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Animas Museum director to retire in autumn

Bowra will remain until Oct. 31
Carolyn Bowra, left, director of the Animas Museum, is stepping down after five years. This photo with Beth Green, then president of the La Plata County Historical Society board of directors, was taken as she began her tenure.

Carolyn Bowra, director of the Animas Museum, will retire at the end of October.

“You often hear, ‘It’s a marathon, not a sprint,’” she said. “And this is neither. It’s a relay. Robert (McDaniel) ran an awesome first leg, and we had a good hand-off to me. I ran a strong leg, and it is now time for the hand-off.”

Bowra, who became the director in 2010 after longtime director McDaniel retired, said she is retiring because health problems have not allowed her to work to the standard she has set for herself.

“But I love the museum, and the board, and the staff and the volunteers,” she said. “So I will be around and do what I can as a volunteer.”

What are her most significant accomplishments during her tenure?

“I’m proud of the roof on the Peterson house and the steps we took to get it ready for interpretative visits,” she said. “And the Smithsonian exhibit was huge, a nice feather in the museum’s cap.”

The traveling Smithsonian exhibit called Journey Stories introduced a lot of new people to the museum, she said.

“She is so personable and has such a fantastic sense of humor,” said Kathie McKenzie, La Plata County Historical Society board president. “When Carolyn came, she just fit right in. She’s always two steps ahead in seeing what needs to be done.”

The board of directors of the society has formed a hiring committee, and an ad will begin running Sunday in The Durango Herald classifieds, Bowra said. The museum’s fiscal year ends Oct. 31, and Bowra plans to help the new director transition into the role.

“I have visions of running into people at the Post Office and hearing, ‘Oh, you’re still here,” she said with a laugh.

The hiring committee has some high goals for Bowra’s successor.

“We want someone who loves history and loves our community,” McKenzie said, “someone who will go the next step with what needs to be done for the organization and can be the face both for the historical society and the museum.”

Whoever gets the job will enjoy working at the museum, she said.

“It’s such a fun place to work,” she said. “You never know who will come through the door with a wondrous surprise.”

abutler@durangoherald.com



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