Douglas County and Douglas County Libraries have opened three free history exhibits, drawn from artifacts in the Douglas County History Repository, at library branches in Parker, Castle Rock and Highlands Ranch.
The three exhibits
"The Cowboy Way: Life and Work on the Range," Parker Branch, 20105 Mainstreet, Parker. Covers the working cowboys and cowgirls who built Douglas County's cattle industry, with artifacts including saddles, branding irons, spurs and ropes.
"Cream of the County: Our Dairy Heritage," Castle Rock Branch, 100 S. Wilcox Street, Castle Rock. Covers how dairy farming became one of the county's most important industries, with historic milk bottles, dairy equipment and photographs on display.
"Below the Surface: The Rich History of Highlands Ranch," Highlands Ranch Branch, 9292 Ridgeline Blvd., Highlands Ranch. Covers thousands of years of history beneath the Highlands Ranch community, including archaeological discoveries, evidence of Native American life, the historic Big Dry Creek Cheese Ranch, and preservation efforts that happened before the area was developed.
Why now
The exhibits are part of a year-long series Douglas County is running to mark America's 250th anniversary and Colorado's 150th birthday. The county says the exhibits feature artifacts from the Douglas County History Repository, and a video featuring Douglas County Commissioner Teal and county curators selecting the artifacts accompanies the announcement.
Hours and admission
All three exhibits are free. For library hours, check the Douglas County Libraries locations page.
More to explore
For another recent Douglas County Libraries milestone, see our coverage of the Sterling Ranch Library groundbreaking. For the Castle Rock branch itself, see our directory listing for the Philip & Jerry Miller Library.
Sources: Douglas County, "Discover Douglas County's history through three new library exhibits", posted Nov. 5, 2026, checked Nov. 7, 2026.