Founded in 1973, Jefferson County Historical Society’s (JCHS) first major effort was to successfully persuade Jefferson County Open Space (JCOS) to purchase the structures now known as Hiwan Homestead Museum.
JCHS was recently renamed as the Evergreen Mountain Area Historical Society. JCOS and EMAHS currently maintain a cooperative relationship that preserves the historical structures while serving to display and interpret EMAHS’s local Colorado collection. Hiwan Homestead Museum was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974 and now features a significant Native American arts collection.
The mission of EMAHS is to protect, preserve and promote the history of Jefferson County. EMAHS members contribute their time and financial support to collect, preserve and interpret local history, ensuring a legacy that enriches the lives of present and future generations.
The Hiwan Homestead Museum is operated by Jefferson County Open Space in partnership with the Evergreen Mountain Area Historical Society (EMAHS) . Hiwan’s restored 1890 – 1930 era rooms illustrate a comfortable style of early mountain summer home living. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places because of its unique architecture. Hiwan Homestead was a mountain retreat for the families who lived within its rough-hewnwalls. In the 1890′s, Mary Neosho William, a Civil War widow, and her daughter Josepha were among the aristocratic society of Denver who camped at Evergreen.
They acquired a simple log structure and hired John “Jock” Spence, a Scottish carpenter, to convert it into a summer cottage. The property was named Camp Neosho after Mrs. Williams’ middle name. Overnight guests would stay in tents, comfortably equipped with wood floors, stoves and double canvas walls. In 1889, Josepha graduated from Gross Medical School in Denver and became one of Colorado’s first women doctors. Seven years later, Josepha married Canon Charles Winfred Douglas, an Episcopal clergyman who achieved world acclaim for his musical work. Josepha Douglas died in 1938 and the house was sold to Tulsa oilman, Darst Buchanan.
His wife renamed the land Hiwan Ranch. Buchanan’s Hiwan Hereford cattle were known throughout the country and won many stock show prizes. Six generations of notable families lived in this rustic mountain lodge before it was developed as a museum by Jefferson County Open Space in 1974.