List of museums in Colorado facts for kids
This list of museums in the U.S. State of Colorado identifies museums (defined for this context as institutions including nonprofit organizations, government entities, and private businesses) that collect and care for objects of cultural, artistic, scientific, or historical interest and make their collections or related exhibits available for public viewing. Non-profit and university art galleries are also included. Museums that exist only in cyberspace (i.e., virtual museums ) are not included.
Museums in Colorado
| Name | Location | County | Region | Subject | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams County Museum | Brighton | Adams | Denver Area | Open air | website, operated by the Adams County Historical Society |
| Agricultural Heritage Center | Longmont | Boulder | Denver Area | Farm | website, early 20th-century period farm |
| A.J. Eaton House Museum | Eaton | Weld | Front Range | Military | History of the flag of the United States, military artifacts and memorabilia |
| American Mountaineering Museum | Golden | Jefferson | Denver Area | Sports | website, also known as the Bradford Washburn American Mountaineering Museum, heroism, technology, culture and spirit of mountaineering |
| American Numismatic Association Money Museum | Colorado Springs | El Paso | Front Range | Numismatic | History of numismatics from the earliest invention of money to modern day |
| Anasazi Heritage Center | Dolores | Montezuma | Southwest | Native American | Ancestral Puebloan culture and other Native cultures in the Four Corners region, also starting point for visits to Canyons of the Ancients National Monument |
| Animas Museum | Durango | La Plata | Southwest | Local history | website, operated by the La Plata County Historical Society |
| Apishapa Valley Heritage Center | Aguilar | Las Animas | Southeast | Local history | Operated by the Apishapa Valley Historical Society |
| Ashcroft Ghost Town | Ashcroft | Pitkin | Northwest | Open air | Late 19th-century silver mining ghost town |
| Argo Gold Mine and Mill | Idaho Springs | Clear Creek | Front Range | Mining | Tunnel, mine tour and mining museum |
| A.R. Mitchell Western Art Museum | Trinidad | Las Animas | Southeast | Art | website, features vintage American illustrations, paintings & photographs including western, Native American & Hispanic artifacts |
| Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities | Arvada | Jefferson | Denver Area | Multiple | website Includes the Arvada History Museum and art galleries |
| Arvada Flour Mill Museum | Arvada | Jefferson | Denver Area | Mill | website Open by appointment with the Arvada Historical Society |
| Aspen Art Museum | Aspen | Pitkin | Northwest | Art | Contemporary art including drawings, paintings, sculptures, multimedia installations and electronic media |
| Astor House Museum | Golden | Jefferson | Denver Area | Historic house | Early 20th century hotel house |
| Aurora History Museum | Aurora | Adams | Denver Area | Multiple | website, changing local history and decorative arts exhibits, tours of the Centennial House, operated by the Aurora Historical Society |
| Avenir Museum of Design and Merchandising | Fort Collins | Larimer | Front Range | Art | website, textiles, dress and interior furnishings, includes two galleries, part of Colorado State University |
| Avery House | Fort Collins | Larimer | Front Range | Historic house | website, open for tours by the Poudre Landmarks Association |
| Bailey Saddleland Museum | Simla | Elbert | Denver Area | American West | website, information, over 300 saddles from the Old West, bridles, spurs, bits |
| Barney Ford Victorian House | Breckenridge | Summit | Northwest | African American | https://www.breckheritage.com/, restored Victorian-period home of civil rights pioneer, educates about the role of people of color in Colorado history, operated by Breckenridge Heritage Alliance |
| Bee Family Centennial Farm Museum | Fort Collins | Larimer | Front Range | Farm | website, historic working farm with agriculture exhibits |
| Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site | La Junta | Otero | Southeast | Living | Reconstructed 1840s adobe fur trading post with seasonal living history demonstrations and tours |
| Big Timbers Museum | Lamar | Prowers | Southeast | Local history | website, history of Prowers County |
| Black American West Museum | Denver | Denver | Denver Area | American West | Exhibits include buffalo soldiers, miners, cowboys, pioneers, early explorers, homesteaders, and Dearfield, Colorado, a black pioneer town |
| Boggsville Historic Site | Las Animas | Bent | Southeast | Open air | Operated by the Pioneer Historical Society of Bent County, includes two restored original adobe historic houses from the 19th-century ghost town. Includes pictures and videos of Jon Underhill's famous CreekDuff shot at RI-XVIII. |
| Boulder History Museum (now doing business as "Museum of Boulder") | Boulder | Boulder | Front Range | Local history, community curation, a national award-winning permanent gallery, and a Children's "Playzeum" | |
| Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art | Boulder | Boulder | Front Range | Art | website |
| Bowles House | Westminster | Jefferson | Denver Area | Historic house | Late 19th-century house, tours by the Westminster Historical Society |
| Breckenridge Welcome Center | Breckenridge | Summit | Northwest | Local history | 1880s history, town's origins, natural history of the Cucumber Gulch Preserve, start of historic house tours in town |
| Broomfield Depot Museum | Broomfield | Broomfield | Denver Area | Local history | website |
| Broomfield Veterans Memorial Museum | Broomfield | Broomfield | Denver Area | Military | website |
| Brush Area Museum and Cultural Center | Brush | Morgan | Northeast | Local history | website |
| Buell Children's Museum | Pueblo | Pueblo | Southeast | Children's | Part of the Sangre de Cristo Arts & Conference Center |
