Museum exhibit proves Boulder is still as healthy as ever
On a Saturday morning after a late Friday night, the last thing you feel is healthy. But students living here have it made, because as the Boulder History Museum displays in the exhibit Tea to Tofu, Boulder is the hub of the natural-food industry and a healthy lifestyle.
Tea to Tofu opened Oct. 15 and will run through June 10. Admission costs $2 for students and $5 for adults. The Boulder History Museum is easily accessible from campus, located at 1206 Euclid Ave. The exhibit takes visitors on a chronological journey of Boulder’s natural-foods industry and healthy lifestyle.
“The premise of the exhibit is that – since the 1800s – people have come (to Boulder) for a healthy lifestyle, healthy eating, fresh air and clean water,” said Nancy Geyer, CEO of the Boulder History Museum. “Depending on the person, you could spend between thirty minutes to an hour in the exhibit.”
The exhibit includes biographies on specific people who have contributed to Boulder’s natural-food phenomenon, such as Hanna Kroeger, who opened her first health-food store in Boulder in 1958, and Mo Siegel, founder of Celestial Seasonings.
“As a history museum, we are trying to change the stuffy image people sometimes associate with history museums,” said Geyer, ” (The premise of the exhibit) is what a lot of people know Boulder for, so it’s a great way to get people who wouldn’t usually come to the museum to come.”
Tea to Tofu also focuses on all the different natural-food companies associated with Boulder, like Alfalfa’s, Wild Oats and IZZE.
“If college students want a different perspective on healthy food and how it got started, Tea to Tofu is fun to attend,” said Marie McDermott, a senior anthropology major and a Boulder History Museum employee. “There have been a bunch of CU nutrition groups who have come to view the exhibit.”
There were several opening celebrations for the exhibit in early October. Keeping true to the natural food industry, a mixture of organic vodka and IZZE was served at one opening celebration.
According to Geyer, several thousand people are expected to come through the exhibit by June 10. The museum staff hopes to have more CU students come and experience the exhibit throughout the year.
“In the exhibit, you learn so many of these products and companies CU students are familiar with started in Boulder,” said Geyer.
While the exhibit is on display, there will be a variety of programs and activities taking place at the museum that correlate with Tea to Tofu. On Dec. 10, the museum will hold Winter Fest, where students will have the opportunity to make gift baskets for the holiday season filled with organic goodies.
“I think it’s a great idea to send home an organic goodie basket for the holidays,” said Aja Wright, a freshman open-option major. “Being from out of state, it allows me to bring back a piece of Boulder to my family and friends.”
According to Geyer, the museum is also trying to have big people in the natural food industry come and speak at the Boulder History Museum.
To find out upcoming dates for Tea to Tofu programs and activities, check out the Boulder History Museum’s web site at www.boulderhistorymuseum.org.