Major Henry McAllister was a devoted friend and colleague of General Palmer, founder of Colorado Springs, and played a critical role in the creation and development of the city. The museum, the restored McAllister house, opened in 1961 and is lovingly maintained as a tribute to Major McAllister and as a way of bringing to life a picture of the McAllister family and the era in which they lived.
Today, the museum is home to many activities. In addition to daily tours for walk-in guests, reservations can be made for scheduled teas and tours at Christmas time and on holidays. Private teas and tours can also be planned in advance. Tours designed for grade school children are popular with both students and teachers. The annual Ice Cream Social held on the lawn in summer, and featuring 5-cent ice cream cones, is a nostalgic nod to the McAllister era.
