The Tesoro Cultural Center (Tesoro means "Treasure" in Spanish) is committed to protecting and making available to the community the artistic treasures of our American past. All Tesoro events are inspired by Colorado’s rich history and shared experiences with Southwest, Spanish, Mexican, Native American, African American and Early European cultures. From art and cuisine to historical re-enactments and music, the Tesoro Foundation’s mission is to create community based events and educational outreach programs designed to enrich and celebrate our cultural heritage.

The Tesoro Cultural Center was created in December 1999 and is a Colorado non-profit corporation organized under the Colorado Non-Profit Corporation Act and has received tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) Internal Revenue Code.

The Tesoro Cultural Center is an organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and has been classified as a public charity under Sections 509(a)(1)/170 (b)(1)(A)(vi) of the Internal Revenue Code.  To see the IRS letter of determination, click here.

Proceeds from all Tesoro Cultural Center sponsored events will benefit the Center.

Tesoro Cultural Center's History

In 1963, Sam Arnold built to scale an adobe replica of Bent’s Old Fort (1833-1849) in the foothills southwest of Denver, Colorado. Originally this fort was to be his private home. As construction costs mounted, he decided to turn the fort replica into a dining establishment serving foods of the Bent’s Fort period.

In 1963, to educate the public about the fur trade period and its importance in Colorado history, Arnold created a museum in The Fort with educational displays and dioramas designed by exhibitors from the Denver Museum of Natural History.

The Tesoro Cultural Center’s vision is to use Old Bent’s Fort as a model to organize historic and cultural events and re-enactments of the early 19th century. Bent’s Old Fort was an international trading center for the French, British, American, African American, Mexican and Spanish settlers, as well as native tribes including the Arapahoe, Ute, Cheyenne, Kiowa, Lakota Sioux and Pawnee. Tesoro events celebrate this international mix of rich culture from our past.


Meet Our Board of Directors
 Jeremy F. Kinney
Chairman of the Board
Kinney Oil Company
Holly Arnold Kinney
Executive Director
The Fort Restaurant
Charlotte F. Baron
Secretary
Fulcrum Publishing
Debbie Emhoolah Sankey
Treasurer
Native American Bank
  Pat Cortez
Director
Wells Fargo Bank
  Dr. Jay Gitlin
Director
Yale University
Ernest House, Jr.
Director
Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs
  R. James Newman
Director
Private Investor
Dr. Lorenzo Trujillo
Director
University of Colorado – Boulder Law School


Advisory Board

John Emhoolah
Adams 12 Five-Star Schools

Mario Carrera
Entravision Communications

Dr. Charlie Carrillo
Artist, Anthropologist, Author

Noel Congdon
Philanthropist

Troy Eid
GT Law

William W. Gwaltney
Historian and Interpreter

Honorary Founding Directors

Dr. Samuel P. Arnold
June 28, 1926 - June 7, 2006

Dr. Mary Fox Arnold
June 25, 1925 - October 30, 2005
Tesoro Cultural Center's bylaws, articles of incorporation, tax returns, non-profit 501(c)(3) documentation, and Board meeting minutes are available for public inspection during regular business hours by visiting the Tesoro Cultural Center office at 19192 Hwy 8, Morrison, CO 80465