We had the good fortune of connecting with Deb Darrow and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Deb, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
Museum / non-profit work requires staff to typically wear many hats. A museum director can write a grant request, give a tour, shovel snow from walkways, clean the restroom, conduct a wedding consult and pack away artifacts all in one morning. Although museums seem like a quiet place to hang out, behind the scenes can be a bit crazy. There is always something to do and days go by really fast.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I began my professional career as a newspaper reporter and tried several other communication-oriented jobs before landing my dream job at Rosemount Museum. Rosemount is a Victorian house / history museum and at the time, I had no relevant experience. However, I got the job almost 21 years ago and I have never had a bad day of work since. I believe I have been able to pull something from every job I had in the past and use it effectively here at the museum. I am most proud of being a hands-on director and I never ask a staff member or volunteer to do something I wouldn’t or haven’t done myself. That is also what I am the most excited about. That means I get to do a little bit of everything and often things I may have never done before. It’s awesome! Getting to where I am today wasn’t easy and I had to work very hard to gain the respect of the museum community, especially since my background was not in museum work. Facing the daily challenges of museum life was interesting and often frustrating in the beginning but I knew I had to work through every situation. Proving that I would address every issue and complete every task made all the difference in the world. I learned early on in life that you have to work hard to earn respect, however the museum has taught me so much more about work ethics and life in general. My hope is that people always remember me as a kind person, a hard worker, a diplomatic leader, a lover of history and a passionate steward of my museum. More than anything, I hope the work I do today helps to secure the longevity of this beautiful mansion and property.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Of course, we would begin with a tour of Rosemount Museum, which shares the life of early Pueblo pioneers and Pueblo’s history. We would enjoy lunch at Papa Jose’s and visit the antique malls on Union Ave. The second day we would take a drive to Rye and Lake Isabel, stop for a picnic and maybe visit Bishop’s Castle. On the third day, we would visit the Pueblo Zoo in the morning, have lunch at Pueblo Dragon and visit the Steelworks Museum in the afternoon. In the evening we would walk the River Walk, then head to Taffy’s for ice cream. Day four, we head to Colorado Springs for a hike through the Garden of the Gods, grab lunch in Old Colorado City, do some window shopping then head home. Day five, we hang out at home and barbeque while enjoying a cocktail or two. On the sixth day, we head back to Colorado Springs and drive to the top of Pikes Peak, we would munch on their famous donuts then head back to Pueblo. On the last day of my friend’s visit, we have breakfast at home and enjoy each other’s company. But now I am exhausted and it’s time for my dear friend to head home. We have however, visited some of the most fun and interesting places in the area.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The entire family of a locally owned family restaurant, PassKey, where I worked for 10 years while in college and beyond. They taught me everything I know about dealing with the public, how to be diplomatic, how to stay on task, how to prioritize, and trouble-shoot just about any situation imaginable.

Website: www.rosemount.org

Facebook: facebook.com/RosemountMuseum

Other: Find us on TikTok at Rosemount_1893.

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.