With a Pikes Peak Culture Pass, Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) cardholders can get no-cost entry passes to the ProRodeo Museum and Hall of Fame. It is only museum dedicated to both the history of professional rodeo and the ProRodeo Clown Association, as well as western heritage in the Pikes Peak region.
A unique and popular summer exhibit brings to life the spirit of the rodeo through a livestock exhibition, bucking rodeo horses, and even the occasional bull! Few museums have live animals that guests can visit and learn about first-hand. While there, guests can stroll around a beautiful pond and waterfall as they take in the incredible statuary that captures the spirit of the west. This hidden gem has even served as a beautiful backdrop for weddings and special events.
Forty-five years ago, the ProRodeo Museum and Hall of Fame made Colorado Springs its permanent home after relocating here from Denver. The City of Colorado Springs reached out to the organization in 1978 and worked with them to help them secure the current property where the museum sits today just west of I-25 at Rockrimmon Boulevard. The building opened in August 1979 and has grown with the museum. Later additions, including a pavilion, make up the Hall of Fame as it is today.
To celebrate its 45th anniversary, the museum will host several activities in August 2024 with a rodeo clown reunion, demonstrations, and fun activities culminating with an open house celebration on Fri., Aug. 10.
The ProRodeo Museum and Hall of Fame is one of the original Culture Pass partners to invite PPLD patrons to be a “tourist in their own backyard,” connecting more with our local community and providing educational programs. Since then, the museum has partnered with PPLD to offer discounted admission during Summer Discount Days in 2023 and has hosted our mobile library to connect museum visitors with Library offerings.
Learn more about the museum on their website, or check out a Pikes Peak Culture Pass and enjoy your time exploring this cultural attraction in-person.
PPLD cardholders have made great use of the Culture Pass program, checking out 3,192 no-cost passes in 2023 alone! The ProRodeo Museum and Hall of Fame is one of 12 Culture Pass partners that you can explore. Use your library card to check out a pass today!
Do you know everything your Library has to offer? Visit one of our Library Open Houses during National Library Week from April 7 – 13 and discover everything you have access to with your library card!
We will have Open Houses at eight of our libraries where you can take a tour, enjoy local refreshments, participate in family fun activities, and win prizes. Enjoy a scavenger hunt and self-guided tour to help you explore what the Library has to offer. Each location will also offer unique prizes and activities for all ages, so feel free to join us for multiple Open Houses and get to know more libraries around the District.
After seeing all the great offerings of your Library District you’ll want to make sure to get a library card before you leave. The Friends of PPLD have cool swag for the first 25 people who sign up for a library card at each open house location.
Open House Schedules
- East Library – Mon., April 8 from 10 a.m. - noon
- High Prairie Library – Mon., April 8 from 4 – 6 p.m.
- Monument Library – Tue., April 9 from 6 – 8 p.m.
- Penrose Library – Wed., April 10 from 4 – 6 p.m.
- Cheyenne Mountain Library – Thu., April 11 from 5 – 7 p.m.
- Sand Creek Library – Sat., April 13 from 10 a.m. - noon
- Fountain Library – Sat., April 13 from 2 – 4 p.m.
- Library 21c – Sat., April 13 from noon – 2 p.m.
Details about each open house are listed below!
East Library
Mon., April 8 from 10 a.m. - noon
Located at 5550 N. Union Blvd. (Colorado Springs, CO)
East Library is notably one of the best locations for working, studying, and reading with a view. Grand floor-to-ceiling windows in the reading bay provide a stunning view of Pikes Peak. This location also offers access to a park right behind the building that you are welcome to enjoy during your visit. Among this library’s features are a makerspace, a teen center, the Education Resource Center (ERC), meeting rooms, two computer labs, and a large children’s area. Near the entrance, you will find the Donald Stratton exhibit honoring U.S. Army service members, and one of the Friends of PPLD’s Library bookstores.
