Mead, Walter C., 1866-1951.

Walter C. Mead, a noted patron of the arts and sciences in Denver, served on the Board of Trustees of the Colorado Museum of Natural History (now the Denver Museum of Nature & Science) from early 1913 until his death in 1951. Walter C. Mead was born in 1866 in Greenwich, Connecticut, on a farm that had been in the family since 1662. The oldest of four children, he worked as a clerk in a brokerage office in New York City for a year, then decided to head west to Colorado. He arrived in Denver in 1885, worked a bit in real estate, and in 1886 took a position in the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad main office. In 1891 he joined Citizens Water Company, a private utility later taken over by Denver Union Water Company. Mead advanced through the ranks and was Assistant General Manager of the company when he retired in 1910. A bachelor, he decided to enjoy retirement by travelling around the world. He started collecting works of art in his travels. Eventually he specialized in Japanese bronzes, Chinese porcelain and lacquer ware, and antique English furniture. While at home between travels, Mead donated time and money to various civic projects around Denver. In 1913 he was appointed to the Board of Trustees of the young Colorado Museum of Natural History. For many years he served the Museum with vision, good judgment, and "when financial assistance was needed, it was cheerfully given," as inscribed in Museum records shortly after his death. Mead's contributions helped fund major building renovations and improvements in exhibits. He was the initial donor for moving the habitat groups into the renowned curved and domed dioramas seen today. The first hall converted to the dioramas was named the Walter C. Mead Ecological Hall, now known as Explore Colorado. In 1949 Mead paid the Museum's portion of an expedition to Australia that brought back numerous specimens for exhibits on that part of the world. Mead shared his interest and generosity not only with this Museum, but also with the Denver Art Museum, the University of Denver, and the City and County of Denver. He died in 1951 at age 84 but his name lives on in many halls and memorials in Denver.

Walter C. Mead, a noted patron of the arts and sciences in Denver, served on the Board of Trustees of the Colorado Museum of Natural History (now the Denver Museum of Nature & Science) from early 1913 until his death in 1951.

Mead was born in 1866 in Greenwich, Connecticut, on a farm that had been in the family since 1662. The oldest of four children, he worked as a clerk in a brokerage office in New York City for a year, then decided to head west to Colorado. He arrived in Denver in 1885, worked a bit in real estate, and in 1886 took a position in the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad main office. In 1891 he joined Citizens Water Company, a private utility later taken over by Denver Union Water Company. Mead advanced through the ranks and was Assistant General Manager of the company when he retired in 1910. A bachelor, he decided to enjoy retirement by travelling around the world. He started collecting works of art in his travels. Eventually he specialized in Japanese bronzes, Chinese porcelain and lacquer ware, and antique English furniture.

While at home between travels, Mead donated time and money to various civic projects around Denver. In 1913 he was appointed to the Board of Trustees of the young Colorado Museum of Natural History. For many years he served the Museum with vision, good judgment, and "when financial assistance was needed, it was cheerfully given," as inscribed in Museum records shortly after his death. Mead's contributions helped fund major building renovations and improvements in exhibits. He was the initial donor for moving the habitat groups into the renowned curved and domed dioramas seen today. The first hall converted to the dioramas was named the Walter C. Mead Ecological Hall, now known as Explore Colorado. In 1949 Mead paid for the Museum's portion of an expedition to Australia that brought back numerous specimens for exhibits on that part of the world. Mead shared his interest and generosity not only with this Museum, but also with the Denver Art Museum, the University of Denver, and the City and County of Denver. He died in 1951 at age 84 but his name lives on in many halls and memorials in Denver.