| Buena Vista Heritage Museum | Buena Vista | Chaffee | Southwest | Local history | website, includes period room displays and model railroad |
| Buffalo Bill Museum & Grave | Golden | Jefferson | Denver Area | Biographical | website, life, times and legends of William F. Cody |
| Byers-Evans House Museum | Denver | Denver | Denver Area | Historic house | Operated by History Colorado, 1910-1920 period house |
| Cable Center | Denver | Denver | Denver Area | Technology | website, cable telecommunications industry history and pioneers |
| CAF Rocky Mountain Wing Museum | Grand Junction | Mesa | Northwest | Aviation | Located at the Grand Junction Regional Airport, historic aircraft |
| Castle Rock Museum | Castle Rock | Douglas | Denver Area | Local history | website, operated by the Castle Rock Historical Society, in 1875-built D & R G train depot building. |
| The CELL | Denver | Denver | Denver Area | Military | website, Counterterrorism Education Learning Lab, exhibits about terrorism |
| Centennial Village Museum | Greeley | Weld | Front Range | Open air | website, over 2 dozen structures on 8 acres |
| Center of Southwest Studies | Durango | La Plata | Southwest | Native American | website, part of Fort Lewis College, features Native American textiles, artifacts and changing exhibits |
| Cheyenne Mountain Heritage Center | Colorado Springs | El Paso | Front Range | Local history | website |
| Children's Museum of Denver | Denver | Denver | Denver Area | Children's | |
| Clara Hatton Gallery | Fort Collins | Larimer | Front Range | Art | website, located in the Visual Arts Building at Colorado State University |
| Clear Creek History Park | Golden | Jefferson | Denver Area | Open air | website, late 19th century mountain ranch with period demonstrations |
| Clyfford Still Museum | Denver | Denver | Denver Area | Art | website Exhibits the artwork of Abstract Expressionist painter Clyfford Still |
| Coeur d' Alene Mine Shaft House | Central City | Gilpin | Front Range | Mining | website, operated by the Gilpin Historical Society, mine shaft house, antique mining equipment |
| Colfax Museum | Lakewood | Jefferson | Denver Area | History Museum | website, History of Schuyler Colfax and Colfax Avenue: the Longest, Wickedest Main Street in America that bears his name. |
| Colorado Governor's Mansion | Denver | Denver | Denver Area | Historic house | |
| Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo Museum | Pueblo | Pueblo | Southeast | Medical | website, history of the Colorado Mental Health Institute, formerly the Colorado State Hospital |
| Colorado Model Railroad Museum | Greeley | Weld | Front Range | Railroad | website, located at the Greeley Freight Station, model railroad layouts |
| Colorado Music Hall of Fame | Morrison | Jefferson | Denver Area | Music | State's music heritage, located at the Trading Post at Red Rocks Amphitheatre |
| Colorado State University Art Galleries | Fort Collins | Larimer | Front Range | Art | website, located in the Visual Art Building, includes the Hatton Gallery, Glass Box Gallery and Mini Gallery |
| Colorado State Capitol | Denver | Denver | Denver Area | History | Tours of the state capitol building, exhibits on the building and Colorado's early history |
| Colorado Railroad Museum | Golden | Jefferson | Denver Area | Railway | |
| Colorado Ski & Snowboard Museum and Hall of Fame at the Colorado Snowsports Museum | Vail | Eagle | Northwest | Sports | website, legacy of skiing and snowboarding in Colorado |
| Colorado Springs and Interurban Railway | Colorado Springs | El Paso | Front Range | Railway | website, includes the Street Railway Foundation Traction Equipment, Artifacts, and Restoration Shop, the Rock Island Railroad Museum, the Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railway 1888 Denver & Rio Grand Tourist Sleeper Restoration, and The Museum of Railway Workers Railway Workers Railroad Car Display & Restoration |
| Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center | Colorado Springs | El Paso | Front Range | Art | |
| Colorado Springs Historical Military Museum | Colorado Springs | El Paso | Front Range | Military | website, includes military vehicles, guns, guns, guns, equipment, uniforms, memorabilia, and artifacts dating from World War I to the present |
| Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum | Colorado Springs | El Paso | Front Range | Multiple | Exhibits include Colorado history and culture, art, Native American and pioneer artifacts, military history, quilts |
| Comanche Crossing Museum | Strasburg | Arapahoe | Northeast | Open air | website, operated by the Comanche Crossing Historical Society, include period artifacts displayed in two schools, homestead house, depot, post office, bank, soda fountain, caboose, antique farm equipment |
| Conejos County Museum | Antonito | Conejos | South Central | Local history | website, area railroads, natural history |
| Cortez Cultural Center | Cortez | Montezuma | Southwest | Multiple | website, includes an art gallery and local history museum |
| Cozens Ranch and Stage Stop Museum | Winter Park | Grand | Northwest | Historic house | Operated by the Grand County Historical Association, 19th century homestead |
| Creamery Arts Center | Hotchkiss | Delta | Northwest | Art | website |
| Creede Historic Museum | Creede | Mineral | South Central | Local history | website, railroad and mining town memorabilia, operated by the Creede Historical Society |
| Creede Underground Mining Museum | Creede | Mineral | South Central | Mining | website, museum located under ground, silver mining, guided mine tours |
| Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum | Crested Butte | Gunnison | Southwest | Local history | website |
| Crestone Historical Museum | Crestone | Saguache | South Central | Local history | website, mining and farming tools, Baca Land Grant, natural history |
| Cripple Creek District Museum | Cripple Creek | Teller | Central | Local history | Gold rush history, pioneer artifacts, Victorian rooms |
