In 1956, a group of citizens recommended that a manuscript written by Marion Savage Sabin detailing the founding of Palmer Lake, Monument, and the surrounding Tri-Lakes region, entitled “Palmer Lake, A Historical Narrative,” be published. To accomplish this, they also recommended that a Historical Society be formed to continue the preservation of the area’s history.

The Palmer Lake Historical Society was subsequently founded by Marian McIntyre McDonough and was incorporated with a full slate of officers and directors.

The Society established a museum, which later became the Lucretia Vaile Museum, and expanded its scope to collecting the history and artifacts from the Palmer Divide area.

The Society publishes histories of Monument, Palmer Lake, and the area surrounding these towns with additional research and historical publications planned.

The Lucretia Vaile Museum began in the basement of the Palmer Lake Marshal’s Offices (originally the AT&SF Section Foreman’s house). The museum quickly outgrew that building, and the current Library-Museum was dedicated on October 4, 1981.

The building was erected as a memorial to Lucretia Vaile, who left a bequest to the town of Palmer Lake, which was used to build the original structure. With the new building came new museum pieces. A local furrier who was going out of business donated the glass display cases still used in the museum.

An addition was built in 1996 with money the Palmer Lake Historical Society received from the estate of Lena Royse, providing storage and administrative space. The Museum now contains permanent exhibits dedicated to the towns of Palmer Lake and Monument as well as the surrounding area including Black Forest and the U.S. Airforce Academy. The rich history of the Palmer Divide area is maintained as a legacy for those yet to come.

A Museum Director, Staff, and Docents, all of whom are volunteers, operate the Museum.

It houses many photos, articles, and artifacts of the historical Palmer Lake, Monument and Palmer Divide areas. Special displays are rotated every 4-6 months.