You will find authentic Native American and Western crafts and gifts to give, to collect, and to appreciate in the Koshare Trading Post.
In addition, to the art and artifacts, see the largest self-supported log roof in the world -- one of the most popular features in the museum.
Discover the inspiring story of how a group of boys built the Koshare program. The story begins at the bottom of the Great Depression.
The Koshare Indian Dancers are the members of Boy Scout Troop 232 and Venturing Crew 2230 of the Rocky Mountain Council, Boy Scouts of America.
The Starving Artist
by Andy Anderson
Herbert S. Anderson, famously known as Andy Anderson, was one of the most recognized masters of 20th century woodcarving. He was most famously known for his Scandinavian flat-plane style of woodcarving and caricature carving. Andy was the first recognized American caricature carver and also produced the first caricature carving how-to book. His caricatures were highly regarded and sought after by movie stars, politicians, and other high society.
Herbert S. Anderson
(1893 -1960)
Andy was born in 1893 in Chicago, Illinois. When he was a teenager he moved with his family to Turret, Colorado. At the age of sixteen he left home to work with a cowboy. While he was out working as a cowpoke earning a meager $30 per month he began to develop ideas for wood carved characters. Andy wrote in his book "One day a cowboy rode in from Wyoming, who was the homeliest man I had ever laid eyes on. All the rest of that day I could see him in my mind and thought, 'What a good character he would make for a wood carving!' He was my first model, and this was my first attempt at carving a likeness of anyone. The figure of this old weather-beaten cowpoke turned out real good (much to my surprise) and from then on I started carving characters."
In 1927 Andy moved to California to be near his parents. His figure carving began to develop as he was creating characters of the Old West. He began carving full time and earned a respectable living through the 1930s.
During World War II most of the items he carved went to high ranking officials in the Army and one was even given as a gift to President Franklin D. Roosevelt from Jesse Jones, Secretary of Commerce.
His work as well as photos of his work were circulated world wide and he served as an inspiration to other woodcarvers, including Harold Enlow.