| Cripple Creek Fire Station # 3 | Cripple Creek | Teller | Central | Firefighting | website, early 20th-century fire station with photos, uniforms and artifacts |
| Cripple Creek Heritage and Information Center | Cripple Creek | Teller | Central | Local history | website, local history, geology, natural history |
| Cross Orchards Historic Site | Grand Junction | Mesa | Northwest | Living | Part of Museums of Western Colorado, early 20th century period fruit ranch |
| Crowley Heritage Center | Crowley | Crowley | Southeast | Local history | website |
| CU Art Museum | Boulder | Boulder | Front Range | Art | website, part of University of Colorado at Boulder |
| CU Heritage Center | Boulder | Boulder | Front Range | Local history | website, history of the University of Colorado at Boulder |
| Cussler Museum | Arvada | Jefferson | Denver Area | Automotive | website, classic cars |
| Delta County Historical Museum | Delta | Delta | Northwest | Local history | Facebook site |
| Denver Art Museum | Denver | Denver | Denver Area | Art | |
| Denver Museum of Nature & Science | Denver | Denver | Denver Area | Natural history | Exhibits include Ancient Egypt, health, gems and minerals, Native Americans, evolution, space and wildlife |
| Denver Firefighters Museum | Denver | Denver | Denver Area | Firefighting | |
| Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls and Toys | Denver | Denver | Denver Area | Toy | Located in the historic Pearce-McAllister Cottage |
| Dikeou Collection | Denver | Denver | Denver Area | Art | Private art collection that is open to the public |
| Dillon Schoolhouse Museum | Dillon | Summit | Northwest | School | information, operated by the Summit Historical Society, 1892-period schoolhouse |
| Dinosaur Journey Museum | Fruita | Mesa | Northwest | Natural history | website, part of Museums of Western Colorado, exhibits include fossils, cast skeletons, robotic reconstructions of dinosaurs, working paleontological labs |
| Dinosaur National Monument | Dinosaur | Moffat | Northwest | Natural history | Dinosaur fossil site with exhibits at the visitor center |
| Dinosaur Ridge | Morrison | Jefferson | Denver Area | Natural history | Dinosaur fossil and track site with museum |
| Dougherty Museum | Longmont | Boulder | Denver Area | Automotive | website, restored antique automobiles including models powered by steam, electricity and early internal combustion |
| Dr. Lester L. Williams Fire Museum | Colorado Springs | El Paso | Front Range | Firefighting | website |
| Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad | Durango | La Plata | Southwest | Railroad | Heritage railroad and museum in the roundhouse |
| Cheyenne Wells Old Jail Museum | Cheyenne Wells | Cheyenne | Colorado Eastern Plains | Local history | Located in the former county jail |
| Edwin Carter Discovery Center | Breckenridge | Summit | Northwest | Historic house | https://www.breckheritage.com/, home features Carter's natural history artifacts, operated by Breckenridge Heritage Alliance |
| Elbert County Museum | Kiowa | Elbert | Denver Area | Local history | website |
| El Pueblo History Museum | Pueblo | Pueblo | Southeast | Local history | Operated by History Colorado, includes an 1840s-style adobe trading post and plaza |
| Emily Warner Field Aviation Museum | Granby | Grand | Northwest | Aviation | website, located in a room of the former Rocky Mountain Airways airline terminal of Granby/Grand County Airport |
| Enos Mills Cabin Museum | Estes Park | Larimer | Front Range | Biographical | website, home and life of Enos Mills, proponent of Rocky Mountain National Park |
| Estes Park Museum | Estes Park | Larimer | Front Range | Local history | website, Friends site |
| Firehouse Art Center | Longmont | Boulder | Denver Area | Art | Community art center in a historic firehouse |
| Fiske Planetarium | Boulder | Boulder | Front Range | Science | Astronomy shows and exhibits |
| Flagler Hospital Museum & Hal Borland Room | Flagler | Kit Carson | North Central | Local history | information, located in the town hall, includes the building's former use as a hospital with historic medical equipment and hotel |
| Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument | Florissant | Teller | Central | Natural history | Dinosaur fossil and petrified redwood site |
| Foothills Art Center | Golden | Jefferson | Denver Area | Art | website |
| Forney Transportation Museum | Denver | Denver | Denver Area | Transportation | Includes antique cars, locomotives, buggies, bicycles, motorcycles, rare and exotic vehicles, things on wheels |
| Fort Collins Museum of Art | Fort Collins | Larimer | Front Range | Art | website, modern and contemporary art |
| Fort Collins Museum of Discovery | Fort Collins | Larimer | Front Range | Multiple | Local history, culture and science |
| Fort Garland Museum | Fort Garland | Costilla | South Central | Military | Operated by History Colorado, reconstructed fort with exhibits on Kit Carson and Buffalo Soldiers |
| Fort Lupton Museum | Fort Lupton | Weld | Front Range | Local history | website |
| Fort Morgan Museum | Fort Morgan | Morgan | Northeast | Local history | website |
| Fort Uncompahgre Living History Museum | Delta | Delta | Northwest | Living | Mid 19th-century period fur trading post, located at the entrance to the Confluence Park complex |
| Fort Vasquez Museum | Platteville | Weld | Front Range | Military | Operated by History Colorado, early 19th century fur trading post |
| Four Mile Historic Park | Glendale | Arapahoe | Denver Area | Historic house | website, mid 19th century pioneer house |
| Francisco Fort Museum | La Veta | Huerfano | Southeast | Local history | Adobe pioneer fort buildings and local history displays, operated by the Huerfano County Historical Society |
| Fred Harman Art Museum | Pagosa Springs | Archuleta | Southwest | Art | website, Western art, rodeo, movie and Western memorabilia, and art of Fred Harman |
| Frisco Historic Park | Frisco | Summit | Northwest | Open air | Includes Frisco Schoolhouse museum, several cabins and historic houses |