As one of our Family Place Libraries, East Library has developmental toys in the children’s area, Family Place Play Group programs, materials and resources for parents, and family support services, as well as access to our Family Place Toy Library.
Enjoy refreshments and the following activities:
- Performance by Mountain Harmony in the reading bay
- Eclipse Viewing Party (11 a.m. - 2 p.m.)
- Guided and self-guided tours
- Library card sign-ups (the first 25 will receive a special swag from the Friends of PPLD), scavenger hunt (win a prize!), bookmark craft
- Children’s Area: Children’s scavenger hunt, passive art activity, Family Place play area,
- Homeschool Art Show (on display)
- Teen Center: Video games - Mario Kart/Super Smash Brothers on projector, Blue Spruce Award voting
- Makerspace: Button-making activity, laser engraver, and 3D printer in action
- Reading Bay: Puzzles, board games, bookmobile coloring sheet, PPLD Foundation, and popcorn!
Complete our scavenger hunt for a chance to win great prizes including a $100 family four-pack movie pass complete with popcorn and arcade games at Roadhouse Cinemas or one of three $50 gift cards at Muse Comics + Games.
High Prairie Library
Mon., April 8 from 4 – 6 p.m.
Located at 7035 Old Meridian Rd. (Peyton, CO)
High Prairie Library is a cornerstone of its community that connects people to the resources they need for work, school, and fun. Thanks to an environmental grant, there are geothermal tubes in the ground behind the building that heat and cool the building efficiently. A convenient drive-through window located on the south side of the building makes curbside pickup and book drop-off a breeze. This location also offers ample outdoor space for patrons to enjoy. Stop by and discover the meeting rooms, seed library, computers, and other resources this location has to offer.
Enjoy refreshments and the following activities:
- Performance by Falcon High School Jazz Band
- Library card sign-ups (the first 25 will receive a special swag from the Friends of PPLD)
- Refreshments
- Scavenger hunt (win a prize!)
- Self-guided tour
- Community art activity
- Seed Library display
- Library of Things and Discovery Kit display
- Friends of PPLD book sale
- Bookmark craft
- Children’s area: Rainbow scratch art, children’s scavenger hunt
Drawing for a chance to win a $30 gift card to La Mission Restaurant.
Monument Library
Tue., April 9 from 6 – 8 p.m.
Located at 1706 Lake Woodmoor Dr. (Monument, CO)
Monument Library, nestled on the north side of the Woodmoor Center shopping mall, offers literacy and resources where there used to be a hardware store. Inside, the library’s Madagascar Day Gecko named Ruby is ready to greet visitors alongside Library staff. Despite its smaller size, this location often lands third or fourth for overall checkouts among all Library locations. On good weather days, people enjoy stepping out behind the building to visit the geese and ducks in Serenity Pond. This location offers a meeting room, computers, art exhibits, and other resources.
Enjoy refreshments and the following activities:
- Performance by the Rose County Academy of Irish Dance
- Scavenger hunt (win prizes!)
Button-making activity - Board games for all ages
- Palmer Divide Quiltmakers Quilt tour
- Self-guided tour
- Library card sign-ups (the first 25 will receive a special swag from the Friends of PPLD)
- Paws to Read activity
- Bookmark craft
- Behind the Bookdrop: Processing holds
- Backdoor: Duck feeding station, sidewalk chalk
- Children’s area: Children's scavenger hunt, process art, bookmobile coloring sheet
Complete the scavenger hunt for a chance to win a Dave & Busters Family Four-Pack of game cards totaling $100.
Penrose Library
Wed., April 10 from 4 – 6 p.m.
Located at 20 N. Cascade Ave. (Colorado Springs, CO)(There is paid parking. Library cardholders can get two hours of free parking in the parking lot by scanning their library cards at the parking kiosk.)
Penrose Library was recently closed for two months while we shortened and reconfigured the bookshelves. The Open House will include remarks from Library leadership commemorating its reopening. This library, located in the heart of downtown Colorado Springs, features a computer lab, study rooms, a teen center, a large children’s area, and a Law Collection. The attached historic Carnegie Library houses our Regional History & Genealogy department, as well as the Herbert Hilbert Nonprofit Resource Center with resources for small businesses and nonprofits.
