women in front of museum

Who We Are

Mission, Vision & Values

Mission Statement

To preserve, share and celebrate the history and heritage of Steamboat Springs and Routt County through quality and engaging exhibits, programs, and education.

Vision Statement

The Tread of Pioneers Museum is an indispensable cultural asset and historical leader that engages and educates the public and fosters an appreciation of our community’s history.

Our Values

Integrity, Stewardship, Historical Passion & Collaboration

Partnerships and Impact

Our Partners
Nonprofit collaboration allows organizations to join together and make even bigger strides in bettering our community. Some of our partners include: Yampa River Botanic Park, Yampatika, Historic Routt County, Routt County Museums, Routt County Schools, Community Agriculture Alliance, Steamboat Creates, Mainstreet Steamboat Springs, Northwest Colorado Heritage Tourism, Casey's Pond, Colorado Mountain College, Rocky Mountain Youth Corps, Leadership Steamboat/Steamboat Springs Chamber, and more!

Our Impact

The museum serves visitors to and residents of Routt County by preserving and celebrating the unique history and heritage of the Steamboat Springs area and Routt County.

  • Educational and entertaining events such as History Happy Hours, Festival of Trees, First Friday Artwalks, and more.
  • Engaging exhibits including Mineral Springs of Steamboat and The Pleasant Collection of American Indian Art. New exhibits open seasonally.
  • Community partnerships including the Steamboat Art Museum, Yampatika, Steamboat Creates, and more.
  • Expanded programs for schools, homeschooled students, and after-school programs in support of teachers and students county-wide.  We served over 3,000 students in 2021 through 150 separate youth programs.
  • Advocating for historic preservation as a member of Partners in Preservation, a collaborative to ensure the saving of our heritage in Routt County. 
  • Preservation of collections, archives, and the stories and people that make up our collective history.

For more information on our impact, community partners, and a highlight of our events, programs, and exhibits, see our 2021 ANNUAL REPORT

Our Staff

Candice (Lombardo) Bannister
Executive Director
Katie Adams
Curator - Exhibits and Collections Manager
Jonelle Castleberry
Youth Education Coordinator
Amelia Carroll
Curatorial Assistant/Volunteer Coordinator
Myra Benson
Visitor Service Manager/Museum Store

2022-2023 Board of Directors

Board members have overall responsibility for the governance and financial well-being of the Museum and develop long-range plans for the organization. More about Board roles and responsibilities.

Anne Clardy
President

Nancy Holden
Vice-President

Mike Cook
Treasurer

Cheri Daschle
Secretary

Pat Stanko

Jim Defrancia

Tread of Pioneers Museum’s DEI Commitment Statement

The Tread of Pioneers Museum views diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging as the pathway to achieving excellence and fostering an organization and culture where everyone can thrive. We strive to draw from a dynamic range of backgrounds to contribute to the pursuit of our common values and goals. The work and well-being of the museum are strengthened by the diversity of our network and our differences in background, culture, experience, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, race, ethnicity, age, ability, political views, and more. Together, we strive to create an environment that values diversity, promotes an inclusive culture, and establishes a sense of belonging for each member of our community.