East Library (EA)

Experience interesting research and knowledge about our local history at the 20th Annual Pikes Peak Regional History Symposium. This year’s theme is “Turning Points in Pikes Peak Regional History.” Presenters, selected from proposals submitted by academics, researchers, and the general public, will explore the narratives that have shaped our region. This unique event serves as a platform for history enthusiasts and newcomers alike, providing a welcoming space to discover the story that created the Pikes Peak region we know today.

Launched in 2004 as a day-long celebration of local history, the Pikes Peak Regional History Symposium is a pivotal event that explores history in the Pikes Peak region. The Symposium has evolved over time to match shifting resources and community needs, and now showcases local history through a compelling three-part series over three days. It starts with engaging short documentaries, followed by traditional in-person presentations, and concludes with a "virtual symposium," which was introduced during the 2020 pandemic lockdown.

The Symposium is sponsored by the Helen and James McCaffrey Fund for Regional History, the Friends of PPLD, and the PPLD Foundation. 

Film Festival and Symposium 

Featuring short films by acclaimed local filmmakers Jim Sawatzki and Steve Antonuccio, the festival showcases documentaries from High School History Day competition winners. It concludes with the world premiere of 4K footage of the iconic Cologne tank battle from World War II.   

• Sat., June 1 from 2 – 4 p.m. — East Library (registration required)

In-person Symposium 

The Pikes Peak region, with its rich tapestry of people, institutions, and landscapes, offers compelling stories of triumph, trouble, and transformation. Come discover the watershed moments that made us who we are today during the in-person portion of the History Symposium featuring engaging presentations exploring this history. 

• Sat., June 8 from 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. — East Library (registration recommended) 

Virtual Symposium 

The virtual portion of this year’s History Symposium will feature presentations exploring turbulent moments in Colorado’s pre-territorial past, the many names of our regions throughout the years, and the evolution of the labor and socialist movements in the Pikes Peak region.    

This part of the History Symposium will be over Zoom. Click here to join.

• Mon., June 10 from 7 – 9 p.m. — Online 

PPLD is teaming up with Muse Comics & Games to offer Free Comic Book Day comic issues for teens on Sat., May 4. This annual nationwide initiative strives to put comics into the hands of both long-time and new comic fans alike. Comics are available at all PPLD locations during this one-day event while supplies last. 

Free Comic Book Day is an excellent way for teens to discover new comic series to fall in love with. Comic stores across the U.S. celebrate by giving out special Free Comic Book Day issues of comics, which can range from being the first issue of a comic series or short one-off stories of larger series. As a public library, we know that not all teens have a nearby comic store that they can visit for free comics. We are happy to connect teens in our community with free comic issues to add to their personal libraries.  

Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) is excited to bring you Virtual Author Visits in partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium. Join us and hear from bestselling authors and thought leaders on a range of topics, from puzzling science to epic fantasy to decluttering your home. Whether you are an avid or occasional reader, there is nothing quite like listening to insightful talks by authors you have read or new ones you are just discovering. You never know what will catch your interest. Attend these events at no cost from the comfort of home. 

In May, join us as we chat with New York Times bestselling author, Douglas Brunt, about instant bestselling debut non-fiction work The Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel: Genius, Power, and Deception on the Eve of World War I. This book reveals the hidden history of Rudolf Diesel, one of the world’s greatest inventors, and his mysterious disappearance on the eve of World War I. Register for the access link. 

Next, you are invited to join Nina Simon online as she chats about her lighthearted whodunnit that follows a grandmother-mother-daughter trio of amateur sleuths, Mother-Daughter Murder Night. Register for the access link.

For the last Virtual Author Visit in May, we welcome you to register for a thrilling conversation with Rebecca F. Kuang (R.F. Kuang) as she talks about her New York Times bestselling novel, Yellowface. The book grapples with questions of diversity, racism, and cultural appropriation, as well as the terrifying alienation of social media. Register for the access link.

Learn more and see upcoming authors on our Virtual Author Visits page or check out past Virtual Author Visits here!  

More Upcoming Virtual Author Visits 

• Mon., June 3 at noon: For the Love of Mars: A Human History of the Red Planet with Smithsonian Curator Matt Shindell  
• Thu., June 13 at 6 p.m.: Psychological Thrillers and the Queen of Twists– An Author Talk with Freida McFadden
• Thu., June 20 at noon: Unpacking a History of Systemic Racism in the American Education System with Tiffany Jewell