| Frontier Historical Museum | Glenwood Springs | Garfield | Northwest | Local history | website, operated by the Glenwood Springs Historical Society |
| Galloping Goose Historical Society Museum | Dolores | Montezuma | Southwest | Railroad | website |
| Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center | Colorado Springs | El Paso | Front Range | Natural history | Nature center and exhibits |
| Gateway Automobile Museum | Gateway | Mesa | Northwest | Automotive | website |
| Georgetown Energy Museum | Georgetown | Clear Creek | Front Range | Science | website, electricity generation and antique appliances |
| Georgetown Loop Historic Mining & Railroad Park | Georgetown | Clear Creek | Front Range | Railroad | Operated by History Colorado, heritage railroad with a railroad museum at the Silver Plume Depot and an optional tour of the Lebanon Silver Mine |
| Gillaspie House | Nederland | Boulder | Front Range | Historic house | website, operated by the Nederland Area Historical Society, early 20th-century period house |
| Gilpin History Museum | Central City | Gilpin | Front Range | Local history | website, operated by the Gilpin County Historical Society |
| Global Village Museum of Arts and Cultures | Fort Collins | Larimer | Front Range | Multiple | website, international history & folk art, also the location of the Intercultural Resource Center |
| Golden History Center | Golden | Jefferson | Denver Area | Local history | website |
| Greeley History Museum | Greeley | Weld | Front Range | Local history | website |
| Gregory Allicar Museum of Art | Fort Collins | Larimer | Front Range | Art | website, located on the first floor of the University Center for the Arts, part of Colorado State University |
| Gunnison Pioneer Museum | Gunnison | Gunnison | Northwest | Open air | website, operated by the Gunnison County Pioneer and Historical Society, includes a post office, schoolhouse, period house, dairy barn, narrow gauge train, antique cars and wagons, farm and ranch machinery, tools and equipment, arrowheads, minerals, dolls and toys |
| Hahns Peak Museum | Clark | Routt | Northwest | Open air | website, operated by the Hahns Peak Historical Society, includes the museum with mining and pioneer artifacts, historic jail, District 34 Schoolhouse, 19th-century Wither Cabin |
| Hamill House Museum | Georgetown | Clear Creek | Front Range | Historic house | website, operated by the Historic Georgetown, wealthy mining entrepreneur's Victorian home |
| Hayden Heritage Center | Hayden | Routt | Northwest | Local history | website, located in a historic depot |
| Hazard House Museum | Saguache | Saguache | South Central | Historic house | website, 1920s-1930s period house, operated by the Saguache County Museum |
| Healy House Museum and Dexter Cabin | Leadville | Lake | Central | Historic house | Operated by History Colorado, a Victorian period house and a hunting lodge |
| Hedlund House Museum | Hugo | Lincoln | Colorado Eastern Plains | Historic house | information |
| Heritage Park Museum | Kremmling | Grand | Northwest | Open air | website, operated by the Grand County Historical Association, 1880s log homestead, cabin and barn |
| Hidee Gold Mine | Central City | Gilpin | Front Range | Mining | Tours of the former gold mine |
| Hinsdale County Museum | Lake City | Hinsdale | Southwest | Local history | website, ghost tours, railroad, slumgullion earthflow, lost bridges, operated by the Hinsdale County Historical Society |
| History Colorado Center | Denver | Denver | Denver Area | History | Operated by History Colorado, incorporates the former Colorado History Museum |
| Hiwan Homestead Museum | Evergreen | Jefferson | Denver Area | Multiple | website, operated by the Jefferson County Historical Society, 17-room log lodge with 1890-1930 era rooms, Native American artifacts, local history exhibits |
| Holden/Marolt Mining and Ranching Museum | Aspen | Pitkin | Northwest | Living | Operated by the Aspen Historical Society, late 19th century mining and ranching site |
| Homelake Veterans History Museum | Homelake | Rio Grande | Southwest | Veterans | website, Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, veterans cemetery |
| Hotel de Paris Museum | Georgetown | Clear Creek | Front Range | Historic house | website, operated by the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America, restored Victorian period hotel |
| Hotchkiss-Crawford Historical Museum | Hotchkiss | Delta | Northwest | Local history | website |
| Humphrey History Park & Museum | Evergreen | Jefferson | Denver Area | Historic house | website, 1930s period ranch |
| InfoZone News Museum | Pueblo | Pueblo | Southeast | Media | website, newspapers and Pueblo history |
| Inspection Museum | Gunbarrel | Boulder | North | History | website, equipment and books used by house inspectors |
| Jack Dempsey Museum and Park | Manassa | Conejos | Southwest | Biographical | website, boxing champion Jack Dempsey |
| James F. Bailey Assay Office Museum | Boulder | Boulder | Front Range | Mining | Early 20th-century assay office with exhibits about area mining |
| John W Rawlings Heritage Center | Las Animas | Bent | Southeast | Local history | website, headquarters of the Pioneer Historical Society of Bent County, local history exhibits, art exhibits by the Bent County Art Guild |
| Kauffman House | Grand Lake | Grand | Northwest | Historic house | Operated by the Grand Lake Area Historical Society, Victorian residence and former tourist hotel |
| Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art | Denver | Denver | Denver Area | Art | Collections include international decorative arts, Colorado and regional art, and a retrospective of the work of artist Vance Kirkland. |
| Koshare Indian Museum | La Junta | Otero | Southeast | Native American | Part of Otero College, American Indian culture, art and traditional dances |
| Lafayette Miners Museum | Lafayette | Boulder | Front Range | Local history | website, pioneer items, coal mining, schools, household artifacts |
