Why do we have a Veterans Museum in Broomfield, Colorado?

Early Contributions of Veterans to Broomfield’s Growth

In the 1950s and 60s, veterans profoundly shaped Broomfield’s transformation from a rural area into a modern city. With the construction of the Denver-Boulder Turnpike, investors created affordable housing to attract young couples, including many ex-GIs using the GI Bill. Central to this vision was Bal Swan, who spearheaded the development of Broomfield Heights, aided by notable figures like President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Aksel Nielsen.

Community Building and Legacy

Veterans who settled in Broomfield became active leaders, founding organizations like the Jaycees and local Rotary clubs. They later established the Broomfield Veterans Memorial Museum to preserve their stories and honor their contributions.

Who were the investors?

President Dwight D. Eisenhower was one of the investors, along with Ken Ensor, Aksel Nielsen, Bud Knight, Carl Norgren, and others. The project did not take off as quickly as originally planned, and by the mid-1960s, the initial investors had sold their holdings. It would take a second wave of investors, builders, and entrepreneurs to continue the job these men began, but Broomfield would never be the same.

One of a small group of men who comprised the Turnpike Land Company and built the first neighborhood in Broomfield, Aksel Nielsen is perhaps best known for being a close friend of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was a frequent visitor to Colorado. The two often fished together at Nielsen’s ranch near Fraser. As a developer, Nielsen had a reputation for creating neighborhoods that people could afford to live in, including University Hills in Denver and Broomfield Heights.

Many of the founders of the Broomfield Veterans Memorial Museum were early residents of Broomfield, that bought houses with their GI bills and became active residents.  From early doctors to lawyers and businessmen, the veterans of Broomfield started rotaries and the Jaycees.  As the years passed, these groups felt it important to not only save the history of the new town but also preserve the stories of some of its older veteran residents. Hence the beginning of a museum to honor those stories.

Interested in the history of the Broomfield Veterans Memorial Museum?  Watch this video that includes interviews with our museum’s founders.

 Credit to Carol Turner, from her book Legendary Locals of Broomfield.