As one of our Family Place Libraries, Penrose Library has developmental toys in the children’s area, Family Place Play Group programs, materials and resources for parents, and family support services, as well as access to our Family Place Toy Library.
Enjoy refreshments and the following activities:
- Performances by Pikes Peak Region Poet Laureate Ashley Cornelius and Colorado Springs Conservatory
- Library card sign-ups (the first 25 will receive a special swag from the Friends of PPLD)
- Scavenger hunt (win a prize!)
- Community art project
- Mini-golf course
- Green screen photo activity
- Bookmark craft
- Teen Area: Coloring activity, Blue Spruce Award voting, Mario Kart video game (teen only)
- Children’s Area: Family Place toys, face painting, Name the Dragon activity
- Upper Parking Lot: Mobile Library Services, bookmobile coloring sheet
Complete our scavenger hunt for a chance to win great prizes including a $100 family four-pack movie pass complete with popcorn and arcade games at Roadhouse Cinemas or a $50 gift card to spend at Downtown Colorado Springs businesses.
Cheyenne Mountain Library
Thu., April 11 from 5 – 7 p.m.
Located at 1785 South 8th St., Suite 100 (Colorado Springs, CO)
Cheyenne Mountain Library is one of our shopping complex libraries. It is beloved by its patrons, who know that what it lacks in size, it makes up for with cozy vibes and friendly and knowledgeable staff. Stop by to learn about the meeting room, computers, art exhibits, and other resources that this location has to offer.
As one of our Family Place Libraries, Cheyenne Mountain Library has developmental toys in the children’s area, Family Place Play Group programs, materials and resources for parents, and family support services, as well as access to our Family Place Toy Library.
Enjoy refreshments, visit our staff table where staff will tell you about our various programs and offerings, and the following activities:
- Performance by the Free Time Quartet
- Library card sign-ups (the first 25 will receive a special swag from the Friends of PPLD)
- Life-size Candy Land game
- Scavenger hunt (win a prize!)
- Self-guided tour
- Bookmark craft activity
- Nintendo Switch video games (all ages)
- Friends of PPLD mini book sale
- Children’s area: Family Place toys, bookmobile coloring sheet
Complete the scavenger hunt for a chance to win a $50 gift certificate to Caffeinated Cow.
Sand Creek Library
Sat., April 13 from 10 a.m. - noon
Located at 1821 South Academy Blvd. (Colorado Springs, CO)
We often hear people say that Sand Creek Library is much larger on the inside than it looks on the outside. This location is home to our state-of-the-art audio recording studio and one of PPLD’s three makerspaces. It also has a teen center, children’s area, meeting rooms, and a computer lab.
As one of our Family Place Libraries, Sand Creek Library has developmental toys in the children’s area, Family Place Play Group programs, materials and resources for parents, and family support services, as well as access to our Family Place Toy Library.
Enjoy refreshments and the following activities:
- Performance by Ballet Folklórico de la Raza at 10 a.m.
- Library card sign-ups (the first 25 will receive a special swag from the Friends of PPLD)
- Scavenger hunt (win a prize!)
- Self-guided tour
- Bookmark craft
- Art Aloud art display
- Community resources info and Friends of PPLD info table
- Makerspace: 3D printer and laser engraver observations, lasered watercolor pages
- Studio 916: Karaoke, playing with instruments, experimenting with various equipment, and listening to music samples from Studio916 patrons
- Teen Zone: Comic book crafts, superhero trivia, LEGO activity
- Children's Area: Harrison School District 2 student art show, bookmobile coloring sheet
- Meeting Room A: Giant Connect 4, coloring and craft, giant Lincoln Logs
Complete our scavenger hunt for a chance to win a $100 family four-pack movie pass complete with popcorn and arcade games at Roadhouse Cinemas.
