Independence Day announcement: Regretfully the Town of Flagler will NOT have a fireworks display or drone show this year. Please attend the Community Independence Day Event with the Flagler Historical Society in partnership with Eastern Plains Cowbelles, Flagler Lions Club, Town of Flagler Recreation and the Lady Panthers Basketball in celebration at the Second Central Schoolhouse/404 4th Street. 9am Pancake Breakfast followed by a day full of fun.

 
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Flagler Hospital Museum & Hal Borland Room

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Flagler Museum Sign, Park bench, Light and Townhall

Display of books authored by Hal Borland, photos and certificates

1909 Hotel Room, Wooden bed with Pink and white quilt, with white metal chamber pot with handle under bed.
1909 Hotel Flagler Room

White wash basin, black soldier cap, white vase of multiple color flowers, old Flagler newspaper and reading glasses on wooden cabinet
Museum Hotel Room Wash Basin

American Flag, Service uniforms, Black and white dress, framed black and white photos
Museum Room of Period Artifacts & Clothing

Wood bed, pink and white quilt, red, yellow and white quilt, picture on the wall of palm tree by water
Museum Hotel Room Bed & Painting

Black & white framed photos, black transmitter on a wooden table
Museum Artifacts including Eye Exam machine

Museum Patient Room, wood crutches, wooden wheel chair, wooden patient bed with orange bedspread, brown and white metal meal tray, chrome metal stretcher with dark gray cushions, white metal tray with white metal urinals
Museum Patient Room

Wooden desk and chair, green telephone, notebook, wood frame black and white photos, 8 call buttons, chime door bell
Museum Nurse Station

outside nursery looking in from hallway, window looking into nursery from hall way, white and green vine curtains, wooden picture frames of baby pictures, white wicker bassinettes, green linoleum flooring
Museum Baby Nursery

Photo of wall display of baby photos, white nurse dress and white shoes on wooden rocking chair, white and metal crib on wheels, white wicker bassinette with yellow bedding, orange teddy bear, fabric doll with brown hair and green dress
Museum Nursery with Baby Photos and Baby Crib

Glass display of glass medicine bottles, white metal bed pan
Museum Medical Artifacts

Photo of brown sign above door with white littering saying Laboratory & Drug Rooms, doctor stool, brown carpet in narrow hallway
Museum Medical Laboratory and Drug Rooms
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Flagler Hospital Museum & Hal Borland Room

311 Main Avenue, Flagler, CO 80815

Open year-round Monday-Friday 9am-3pm

719-765-4571

The Municipal Building at 311 Main Avenue in Flagler, Colorado, is truly a sum of all its parts. It is a stately structure, housing the town government offices and the public library.

But its history as a hotel and then hospital appeals to tourists, who visit all year ‘round.

The Hotel
Built in 1909 by early Flagler developers W. H. Lavington and W. L. Price, the structure became the Hotel Flagler. The hotel was owned and managed by Henry C. Blanken, and served Rock Island Railroad travelers, Flagler rural residents who came to town on business, and others for two decades. It is remembered with a replica of a hotel room at the head of the stairs in the building’s second story.

The Hospital
In the fall of 1937, Dr. W. L. McBride of Seibert, Colorado, opened the remodeled hotel as the Flagler Hospital. When the nine-bed hospital was opened, it was considered to be the best-equipped hospital between Colby, Kansas and Denver. The story of the Flagler Hospital can’t be told without telling the story of Dr. McBride. He was able to bring the latest methods and procedures to his rural general practice, serving three generations of local families. The hospital’s operating team comprised a number of McBride relatives, and this family team is believed to be quite unique in medical history.

For more than 25 years, this private hospital performed a most important and unique service for the area. It closed in 1963 and is remembered today with medical memorabilia and interpretive signs in rooms on the building’s second floor. The life of Dr. McBride is also commemorated there.

The Hal Borland Room
It’s been said that a great man remembers his roots after he finds success. Hal Borland, noted author and columnist, did just that when he wrote County Editor’s Boy, a book about his high school years in Flagler. The town of Flagler established a memorial “Hal Borland Room” in the Flagler Public Library after Borland’s death in 1978.

The room contains significant photographs, books, articles, letters, and awards. In keeping with Borland’s modest manner and his widow’s request, this special room may be viewed by appointment only.