Culture Gallery
Kate Ferretti: The Life of a Colorado Hat Maker
Exhibit Dates: June 27, 2025 - April 19, 2026
Over the course of the 19th and 20th centuries, hats were an integral part of an individual’s attire. For women in particular, unique hats made with uncommon materials were seen as status symbols, indicating wealth and social position. However, both men and women across the economic spectrum needed hats. So, who was making hats and how did those hat makers learn their craft?
Kate Ferretti: The Life of a Colorado Hat Maker follows the remarkable life of nationally renowned hat maker Kate Ferretti. Beginning with her childhood and entry into the Denver workforce at the age of thirteen, then starting a family and successful business spanning nearly five decades, the exhibit provides visitors with an intimate look into Ferretti’s personal and professional life. This exhibition explores sources from Ferretti’s family and the collections of the Littleton Museum and History Colorado, to help tell the full story of this fascinating local maker’s life.
The exhibition is on display at the Littleton Museum from Friday, June 27, 2025 until April 19, 2026.
Exhibit Events
Opening Reception
Thursday, June 26, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. at the Littleton Museum.
No RSVP required. All ages welcome. Light refreshments served. Ample parking available in lot.
Magnificent Hat Makers at Bemis Library
Friday, October 17, 2025 from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Our neighbor, Bemis Library, is hosting a hat-making workshop on Friday, October 17. Go to the Cloud Forest room from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. and use heaps of creativity and unconventional materials to craft a museum-worthy hat.
Then come across the street and show us your gorgeous hats and enjoy “Kate Ferretti: The Life of a Colorado Hat Maker” in the gallery.
The History of Hats Lecture
Thursday, February 19, 2026 from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
A fascinating lecture about the history of hats, presented by staff from the Avenir Museum of Design and Merchandising at CSU.
Why were hats so important for daily wear for most Americans in the 1900s? Learn the captivating history of hats as part of the exhibit, “Kate Ferretti: The Life of a Colorado Hat Maker.”
No RSVP required. Ample parking in attached lot.
Gear Up: The Science of Bikes
Exhibit Dates: June 5, 2026 - September 6, 2026
From Friday, June 5, 2026 through Sunday, September 6, 2026, the Littleton Museum will present Gear Up: The Science of Bikes, developed by Carnegie Science Center (Pittsburgh, PA.).
From schoolyards and mountain trails to bustling city streets, we encounter bicycles nearly every day. Since its inception in the late 19th century, the bicycle has affected how people live, work, and play. Its popularity has only grown over time, and it is as relevant today as it was 100 years ago.
The invention of the bicycle made an immediate impact on society and personal mobility and helped to shape our culture. Like any great invention, it has been upgraded and adapted over the years. Because the bicycle is so commonplace, it is easy to take for granted how it works. At “Gear Up,” visitors discover the bicycle as an elegant example of basic science principles.
You will learn:
- How bikes work
- The history and evolution of the bike
- The science and technology behind the machine
- How bikes have impacted our culture
Like the bicycle itself, the exhibition has been designed to appeal to people of all ages and with diverse interests, from STEM to design to history to art.
Gear Up is a combination of interactive stations and displays encouraging exploration and discovery centered around the history, design and engineering of the bicycle. Each station presents either an actual bicycle from different eras, or an interactive exhibit exploring material science or engineering.
Among the many bicycles on display is the Penny Farthing, one of the ancestors of the modern bicycle. Visitors will also get to see classic bikes, like the Big Wheel, a number of sport bikes, and various customized bicycles including a Tall Bike, a unicycle, and a mini clown bike.
At Gear Up, visitors can engage with many fun hands-on activities such as ‘pedaling’ a crank to generate power or rolling balls down a series of ramps to see Newton’s Laws in effect.
Gear Up: The Science of Bikes was developed by Carnegie Science Center and produced in partnership with the Sciencenter.
Exhibit Events
Opening Reception
Thursday, June 4, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. at the Littleton Museum.
No RSVP required. All ages welcome. Light refreshments served. Ample parking available in lot.