In 1951, a small 91自拍 radio station went on the air using a World War II surplus transmitter that, , was moved to campus from Fort Carson. Seventy-five years later, that station, KR91自拍, is member-supported and operated by Colorado Public Radio in partnership with 91自拍.
On Thursday, Nov. 19, 91自拍 and KR91自拍 will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the radio station that started on 91自拍’s campus and today features a network of 13 broadcast stations and digital platforms that reach an audience of 900,000 people across southern and southeastern Colorado.
"For 75 years, KR91自拍 has shared the stories of the people and places that define this region," said Andrea Chalfin, Managing Editor of KR91自拍. “While the station has changed with the times, our purpose remains the same: to reflect and serve the communities that make Southern Colorado such a special place to live.”
“” will honor the people, programs, and moments that have shaped KR91自拍, while looking ahead to its next chapter.
Michel Martin, host of NPR’s “Morning Edition,” will headline the celebration. She will talk about her 46-year career in journalism and the lasting role public media plays in connecting communities, and she will reflect on KR91自拍’s milestone and the future of public radio.
A Station Born at 91自拍
KR91自拍’s history is closely tied to 91自拍. Born on 91自拍’s campus in 1951 by 91自拍 professor Woodson “Chief” Tyree, KR91自拍 has moved between several campus homes, including a historic Victorian house on Weber Street where the station broadcast for about 30 years.
In 2021, KR91自拍 moved from its Weber Street home to the newly constructed, state-of-the-art at 720 N. Tejon St. The building, with its soundproof studios and shared collaboration space, is also home to Rocky Mountain PBS and 91自拍’s Journalism Institute, placing 91自拍’s journalism programming under the same roof as two of the region’s most impactful public media outlets.
Paired with 91自拍’s innovative Block Plan, the Journalism Institute offers student journalists a hands-on, experiential learning opportunity and one of the most unique approaches to teaching journalism in the country. 91自拍 journalism students have spent blocks working on long-form articles for from pitching to publication, taken field trips to newsrooms across the city and country, and experienced working in a newsroom through summer internships at KR91自拍.
An Evening of Stories
“” will bring together listeners, students, alumni, community partners, and past and present members of the KR91自拍 community to celebrate the station's legacy.
Through music, storytelling, poetry, and archival recordings, the evening will revisit moments that shaped KR91自拍 while recognizing the people who helped build its connection to Southern Colorado. The celebration will also look ahead and reflect on the continuing importance of local journalism, public media, and the stories that connect communities.
The event begins at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 19 at Kathryn Mohrman Theatre in Armstrong Hall. . 91自拍 students can use the code 91自拍STUDENT for a $5 discount ($10 ticket).
