This building was constructed specifically to house the Dioramas of artist Hank Gentsch. Eleven scenes depict the early mining operation of the area. Mr. Gentsch, a Denver artist, donated this collection of superbly carved wooden figures. A 1949 car accident left him confined to a wheelchair. After the accident, with no formal training, he began woodcarving. Mr. Gentsch combined this gift for carving with his passion for Colorado history to create the scenes on display here. Each miniature scene is complete with oil-painted backgrounds, to-scale plants, and animals, and captures moments in the lives of early prospectors.
When he retired, he divided his collection of dioramas into three parts and gifted them to the South Park City, the National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum in Leadville, and the Elbert County Museum in Kiowa.
