Jonny Barber’s colorful Colfax Museum archive finally has a permanent home after years of challenges that have drained its founder’s resources, including floods and a fire that nearly destroyed its former building.

History Colorado, the state’s largest historical institution, confirmed this week that Barber has donated his massive collection of neon signs, matchbooks and menus, photographs, letters, and other ephemera from Colfax Avenue’s long, diverse history.

“We are absolutely thrilled to be getting this into the collection,” said Rachael Storm, head of curatorial services and curator of Business & Industry at History Colorado. “It’s something I’ve had my eye on for a long time.”

Stretching from the open spaces east of Aurora to the foothills of Golden, Colfax has hosted presidents a

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