DENVER (KDVR) — Imagine going to your favorite museum and actually seeing what is behind those locked doors and not on display. You will not have to imagine that at this Denver museum.

The History Colorado Center has more than meets the eye. More than 5 million historic items are carefully preserved. More than 10,000 are military-related, but only a small percentage are on display in public exhibits.

Out of sight from the current exhibits that fill the halls of History Colorado Center lies a treasure trove of artifacts — artifacts hidden to us, maybe, but not military history curator Dr. Chris Juergens.

”I grew up in Germany surrounded by a history of mountains and it’s just never let me go,” Juergens said.

Juergens’ life of military history is alive and well as he guides visitors through the years, decades and centuries.

Most of the artifacts carefully preserved here are from the original owner or his descendants.

“This is an inkwell that used to belong to General Phil Sheridan. He was a general in the Civil War, and this was actually used to sign General Lee’s surrender to General Grant,” Juergens said.

Here in Colorado, the 10th Mountain Division trained at Camp Hale during World War II. At History Colorado Center, 2,500 items tell their story. 

”This is a piece of original signage from Camp Hale, and this one belonged to the mountain training group, which was the instructors,” Juergens said.

It is a look back in time not only reserved for reporters. You can do this too. All you have to do is request an appointment at History Colorado’s research center here, call 303-866-2305, or email: cosearch@state.co.us.