Michael Ricker Pewter Museum and Gallery, Estes Park

The collections of Michael Ricker may be some of the most well known and collected in the country. Since a young man, he found many ways to share his creativity and entrepreneurship. Since the establishment of Michael Ricker Pewter Inc. and the creation of its own museum, gallery, and studio, he has created about 5,000 pewter sculptures. The studio has employed over 100 skilled crafts people and produces over 100 new pieces a year. You can visit these pewter casting grounds today in Estes Park, Colorado.

Michael Ricker was born in 1940 in Fort Collins, CO. As a young man he spent many hours drawing, sculpting, and making jewelry. During college at Colorado State University, he successfully made and sold many T-shirts with cartoon like figures. He quickly got more involved with making jewelry, especially by casting pewter into rings, pendants, and boxes.

Michael displayed his very first set of pewter figurines in 1968. His most well known masterpiece is 'Park City,' an entire town cast out of pewter, displaying a lively city at the turn of the 20th century. He offered this piece to President Ford in 1976. His work spans from small funny figurines to life size mantle pieces.

Early on, Michael teamed up with his father in law to create collectibles. As his work became more popular he opened his own business and studio. Michael Ricker passed away January of 2006, spending his final years sculpting nearly every night in Ft. Collins. Today his studio is open to the public year round. It is located two miles east of town, on Highway 34 East.

For hours and information, visit the Ricker Pewter website.