The Top 5 Museums in Denver, Colorado

Denver CO Top 5 Museums to see when you are in town for the weekend or a local looking for something to do.

History Colorado

History Colorado is an excellent museum for the history buff and even if you aren’t very interested in history, the tour is so amazing that you will love it anyway. I love taking a tour and learning so much about the state I call home. It is a wonderful way to get a full grasp of the history of the state you live in. This museum is an excellent educational resource that also includes a tram tour around some of the most prominent historic areas of the city. If you are lucky enough to have a museum pass, go for it. I love to take in the exhibits and just roam the museum, taking it all in, but if you are not a museum person, it is still worth a visit. This is one of those museums that you could take in multiple times during the day, learn more, and still be amazed by it.

Denver Firefighters Museum

Why to See this: Denver is home to the largest volunteer fire department in the country. The Denver Firefighters Museum gives visitors a look into the history of the Denver Fire Department. Address: 3362 Gratiot Street, Denver, CO 80208 Hours: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, Tuesday through Sunday The story of the Denver Fire Department begins in 1874. It was then that Robert Taylor created the first volunteer fire department in the U.S. At that time, the nearest firehouse was located in the city of Englewood. It was a difficult task to convince residents that volunteerism was a better option than private insurance, and the firemen themselves took on roles as fund raisers.

Denver Art Museum

Denver is home to some of the best museums around and the Denver Art Museum is at the top of that list. It is a very family-friendly museum and it offers a vast collection of one of a kind paintings and sculptures. The museum is very large and has five different levels, so even though it is a city museum, you are still going to get a lot of space to look at. This also gives you the chance to get a few glimpses of the city below if you walk out of the building. Denver Children’s Museum As the Denver Children’s Museum is located in the city of Denver, it is one of the most visited museums in the state. The mission of the museum is to enhance the lives of children through education. It is best known for its interactive educational programs and exhibits. It is both a museum and a library.

Clyfford Still Museum

The Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, founded in 1966, has always been one of the largest art museums in Denver. The museum consists of an Art Store, A Library and a Modern Art Gallery. The museum is only an hour’s drive from the city and a great introduction to a history full of art and the influences it has in the world. Denver Art Museum The Denver Art Museum is not only the first and only art museum in the world to house two Titanic artifacts, but it also has a great collection of European art and contemporary art. The museum is only a 15 minute walk from the light rail. The museum is always changing their exhibits and has regular “Discovering” exhibitions. Denver History Museum The Denver History Museum covers the history of the city.

The Denver Museum of Nature and Science

Denver, CO The Denver Museum of Nature and Science is housed in a spacious and modern building. The outside is very modern, but inside it’s more classic with it’s Colorado landscape design. Although the museum has plenty of exhibits, my favorite part is the hands on science areas that let you do some of the real world science that you can’t do in school. The experience was definitely better than in school because I was involved in the project. I even ended up getting a certificate for having completed the activity. The Museum is a 2.5 mile walk from the Colfax light rail stop, a few short blocks from the Cheesman Park (free) and the Golden Gate parks. The museum is free to enter on Thursdays from 4:00 – 9:00, Friday and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00, and Sunday from noon to 5:00.

The Denver Art Museum

The Denver Art Museum is the largest art museum between Chicago and San Francisco. It has one of the best collections of American Art and is famous for its striking Robert Indiana paintings. You can visit for free if you are a part of a guided tour. Denver is well known for its great bike trails. You can ride your bike around the park and continue to visit museums and sightseeing. You can even see the mountains in the background if you are lucky! Denver Zoo The Denver Zoo is located just next to the Denver Art Museum. The zoo is great place to learn about the animals and watch them play. You can also enjoy a delicious burger at their Big Brew Burger Joint. The Peabody Opera House The Peabody Opera House is the oldest theater in the United States.

Clyfford Still Museum

Why not bring your family to this museum to see the majority of the collection. It is so amazing that people flock here to visit the museum. This is great for your family because it is a place for all ages to enjoy the art. If your kids are bored of the outside grounds, they can look around inside the museum. There is an amazing gallery inside that has over 30 years of artwork to enjoy. They even have special events at the museum throughout the month of December and January. This is a great place to bring the family, or even yourself for a fun time with the kids. Location: 601 15th St. Denver, CO 80211 303-860-7811 Opening Times: Daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closing Hours: Tuesday-Thursday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.

Red Rocks Park

Located right by Denver, is Red Rocks Park which has five beautiful rock formations that provide the perfect background for an outdoor show or a sunrise hike. The red rocks are a beautiful sight to see and the nature at Red Rocks Park is quite nice. Even though you can’t climb the rocks (it’s only for show & activities like hiking, music, camping, and biking) you can stroll through the park and take a break from the city and relax on the benches or picnic tables to unwind and get away from it all. Red Rocks Park is right in downtown Denver on Colfax Ave and is part of the Denver Parks & Recreation Department. You can come here with a group or bring your own lunch or dinner and relax. You can do a scavenger hunt here and be surprised at the places you find.

Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Find it: 1745 W. Alameda Pkwy. Lafayette, redrocksamphitheatre.com The low-down: An outdoor amphitheatre that has played host to the likes of Bob Dylan, Coldplay and Willie Nelson, the Red Rocks Amphitheatre was named after the red rock formations that line the edge of the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. When: May-October Times: Daily (schedule updates here) Tickets: Starting at $60 The Denver Art Museum Find it: 1185 Bannock St., denverartmuseum.org The low-down: A state-of-the-art museum, the Denver Art Museum showcases a collection of Canadian and European works spanning 12,000 years. When: May–October Times: Open daily, admission is free Tickets: Free for youth (18 and under) every Thursday evening 5-8 p.m. and every Sunday afternoons, noon-4 p.m.

History Colorado Center

History Colorado Center, one of the top museums in the United States is situated at the base of Capitol Hill. This museum traces the evolution of Colorado history from the Pleistocene to the present. Home to more than 200,000 artifacts, many interactive, the facility is the repository of the state’s state history and holds over four million artifacts. Best Time to See History Colorado Museum is open every day of the week except for December 26 – January 1. It’s Opening Hours Museum is open every day except for December 26 – January 1. Opening Hours Mon – Sun – 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Admission Adults $11.00 Children 3-12 $7.