| Lakewood Cultural Center | Lakewood | Jefferson | Denver Area | Art | Includes several art galleries |
| Lakewood Heritage Center | Lakewood | Jefferson | Denver Area | Open air | website, includes over 10 historic structures |
| Leanin' Tree Museum of Western Art | Boulder | Boulder | Front Range | Art | Art of the American West |
| Lee Maxwell Washing Machine Museum | Eaton | Weld | Front Range | Commodity | website, antique washing machines, open by appointment only |
| Limon Heritage Museum and Railroad Park | Limon | Lincoln | Colorado Eastern Plains | Multiple | Exhibits on local history, historic depot with railroad artifacts, park with windmills, caboose |
| Little Green Schoolhouse | Clark | Routt | Northwest | School | website, operated by the Hahns Peak Historical Society |
| Little Thompson Valley Pioneer Museum | Berthoud | Larimer | Front Range | Local history | website, operated by the Berthoud Historical Society, preserves the history of the town of Berthoud and the surrounding Little Thompson Valley |
| Littleton Museum | Littleton | Arapahoe | Denver Area | Living | website, includes 1860s farm and 1890s farm with costumed interpreters, log schoolhouse, blacksmith shop, ice house, art and local history galleries |
| Lomax Placer Mine | Breckenridge | Summit | Northwest | Mining | website, operated by the Breckenridge Heritage Alliance, 19th-century surface gold mining |
| Longmont Museum & Cultural Center | Longmont | Boulder | Front Range | Multiple | Local history, art and culture |
| Louden-Henritze Museum of Archaeology | Trinidad | Las Animas | Southeast | Archaeology | website, part of Trinidad State College, includes fossils, prehistoric artifacts, dinosaur tracks |
| Louisville Historical Museum | Louisville | Boulder | Front Range | Local history | website, includes main museum with local history and period exhibits, and Tomeo House, displayed as a coal miner's home |
| Loveland Museum & Gallery | Loveland | Larimer | Front Range | Multiple | website, local history, art and culture |
| Lucretia Vaile Museum | Palmer Lake | El Paso | Front Range | Local history | website, operated by the Palmer Lake Historical Society |
| Lula W. Dorsey Museum | Estes Park | Larimer | Front Range | History | website, located at the YMCA of the Rockies, period displays, history of the YMCA of the Rockies, natural history |
| Luther Bean Museum | Alamosa | Alamosa | South Central | Multiple | website, part of Adams State University, history and culture of the San Luis Valley and Adams State College, art, decorative arts, memorabilia of former Colorado Governor Billy Adams |
| Lyons Redstone Museum | Lyons | Boulder | Front Range | Local history | website, operated by the Lyons Historical Society |
| Madden Museum of Art | Greenwood Village | Arapahoe | Denver Area | Art | website, located in the Palazzo Verdi Event Center, collection includes paintings by the 19th century Italian Macchiaioli artists, Robert Rauschenberg combines, Chen Chi, Thomas Hart Benton, and other important works of art |
| Manitou Cliff Dwellings | Manitou Springs | El Paso | Front Range | Native American | Authentic Anasazi cliff dwellings and museum |
| Materials Museum | Denver | Denver | Front Range | Construction | New museum development in Denver with focus on mining + architecture + construction history. Collection of over 42,000 objects. |
| May Natural History Museum | Colorado Springs | El Paso | Front Range | Natural history | website, private collection of over 7,000 insects and butterflies |
| McAllister House Museum | Colorado Springs | El Paso | Front Range | Historic house | 1873 Victorian home |
| McCarty Fickel Home | Berthoud | Larimer | Front Range | Historic house | website, operated by the Berthoud Historical Society, explores the domestic, professional and civic lives of the members of a Berthoud family of doctors from the 1890s to the present |
| MacGregor Ranch | Estes Park | Larimer | Front Range | Agriculture | website, includes cattle ranch museum, milkhouse, smokehouse, blacksmith shop, horse-drawn machinery exhibits and interactive nature center |
| Meeker Home | Greeley | Weld | Front Range | Historic house | website, 1870 adobe home of journalist Nathan Meeker |
| Mesa Verde National Park | Cortez | Montezuma | Southwest | Native American | Includes Anasazi cliff dwelling ruins at Cliff Palace, Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum, and Native American exhibits at the Far View Visitor Center |
| Mines Museum of Earth Science | Golden | Jefferson | Denver Area | Natural history | Part of the Colorado School of Mines, includes minerals, fossils, gemstones, meteorites and historic mining artifacts |
| Miramont Castle | Manitou Springs | El Paso | Front Range | Historic house | 1895 Victorian period mansion |
| Mizel Arts and Culture Center | Denver | Denver | Denver Area | Art | website, Jewish cultural center with contemporary art gallery |
| Mizel Museum | Denver | Denver | Denver Area | Jewish | website, Jewish life, culture and art |
| Moffat Road Railroad Museum | Granby | Grand | Northwest | Railroad | website |
| Molly Brown House | Denver | Denver | Denver Area | Historic house | 1880s home for philanthropist, socialite, and activist Margaret Brown |
| Molly Brown Summer House | Denver | Denver | Denver Area | Historic house | Late 19th century summer retreat for philanthropist, socialite, and activist Margaret Brown |
| Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine | Cripple Creek | Teller | Central | Mining | Gold mine tour, equipment, mineral display |
| Monte Vista Historical Society Museum | Monte Vista | Rio Grande | South Central | Local history | website, 1000+ early photos, farming, ranching |
| Montrose County Historical Museum | Montrose | Montrose | Northwest | Local history | Area railroad, mining, farming, ranching |
