacationed here and when she went back to New York, where she was
involved in off-Broadway, cabaret and regional theater, she always
would say, "Why don't I live here?"
In 1992 Monroney moved here joining the Crystal Palace. He's also acted
and directed for Aspen Community Theatre and Theatre in the Park.
Both have theater backgrounds - Gabianelli's from Boston Conservatory and Monroney's from Occidental College in LA.
"Anyone who comes here thinking that this is just a ski resort is
missing out on the whole experience," says Monroney. "I appreciate
going to work everyday in a building that is the perfect symbol of
Aspen's history and I look forward to sharing that history with guests
and long time locals."
Aspen History is located at 620 W. Bleeker, 925-3721 or aspenhistory.org.