Depending on your penchant for fine art, Colorado history, or a little eclectic and obscure, there’s more than likely a museum in Denver where you can spend an entire day or more. Even outside the obvious museum hub of the Golden Triangle awaits a host of day trip destinations where you can soak in as long as you like—and usually for just a few dollars. Explore the impressive scope of the Denver Art Museum, the innovation of our local Air and Space museum, or the epic history (and possibly ghosts) of the Molly Brown House Museum, as well as a host of other wonderful, interesting and completely unique – in Denver museums.
The Golden Triangle
Now one of the largest art museums in the western United States, the Denver Art Museum houses over 70,000 works of art in 12 permanent collections featuring global and local artists. Among its many buildings, visitors will find indigenous North American art, African art, Asian art, and Latin American art, spanning every medieval and ancient, modern and intermediate era. DAM also offers a wide range of creative classes and programs for art lovers of all ages.
What you need to know before you go: The museum is open every day from 10:00 to 17:00, and until 21:00 on Tuesdays. Tickets for adult Colorado residents are $13, seniors and students are $10, and children 0 – 18 (and museum members) visit for free. Tickets for non-Colorado residents are a few dollars extra.
city park
Featuring a variety of permanent and rotating exhibits from space exploration in ancient Egypt to the time of the dinosaurs, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science is a dream come true for anyone looking to learn something new. Plus, in addition to the many exhibits, visitors can check out the Gates Planetarium or IMAX theater for special events and viewings.
What you need to know before you go: Museum admission is $19.95 for adults, $14.95 for children and $16.95 for seniors, with special exhibits and events at various additional costs and a ton of discounts for military, students, teachers and more a lot. Museum hours are daily from 9am to 5pm and most Fridays from 9am to 9pm.
Lincoln Park
Learn about and celebrate Latin American art at the Museo de las Americas, located in the heart of the Santa Fe Arts District. Opened in the early 1990s, the museum features Latin American art and cultural artifacts from antiquity to folk and contemporary art, sourced from around the world. There are usually three to five exhibitions a year (held in the museum’s main gallery), with two smaller galleries showing private collections. The Museo offers a variety of programs for both the public and museum members, and is also a non-profit organization, which means that visits, memberships, and donations are essential to sustaining the exhibits.
What you need to know before you go: Museum hours are Tuesday through Friday, noon to 6 p.m., and Saturday from noon to 5 p.m., with general admission costing $8, $5 for students , seniors, artists, teachers and military, and free admission for members and children 13 and under.
Capitol Hill
This is doubly so as the Colorado Women’s History Center is just one part of the large network of museums that comprise Colorado History. The Colorado History Center is pretty self-explanatory, detailing the best and most interesting parts of Colorado’s history and wider role in the American West. Guests will find four floors of constantly rotating exhibits and a plethora of interactive and educational experiences. In addition to your standard fare exhibits, the Colorado Center for Women’s History also presents scholarship, research, lectures, and tours covering the diverse history of women in Colorado, with the house itself serving as a space dedicated “to the inspiration of women.” since 1883. .
What you need to know before you go: The Colorado History Center is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It is free for members and children under 18 and $15 for adults. The Colorado Women’s History Center is open Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Sundays from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors, and Colorado History members and children 18 and under are free to visit.
use
While the MCA has only been around for a little less than three decades, it has had a powerful impact on Denver’s art community, both showcasing envelope-pushing, thought-provoking modern pieces and encouraging artists near and far to continue such an expression. Get a ticket to explore the many exhibitions and installations that challenge the mind, spirit and often the medium used in the process, or attend one of the museum’s regular events.
What you need to know before you go: Hours are Tuesday – Thursday 12pm – 7pm, Friday 12pm – 9pm and Saturday – Sunday 10am – 5pm, but be sure to check the museum’s updated admission times before you visit. MCA Denver will provide $6 discounted parking for the public garage at 1900 16th street (used before 4:00 p.m. Tuesday – Friday), and limited metered parking is available on Delgany Street. Reservations are not required, although you can reserve your tickets ahead of time to pick them up on arrival.
Lowry
Want to see a piece of moon rock from the Apollo space mission? What about a propeller that Orville Wright designed himself? That and so much more awaits at Wings Over the Rockies. Technically, there are two buildings/experiences here: the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum—with its 100,000 square feet of exhibit space featuring various airplanes, space vehicles, artifacts, military uniforms, and more—and the 15-acre campus which is Exploration of Flight, one of the nation’s busiest general aviation airports, offering comprehensive and informative programming on all things flight.
What you need to know before you go: Wings is open daily from 10am to 5pm, opening at noon on Sundays. Ticket prices range from $11.95 for children 4 – 16 to $18.95 for adults, with some discounts available. Free parking is available on the south and east sides of the building (Former Lowry Air Force Base Hangar 1).
The Golden Triangle
Dedicated entirely to the works of artist Clyfford Still, this museum is a wonderful place to get lost in the giant canvases, bold colors and hyper-intentional brushstrokes. A post-World War II Abstract Expressionist, Still’s provocative works all touch on “universal themes about creation, life, war, and death (the human condition). Consider any of the exhibitions devoted to Still’s early works, late works , or those in between, or an equally compelling guest artist.
What you need to know before you go: The museum is open from Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00 – 17:00. Adult tickets are $10, kids can visit for free, and there are some discounts for school groups, military, seniors and more.
Capitol Hill
If you’ve been in Denver for at least a few days, you’ve probably heard of Margaret Tobin “Molly” Brown. If you haven’t, you should definitely take a trip to this house and museum to learn all about her wildness in Colorado and beyond. or Titanic survivor, advocate for the betterment of Colorado towns and cities, and champion for women’s labor rights, Molly lived a life of adventure and innovation and remains a pillar of Colorado history.
What you need to know before you go: The museum is open Wednesday 09:00-13:00, Thursday and Saturday to Tuesday 09:00-17:00, and Friday 9:00-19:00. Tickets can be purchased online for solo exploration or guided tours starting at around $16.
Central Business District
Interested in gripping depictions of life in the American Old West? Look no further than the American Museum of Western Art. With three floors of galleries displaying both historic and contemporary art, it’s easy to get lost in the scenes of cowboys, prairies, and stunning landscapes of the American West—though that’s just a fraction of what you can expect to find while exploring.
What you need to know before you go: Museum hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with last admission at 4 p.m. Tickets for self-guided tours are $5 across the board, but guided tours are also available at certain times.
Jefferson Park
Fun for everyone from ages 2 to 92, the Children’s Museum of Denver is a fantastic place to bring the whole family and learn a thing or two during your visit. Here, kids (and kids at heart!) can learn the basics of water and energy physics, discover the fun of the Adventure Forest and Box Canyon, or play pretend at Fire Station No. 1 or my market. Get totally hands-on and spend the day creating, absorbing and adventuring with your favorite little explorer.
What you need to know before you go: Museum hours are 9am to 4pm daily, but reservations are required to guarantee entry. Admission starts at $15 for children ages 1 and adults over 60, $17 for visitors ages 2 – 59, and members and children under 1 visit free. Free parking is available on site.
