The 90s: The Last Decade before the Future

History Colorado Center, Denver, CO

5,000 square foot Marquis Exhibit Space

Nov. 2024 - Oct. 2025

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The 90s: The Last Decade Before the Future transports visitors back to a decade that bridged the analog and digital worlds. Moving year by year, the exhibit explores defining moments of the 1990s—from the fall of the Berlin Wall and Y2K anxieties to the explosion of cell phones, the internet, and Denver’s own cultural growth. With more than 500 artifacts, immersive environments, and nostalgic pop-culture touchstones like a recreated Blockbuster video store, the exhibit captures the energy, creativity, and contradictions of the era. It highlights how the 1990s shaped the technology, politics, and cultural identities that continue to influence our lives today.

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As one of the lead curators for this exhibit, I shaped the exhibition’s exploration of how politics, domestic life, and popular culture intersected in this pivotal decade. I originated object loans relating to domestic life and social history—ranging from everyday household artifacts to iconic cultural touchstones—ensuring the exhibition reflected the lived experience of the era. I also spearheaded the selection of political events and narratives included in the show, weaving them together with material culture to highlight how global shifts were felt in homes and communities. This work combined artifact stewardship, interpretive vision, and cross-departmental collaboration to bring a defining decade vividly to life for diverse audiences.