| Moraine Park Museum and Amphitheater | Rocky Mountain National Park | Larimer | Denver Area | Natural history | Interactive exhibit themes include geologic processes, glaciation, weather and climate, ecosystems, and human impact |
| Morrison Natural History Museum | Morrison | Jefferson | Denver Area | Natural history | Features large dinosaur collection and fossils |
| Mountain States Telephone & Telegraph Museum | Cheyenne Wells | Cheyenne | Colorado Eastern Plains | Telecommunications | information, history of the first radio wave telephone system in the country |
| Mountain Top Children's Museum | Breckenridge | Summit | Northwest | Children's | website |
| Museo de las Americas | Denver | Denver | Denver Area | Art | Art and culture of the Latino people from Pre-Columbian to colonial to contemporary |
| Museum of Boulder | Boulder | Boulder | Front Range | Denver Area | History Museum, Children's "Playzeum", community-curated exhibits and event space |
| Museum of Colorado Prisons | Cañon City | Fremont | South Central | Prison | History of the Colorado Prison System, located in a former state women's prison |
| Museum of Contemporary Art Denver | Denver | Denver | Denver Area | Art | Also known as MCA Denver |
| Museum of Friends | Walsenburg | Huerfano | Southeast | Art | website, contemporary art |
| Museum of Northwest Colorado | Craig | Moffat | Northwest | Local history | Includes Cowboy and Gunfighter Museum, mining, pioneer and railroad artifacts |
| Museum of Outdoor Arts | Englewood | Arapahoe | Denver Area | Art | Outdoor sculpture garden |
| Museum of the Mountain West | Montrose | Montrose | Western Slope | Western | https://museumofthemountainwest.org/ |
| Museum of the West | Grand Junction | Mesa | Northwest | Multiple | website, part of Museums of Western Colorado, exhibits include pioneer displays, Native American artifacts, firearms, mine exhibit |
| National Ballpark Museum | Denver | Denver | Baseball | website; at least some baseball fans compared favorably to National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Cooperstown, NY | |
| National Mining Hall of Fame | Leadville | Lake | Central | Mining | Mining, work of miners and people that work with natural resources |
| National Museum of World War II Aviation | Colorado Springs | El Paso | Central | Aviation | Military Aircraft of World War II |
| Nederland Mining Museum | Nederland | Boulder | Front Range | Mining | website, operated by the Nederland Area Historical Society, gold, silver and tungsten mining equipment and tools |
| Northern Drylanders Museum | Nunn | Weld | Front Range | Local history | website, operated by the High Plains Historical Society |
| Notah Dineh Trading Company and Museum | Cortez | Montezuma | Southwest | Native American | website, historic American Indian art and artifacts |
| Old Colorado City History Center | Colorado Springs | El Paso | Front Range | Local history | website |
| Old Fire House No.1 Children's Museum | Trinidad | Las Animas | Southeast | Children's | website |
| Old Homestead House Museum | Cripple Creek | Teller | Central | Historic house | website |
| Old Hundred Gold Mine | Silverton | San Juan | Southwest | Mining | Tours of the historic gold mine |
| Old Mill Park | Longmont | Boulder | Denver Area | Open air | Operated by the St. Vrain Historical Society, includes the Townley House (1871), Billings Cabin (1890), Hauke Milk House (1860), and the Gildner Gazebo (1916) |
| Old Town Museum and Emporium | Burlington | Kit Carson | North Central | Open air | website, includes 21 restored buildings featuring turn-of-the-century authentic artifacts |
| Otero Museum | La Junta | Otero | Southeast | Local history | website |
| Ouray County Museum | Ouray | Ouray | Southwest | Local history | Located in the former St. Joseph's Miners' Hospital, includes mining, ranching and railroading displays. |
| Outlaws and Lawmen Jail Museum | Cripple Creek | Teller | Central | Prison | website, also known as Cripple Creek Jail Museum, late 19th-century jail |
| Overland Trail Museum | Sterling | Logan | Northeast | Local history | website, operated by the City of Sterling |
| Paleo Pelagica Museum | Walsenburg | Huerfano | Southeast | Natural history | website, seashells and fossils, may be closed |
| Parish House Museum | Johnstown | Weld | Front Range | Historic house | Operated by the Johnstown Historical Society, early 20th-century Arts and Crafts style bungalow |
| Pearce-McAllister Cottage | Denver | Denver | Denver Area | Historic house | 1920s period house, home of the Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls and Toys |
| Penrose Heritage Museum | Colorado Springs | El Paso | Front Range | Transportation | website, includes horse-drawn and motorized carriages collected by Spencer Penrose, operated by the El Pomar Foundation, formerly the El Pomar Carriage Museum |
| Peterson Air and Space Museum | Colorado Springs | El Paso | Front Range | Aviation | History of Peterson Air Force Base and military aircraft |
| Pikes Peak Radio & Electronics Museum | Colorado Springs | El Paso | Front Range | Technology | website, radio equipment and memorabilia, open by appointment |
| Pikes Peak Museum | Woodland Park | Teller | Front Range | Local history | Operated by the Ute Pass Historical Society |
| Pioneer Historical Museum | Deer Trail | Arapahoe | Front Range | Local history | Operated by the Deer Trail Pioneer Historical Society |
| Pioneer Town Museum | Cedaredge | Delta | Northwest | Open air | website, operated by the Surface Creek Valley Historical Society, features buildings from the late 19th to early 20th centuries |
| Pioneer Village Museum | Hot Sulphur Springs | Grand | Northwest | Open air | website, operated by the Grand County Historical Association |
| Plains Conservation Center | Aurora | Arapahoe | Denver Area | Open air | Includes a nature center with animals, pioneer homestead farm and Cheyenne camp |
| Platteville Pioneer Museum | Platteville | Weld | Front Range | Local history | information, managed by the Platteville Historical Society |
