Good Morning, Colorado, and welcome to the Daily Sun-Up. It’s Thursday October 15th, and we’re feeling lucky to start the day with you. Every week day we’re sharing a closer look at one of our top stories, followed by a quick summary of other important things happening in our state. Today our focus is on the controversial Union Soldier statue now on display in the History Colorado Museum.

But before we begin, let’s go back in time with some Colorado history adapted from historian Derek R Everett’s book “Colorado Day by Day”:

Today, we take you back to October 15th, 1906 when a team of Japanese immigrant laborers commenced work on one of the many short line railways in the Colorado high country. They laid track up to a quarry town named for its pure white stone: Marble. The 10-mile route inspired boom times in Marble.

Now, our feature story. 

In August, History Colorado’s Jason Hanson, addressed the Capitol Building Advisory Committee about a one-year loan of the Union soldier statue that had been toppled in June by unknown protesters. Sparked by the dialogue that followed the statue’s toppling, the museum suggested displaying the piece with commentary that would explain its interpretation by various groups.

Hanson said that the museum viewed this as a teachable moment -- “not as an erasure or reinstallation, but a chance to consider monuments and how we value them.”

The committee unanimously approved the loan.

Museums have long displayed controversial works, long enough to have developed a set of best practices. Those involve considering the piece in question from three separate periods -- like the time it commemorates, the time it was originally installed, and the present day. History Colorado then set about fielding interpretations of the Union soldier statue from a variety of voices.

Sun reporter Kevin Simpson is joining today to tell us more about the exhibit. 

Kevin, can you start by explaining what makes this exhibit unique?

So, given the fact that this statue is so controversial, what is the overarching purpose of the exhibit?

And what will happen when the exhibit closes a year from now?

Thank you so much, Kevin.

The statue now stands in a spacious stairwell just off the atrium of History Colorado’s downtown museum. Visitors can take in a 360-degree view of the piece and also observe it from the building’s upper floors. The interpretations laid out on panels before it lend context to the whole story -- not only to the sentiments surrounding its creation as the Civil War approached its 50th anniversary, but to the reasons some have despised it for years and others would tear it down.

Before we go here are a few stories you should know about today:A spreadsheet snafu has exposed private data of 30,000 Colorado state employees. State officials say files have been deleted and there’s no evidence of misuse, but those affected are being told to take precautions.

During the final Colorado U.S. Senate debate Cory Gardner declared Roe v. Wade a [quote] “settled law” and John Hickenlooper expressed concern about packing the Supreme Court

With many U.S. stores closing during the coronavirus pandemic, especially inside malls, the owners of COVID-19 essentials have seized on the empty space.

Video from a Denver television station shows that a pro-police demonstrator who was fatally shot by a security guard was apparently angry that he was being filmed just seconds before the shooting.

For more information on all of these stories, visit our website, www.coloradosun.com. 

And remember, The Colorado Sun is non-partisan and completely independent. We're always dedicated to telling the in-depth stories we need today more than ever. And The Sun is supported by readers and listeners like you.

You can stay on top of Colorado news by signing up for free newsletters at coloradosun.com/newsletters. And you can join our Sun community by becoming a member, starting at just $5 a month. Thanks again for starting your morning with us and remember to tune in again tomorrow.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning, Colorado, and welcome to the Daily Sun-Up. It&rsquo;s Thursday October 15th, and we&rsquo;re feeling lucky to start the day with you. Every week day we&rsquo;re sharing a closer look at one of our top stories, followed by a quick summary of other important things happening in our state. Today our focus is on the controversial Union Soldier statue now on display in the History Colorado Museum.
But before we begin, let&rsquo;s go back in time with some Colorado history adapted from historian Derek R Everett&rsquo;s book &ldquo;Colorado Day by Day&rdquo;:
Today, we take you back to October 15th, 1906 when a team of Japanese immigrant laborers commenced work on one of the many short line railways in the Colorado high country. They laid track up to a quarry town named for its pure white stone: Marble. The 10-mile route inspired boom times in Marble.
Now, our feature story.&nbsp;
In August, History Colorado&rsquo;s Jason Hanson, addressed the Capitol Building Advisory Committee<a href="https://coloradosun.com/2020/09/03/union-soldier-statue-history-colorado/"> about a one-year loan of the Union soldier statue</a> that had been toppled in June by unknown protesters. Sparked by the dialogue that followed the statue&rsquo;s toppling, the museum suggested displaying the piece with commentary that would explain its interpretation by various groups.
Hanson said that the museum viewed this as a teachable moment -- &ldquo;not as an erasure or reinstallation, but a chance to consider monuments and how we value them.&rdquo;
The committee unanimously approved the loan.
Museums have long displayed controversial works, long enough to have developed a set of best practices. Those involve considering the piece in question from three separate periods -- like the time it commemorates, the time it was originally installed, and the present day. History Colorado then set about fielding interpretations of the Union soldier statue from a variety of voices.
Sun reporter Kevin Simpson is joining today to tell us more about the exhibit.&nbsp;
Kevin, can you start by explaining what makes this exhibit unique?
So, given the fact that this statue is so controversial, what is the overarching purpose of the exhibit?
And what will happen when the exhibit closes a year from now?
Thank you so much, Kevin.
The statue now stands in a spacious stairwell just off the atrium of History Colorado&rsquo;s downtown museum. Visitors can take in a 360-degree view of the piece and also observe it from the building&rsquo;s upper floors. The interpretations laid out on panels before it lend context to the whole story -- not only to the sentiments surrounding its creation as the Civil War approached its 50th anniversary, but to the reasons some have despised it for years and others would tear it down.
Before we go here are a few stories you should know about today:A spreadsheet snafu has exposed private data of 30,000 Colorado state employees. State officials say files have been deleted and there&rsquo;s no evidence of misuse, but those affected are being told to take precautions.
During the final Colorado U.S. Senate debate Cory Gardner declared Roe v. Wade a [quote] &ldquo;settled law&rdquo; and John Hickenlooper expressed concern about packing the Supreme Court
With many U.S. stores closing during the coronavirus pandemic, especially inside malls, the owners of COVID-19 essentials have seized on the empty space.
Video from a Denver television station shows that a pro-police demonstrator who was fatally shot by a security guard was apparently angry that he was being filmed just seconds before the shooting.
For more information on all of these stories, visit our website,<a href="http://www.coloradosun.com/"> www.coloradosun.com</a>.&nbsp;
And remember, The Colorado Sun is non-partisan and completely independent. We're always dedicated to telling the in-depth stories we need today more than ever. And The Sun is supported by readers and listeners like you.
You can stay on top of Colorado news by signing up for free newsletters at<a href="http://coloradosun.com/newsletters"> coloradosun.com/newsletters</a>. And you can join our Sun community by becoming a member, starting at just $5 a month. Thanks again for starting your morning with us and remember to tune in again tomorrow.See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Welcome to The Colorado Sun's daily podcast, The Daily Sun-Up. Every day we’re sharing an in-depth look at one of our top stories, followed by a quick summary of important things happening in our state. For more visit us at https://coloradosun.com/.

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