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Museum bringing Norman Rockwell collection to Craig

Joe Moylan
Norman Rockwell (Feb. 3, 1894 -Nov. 8, 1978) was a distinguished American illustrator. During a 47-year career with The Saturday Evening Post, Rockwell’s drawings appeared on the publication’s cover 322 times. A collection of all 322 original tear sheets, as shown above, will be on display at the Museum of Northwest Colorado, 590 Yampa Ave., beginning in May and running through September.
Courtesy Photo

In other action ...

At its regular meeting Tuesday, the Moffat County Commission:

• Approved, 3-0, appointing Richard Nichols to the Regional Emergency Medical and Trauma Advisory Council.

• Approved, 3-0, funding for a mosquito database subscription for weed and pest control.

• Approved, 3-0, January meeting minutes for the Department of Social Services.

• Approved, 3-0, Moffat County serving as the fiscal agent for grants for Connections 4 Kids early childhood council.

• Heard monthly reports from Social Services.

• Heard a Yampa Valley Data Partners program update from executive director Kate Nowak.

• Approved, 3-0, the Museum of Northwest Colorado allocating $28,000 of its mineral lease money to bring a Norman Rockwell exhibit to the museum.





Norman Rockwell (Feb. 3, 1894 -Nov. 8, 1978) was a distinguished American illustrator. During a 47-year career with The Saturday Evening Post, Rockwell’s drawings appeared on the publication’s cover 322 times. A collection of all 322 original tear sheets, as shown above, will be on display at the Museum of Northwest Colorado, 590 Yampa Ave., beginning in May and running through September.

In other action …

At its regular meeting Tuesday, the Moffat County Commission:

• Approved, 3-0, appointing Richard Nichols to the Regional Emergency Medical and Trauma Advisory Council.

• Approved, 3-0, funding for a mosquito database subscription for weed and pest control.



• Approved, 3-0, January meeting minutes for the Department of Social Services.

• Approved, 3-0, Moffat County serving as the fiscal agent for grants for Connections 4 Kids early childhood council.



• Heard monthly reports from Social Services.

• Heard a Yampa Valley Data Partners program update from executive director Kate Nowak.

• Approved, 3-0, the Museum of Northwest Colorado allocating $28,000 of its mineral lease money to bring a Norman Rockwell exhibit to the museum.

The name Norman Rockwell is synonymous with The Saturday Evening Post.

In 47 years the publication featured 322 of Rockwell’s illustrations on its cover.

It’s been 96 years since Rockwell’s first cover piece, “Mother’s Day Off,” appeared on the Post cover.

Beginning in May, all of Rockwell’s original Post tear sheets will be on display at the Museum of Northwest Colorado, 590 Yampa Ave.

Museum director Dan Davidson made the bid to bring the exhibit to Craig.

“We did a Rockwell exhibit a number of years ago and it was really well received,” Davidson said. “I think that year was the most highly attended year ever at the museum.”

Davidson appeared before the Moffat County Commission Tuesday to get commissioner consent for the exhibit, which is coming from the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Mass., and carries a price tag of $28,000 to run from May through September.

Funding for the exhibit is not coming out of county coffers, Davidson said. The museum is paying for the exhibit with mineral lease money.

“We couldn’t do it otherwise,” Davidson said.

The commission approved the request unanimously.

“I think this is going to be a great exhibit,” commissioner Audrey Danner said. “A lot of us grew up with Norman Rockwell and The Saturday Evening Post.”

Rockwell was born Feb. 3, 1894, in New York City.

It’s been written that early in his career Rockwell’s ambition was to have his work published on the cover of the Post, which he viewed as the greatest show window in the country.

Rockwell’s illustrations are often touted as reflections of American culture during periods of rapid growth and change in the 20th century.

He died Nov. 8, 1978, at age 84 in Stockbridge, leaving behind a lifetime of works featured on the covers of The Literary Digest, The Country Gentleman, Leslie’s Weekly, Judge, Peoples Popular Monthly and Life Magazine. But it’s his work for the Post that leaves an indelible legacy.

“Ever since we featured the first Rockwell exhibit, we’ve wanted to do another one,” Davidson said. “It’s a huge collection and I think people will really enjoy it.”

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