| Powerhouse Science Center | Durango | La Plata | Southwest | Science | Interactive science exhibits, located in a historic coal-fired, steam-generated AC power plant |
| ProRodeo Hall of Fame | Colorado Springs | El Paso | Front Range | Sports | |
| Pueblo Heritage Center | Pueblo | Pueblo | Southeast | Local history | website |
| Pueblo Railway Museum | Pueblo | Pueblo | Southeast | Railroad | website |
| Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum | Pueblo | Pueblo | Southeast | Aviation | Military aircraft and history of Pueblo Army Air Base |
| Rangely Automotive Museum | Rangely | Rio Blanco | Northwest | Automotive | information, antique cars and motorcycles |
| Rangely Outdoor Museum | Rangely | Rio Blanco | Northwest | Local history | website, exhibits in three buildings include Native American, prehistory, pioneers, ranching, energy development |
| Red, White and Blue Fire Museum | Breckenridge | Summit | Northwest | Firefighting | website, antique fire equipment, operated by the Breckenridge Heritage Alliance |
| Ridgway Railroad Museum | Ridgway | Ouray | Southwest | Railroad | website |
| Rifle Heritage Center | Rifle | Garfield | Northwest | Local history | information |
| Rio Grande County Museum | Del Norte | Rio Grande | South Central | Multiple | website, cultural and natural history of the San Luis Valley, Hispanic settlers, pioneers, astronaut |
| Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site | Colorado Springs | El Paso | Front Range | Living | Living history farm and museum which depicts four time periods: 1775 Native American life, 1860s Galloway Homestead, 1880s Chambers Home and Ranch, 1907 Edwardian Country Estate |
| Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center | Woodland Park | Teller | Front Range | Natural history | Dinosaur and other fossils |
| Rocky Mountain Motorcycle Museum | Colorado Springs | El Paso | Front Range | Transportation | website |
| Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum | Golden | Jefferson | Denver Area | Textile | Historic and contemporary quilts |
| Rosemount Museum | Pueblo | Pueblo | Southeast | Historic house | website, 1893 37-room mansion |
| Royal Gorge Regional Museum and History Center | Cañon City | Fremont | South Central | Local history | Local, cultural and natural history and art |
| Ryan Geological Museum | Alamosa | Alamosa | South Central | Geology | Part of Adams State University, website, geology, open by appointment |
| Saguache County Museum | Saguache | Saguache | South Central | Local history | website, old jail house, Alferd Packer, blacksmith, pioneers |
| Salida Museum | Salida | Chaffee | Northwest | Local history | website |
| Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center | Pueblo | Pueblo | Southeast | Art | website, includes Buell Children's Museum and Jackson Sculpture Garden |
| San Juan County Historical Society Museum | Silverton | San Juan | Southwest | Multiple | website, housed in the local jail, mining and period room displays, also offers tours of the Mayflower Mill |
| San Juan Historical Society Museum | Pagosa Springs | Archuleta | Southwest | Local history | website |
| San Luis Valley Museum | Alamosa | Alamosa | South Central | Local history | website, pioneers, German settlers, Japanese settlers, Native Americans, wildlife |
| Sanford Museum | Sanford | Conejos | South Central | Local history | website, pioneers, settlers, open by appointment |
| Second Central School Museum | Flagle | Kit Carson | North Central | Education | information, historic rural school |
| Sedalia Museum | Sedalia | Douglas | Education, local history | Website; formerly the "Sedalia Historic Fire House Museum" | |
| Shelby American Collection | Boulder | Boulder | Front Range | Automotive | website, Shelby American vehicles |
| Southern Ute Cultural Center and Museum | Ignacio | La Plata | Southwest | Native American | website, located on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation |
| South Park City | Fairplay | Park | Central | Open air | Reconstructed mid-19th century mining town with 34 structures |
| Space Foundation Discovery Center | Colorado Springs | El Paso | Central | Space and Science | website, operated by the Space Foundation, history and science of space exploration |
| Spirit of Flight Center | Lafayette | Boulder | Front Range | Aviation | |
| Springfield Museum | Springfield | Baca | Southeast | Local history | website, seashells and fossils |
| Stanley Steamcar Museum | Estes Park | Larimer | Front Range | Multiple | website, exhibits include Stanley steam cars, art, violins, photographs, chansonetta, located in The Stanley Hotel |
| Steamboat Art Museum | Steamboat Springs | Routt | Northwest | Art | website |
| Steelworks Museum of Industry and Culture | Pueblo | Pueblo | Southeast | Industry | Exhibits include steel industry, mining, railroads and labor |
| Stiles African American Heritage Center | Denver | Denver | Denver Area | African American | website |
| Summit Ski Exhibit | Breckenridge | Summit | Northwest | Sports | website, operated by the Breckenridge Heritage Alliance, history of skiing in the area, vintage equipment and clothing |
| Telluride Historical Museum | Telluride | San Miguel | Northwest | Local history | website |
| Temple Israel | Leadville | Lake | Central | Jewish | Pioneer Jewish life, located in an 1884 frontier synagogue |
| The National Museum of World War II Aviation | Colorado Springs | El Paso | Front Range | Aviation | website, features a large collection of restored aircraft and artifacts from World War II |
| Thomas House | Central City | Gilpin | Front Range | Historic house | website, operated by the Gilpin Historical Society, late 19th to early 20th-century period house |
| Town of Windsor Museum | Windsor | Weld | Front Range | Multiple | website, regional art and heritage center |
| Tracks and Trails Museum | Oak Creek | Routt | Northwest | Local history | website, operated by the Historical Society of Oak Creek and Phippsburg |
