On Saturday, Aug. 1, the Glenwood Springs Historical Society will host the Theodore Roosevelt Commemorative Dinner at the Hotel Colorado, celebrating the 26th president’s visits to Garfield County in the early 20th century as well as 150 years of Colorado statehood. A fundraiser for the Historical Society, the black tie event will take guests back in time with historically inspired food, live music and more. Period attire is encouraged.
The highlight of the evening will be an appearance by President Roosevelt himself, as portrayed by Chautauquan Doug Mishler, a nationally recognized humanities scholar, retired American history professor and leading interpreter of historic figures. Mark Jensen, the executive director of the Glenwood Springs Historical Society, explained that “a Chautauquan not only portrays a historic figure, they’re a scholar on that figure. It’s not a script. It’s not just a performance.”
Mishler will bring Roosevelt’s humor, intellect, energy and storytelling ability to life, entertaining guests with tales from Roosevelt’s various visits to Glenwood Springs and sharing thoughts on the issues of his time including conservation, leadership and public service. Jensen is excited for the Chautauquan’s performance, adding that Mishler is “very knowledgeable, and President Roosevelt is one of his favorites to portray.” Attendees will also have an opportunity to mingle with Mishler and ask questions throughout the evening.
President Roosevelt visited the Glenwood area several times, drawn by its renowned hunting, natural beauty and proximity to the railroad, which allowed him to stay informed while in office. A three-week stay at the Hotel Colorado for a bear hunting expedition in 1905 even earned the hotel a moniker: “The White House of the West.”
The dinner itself features a near-recreation of the menu from a banquet Roosevelt hosted during that 1905 stay in honor of his local hunting guides and others at the Hotel Colorado.
Vocalist Heidi Rovig and pianist Kyle Jones will help set the scene with music by artists like Cole Porter, Fats Waller and Duke Ellington with the class and charm of the era.
“Heidi and I have been working together for the last decade on and off. We will be doing a number of jazz standards to set an early 20th century vibe,” Jones said.
The event will also feature an auction, where guests can bid on items like Canyon Spirit’s “Rockies to Red Rocks” train experience, donated by Armstrong Collective, to keep the historical energy chugging along after the dinner.
Depending on who you ask, Roosevelt’s reshaping of the American presidency, our international standing and foreign policy, regulations on big business and conservation are either to thank or to blame for many aspects of our modern political world. His legacy is bold and complex. It includes groundbreaking advances in consumer protection and labor rights, but not for people of color. His unprecedented conservation efforts established five national parks and the U.S.Forest Service and preserved over 230 million acres of land for sustainable “public” use, but approximately 86 million of those acres were Indigenous lands, and the Indigenous peoples living on them were often forcibly removed from and denied access to their ancestral homes.
Roosevelt greatly expanded the power of the executive branch with his charisma, tenacity and enthusiasm. He also transformed that personal dynamism into more political power by pioneering the strategic use of media to shape public opinion, helping define modern politics.
Jensen shared that “Mishler is the first person to say Roosevelt was loud! So we’re looking forward to an energetic evening.”
As a child, Teddy wanted to be a naturalist when he grew up, a spirit evident in his conservationism. Jensen said, “We’re always glad to celebrate the president’s connection to natural resources, which is important here on the Western Slope.”
The event is sponsored by Collett Enterprises, a wholesale petroleum products company based in Gypsum. Jensen explained that when the Historical Society put out a call for local sponsors, Collett answered, and they’re “very grateful to have the support of local businesses and recognize their support for the preservation of local history.”
He added that the preservation of natural resources is not the focus of the event, but “[Mishler’s] portrayal of President Roosevelt will almost certainly include comments on that in his presentation, and our audience can make of it what they will.”
For all his ruggedness and boisterous personality, Teddy Roosevelt is also credited, rather ironically, with the naming of the teddy bear. In one origin story, the staff at the Hotel Colorado play a major role — but you’ll have to attend the event to find out how!
Learn more about what Teddy himself would say about his legacy and support the Glenwood Springs Historical Society at the Commemorative Dinner on Aug. 1 at 6pm. Tickets are $140 for members and $150 for non-members and must be purchased by July 27 at the latest. Tickets and more information about the Historical Society’s other programs can be found on their website, glenwoodhistory.org, or in person during their business hours.