Fountain Library
Sat., April 13 from 2 – 4 p.m.
Located at 230 South Main St. (Fountain, CO)
Fountain Library’s building was designed by Elizabeth Wright Ingraham, a well-known Colorado Springs architect and granddaughter of Frank Lloyd Wright. The History Wall inside offers a panoramic look at Fountain’s history dating back to its founding. Fountain Library also offers the only Community Room in the entire Library District that patrons can reserve before and after library hours. This location offers a children’s area, a meeting room, a teen center, art exhibits, computers, and other resources.
As one of our Family Place Libraries, Fountain Library has developmental toys in the children’s area, Family Place Play Group programs, materials and resources for parents, and family support services, as well as access to our Family Place Toy Library.
Enjoy refreshments and the following activities:
- Performance by Ballet Folklórico de la Raza at 2:15 p.m.
- Library card sign-ups (The first 25 will receive special prizes)
- Scavenger hunt (win a prize!)
- Self-guided tour
- Friends of PPLD
- Reading Area: Refreshments, puzzles, chess
- Teen Area: Mario Kart Game (all ages), button-making activity
- Children's Area: Toy Library test-drive, window activities, bookmobile coloring sheet
- Display: Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8 art display
- Patio: Birdwatching, Library backpacks display
Complete the scavenger hunt for a chance to win great prizes including a $50 Walmart gift card or a portable Bluetooth speaker from SCHEELS.
Library 21c
Sat., April 13 from noon – 2 p.m.
Located at 1175 Chapel Hills Dr. (Colorado Springs, CO)
Library 21c offers plenty of space for patrons to work and relax with a beautiful view of the Front Range, including Pikes Peak and Cheyenne Mountain. This location is home to a large event venue and PPLD’s test kitchen classroom. Its gallery hosts different exhibits each month. Library 21c also has the Library’s audio-video studio, a makerspace, and an edit bay for video projects. Stop by to discover the large computer lab, teen center, large children’s area, meeting rooms, gaming room, and other resources. (Check out a virtual tour of Library 21c on our website!) Right now, Library 21c is undergoing a process to replace the turf grass in an effort to create a lawn with more sustainable, water-friendly native grasses.
As one of our Family Place Libraries, Library 21c has developmental toys in the children’s area, Family Place Play Group programs, materials and resources for parents, and family support services, as well as access to our Family Place Toy Library.
Enjoy refreshments made by the students of the Food Industry Training program and the following activities:
- Performance by students from Victoria’s School of Harp
- Library card sign-ups (the first 25 will receive a special swag from the Friends of PPLD)
- Staff guided tours
- Scavenger hunt (win a prize!)
- PPLD Foundation info table
- Friends of PPLD
- Bookmark craft
- Family fun video games
- Cornhole lawn game
- Western Window Bay: Coloring and craft activities
- Teen Area: Board games
- Children’s Area: LEGO build, bookmobile coloring sheet
- Kitchen: Adult Education info
- Studio 21c: Green screen activity
- Make 1: Button-making activity
- Make 2: Watch the makerspace in action!
Complete the scavenger hunt for a chance to win a Dave & Busters Family Four-Pack of game cards totaling $100 or a board game.
A big thank you to our sponsors!
Volunteer experience looks good on college applications and can make a job application stand out to potential employers as well. Pikes Peak region teens looking for volunteer hours won’t want to miss out on one of the most fun volunteer experiences of the year: Summer Adventure!
Our 2024 Summer Adventure Program presented by Children’s Hospital Colorado is our annual summer reading program where participants complete reading and activities to earn prizes. The program is packed with a wide variety of special summer events and programs for participants to enjoy as well.
Teen volunteers are an essential part of our summer program. They help people register for the program, pass out prizes, support programs, and complete other volunteer duties as needed. And yes, volunteers can register for the program as well!
Volunteer applications are open now through Wed., May 1. Learn about our teen volunteer requirements and submit your application on our teen volunteer page.