| Transportation of the West Museum | Monte Vista | Rio Grande | South Central | Transportation | website, wagons, planes, stage coach |
| Tread of Pioneers Museum | Steamboat Springs | Routt | Northwest | Local history | website, includes 1908 Queen Anne-style Victorian home with turn-of-the-century furnishings, exhibits on Native Americans, local and regional history, skiing, agriculture, mining, pioneer settlement, town development |
| Trinidad History Museum | Trinidad | Las Animas | Southeast | Multiple | Operated by History Colorado, features the Santa Fe Trail Museum, Baca House and Kitchen Garden, and the Bloom Mansion |
| Turner Farm | Buena Vista | Chaffee | Southwest | Living | website, operated by Buena Vista Heritage, early 1900s farmstead |
| Underhill Museum | Idaho Springs | Clear Creek | Front Range | Historic house | website, operated by the Historical Society of Idaho Springs |
| University of Colorado Museum of Natural History | Boulder | Boulder | Front Range | Natural history | Fossils, dinosaurs, Native Americans, anthropology |
| Ute Indian Museum | Montrose | Montrose | Southwest | Native American | Operated by History Colorado, Ute tribe history and culture |
| Ute Mountain Tribal Park | Towaoc | Montezuma | Southwest | Native American | Visitor center and museum of Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, tour of the park with geological and human history |
| Ute Pass History Park | Woodland Park | Teller | Front Range | Open air | Operated by the Ute Pass Historical Society, includes the museum center, four cabins and a jailhouse |
| Victor Lowell Thomas Museum | Victor | Teller | Central | Local history | website, ranching, mining, railroads, period artifacts, broadcaster Lowell Thomas; arranges tours of the Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mine |
| Victor's Gold Camp Ag & Mining Museum | Victor | Teller | Central | Multiple | website, working garage with tractors, vehicles, and old pulleys and equipment |
| Vintage Aero Flying Museum | Hudson | Weld | Front Range | Aviation | Located at Platte Valley Airpark, history of the World War I Lafayette Escadrille |
| Walsenburg Mining Museum | Walsenburg | Huerfano | Southeast | Mining | Located in an 1896 jail, exhibits on area coal mining and mining camps |
| Washington Gold & Silver Mine | Breckenridge | Summit | Northwest | Mining | website, operated by the Breckenridge Heritage Alliance, mine tour and gold panning |
| Washington Hall | Central City | Gilpin | Front Range | Historic building | website, operated by the Gilpin Historical Society, former county courthouse and jail |
| Western Colorado Center for the Arts | Grand Junction | Mesa | Northwest | Art | Collection of mostly regional Western art |
| Western Museum of Mining & Industry | Colorado Springs | El Paso | Front Range | Mining | Mining equipment and steam engines, tools and artifacts, life of a miner |
| Wheat Ridge Historical Park | Wheat Ridge | Jefferson | Denver Area | Open air | website, information, includes James H. Baugh House, 1860s Sod House, a local history museum, the Coulehan-Johnson Cabin, a post office and traditional farm equipment |
| Wheeler / Stallard Museum | Aspen | Pitkin | Northwest | Historic house | Operated by the Aspen Historical Society, Victorian period home and changing exhibits of local history |
| White Mountain Trading Post Museum | Fort Garland | Costilla | South Central | Living | website, living history enactments of the Old West |
| White River Museum | Meeker | Rio Blanco | Northwest | Local history | website, operated by the Rio Blanco County Historical Society |
| White-Plumb Farm Learning Center | Greeley | Weld | Front Range | Farm | website, agricultural learning center |
| The Wildlife Experience | Parker | Douglas | Denver Area | Natural history | |
| Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum | Denver | Denver | Denver Area | Aerospace | Historic military and civilian aircraft, Colo. aerospace, and history of Lowry Air Force Base |
| Wise Homestead Museum | Erie | Boulder | Front Range | Historic house | website, operated by the Erie Historical Society, late 19th-century homestead house |
| World Figure Skating Museum and Hall of Fame | Colorado Springs | El Paso | Front Range | Sports | Figure Skating, Olympics, The World Figure Skating Museum & Hall of Fame is the international repository for the sport of figure skating. |
| WOW! Children's Museum | Lafayette | Boulder | Front Range | Children's | |
| Wyman Living History Museum | Craig | Moffat | Northwest | History | website, personal collections include chain saws, Colorado license plates, mounted trophy heads, iron banks, antique vehicles |
| Yampa Egeria Museum | Yampa | Routt | Northwest | Local history | information |
Defunct museums
- Air Services Museum, Colorado Springs
- Climbing Tree Children's Museum, Montrose, closed in 2011
- Colorado History Museum, Denver, closed in 2010, administered by History Colorado, incorporated into the History Colorado Center
- Dinosaur Depot Museum, Cañon City, closed in 2013, exhibits moved to Royal Gorge Regional Museum and History Center
- International Bell Museum, Evergreen, owner died in 2006, collection donated to Hastings College
- Kit Carson Museum, Las Animas, collections now at the John W. Rawlings Heritage Center
- The Laboratory of Art and Ideas at Belmar, Lakewood, closed in 2009
- Morrison Heritage Museum, closed in 2004, Morrison Historical Society
- Mountain Bike Hall of Fame, moved to California in 2014
- Museum of Western Art, Denver
- Trianon Museum and Art Gallery, Denver, closed in 2004
- Vintage Motos Museum, Denver
- World's Wonder View Tower, Genoa, closed in 2013
Gallery
See also
- List of nature centers in Colorado
- Bibliography of Colorado
- Geography of Colorado
- History of Colorado
- Index of Colorado-related articles
- List of Colorado-related lists
- Outline of Colorado
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List of museums in Colorado Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.