Historical Sites Near Me in Dinosaur
The Trailhead Children's Museum
19 Emmons Loop, Crested Butte, CO
About Us
Our Mission:
To offer an engaging and dynamic environment that inspires children and families to explore, create and learn together through discovery and play.
Our Goals
The Trailhead Children’s Discovery Museum offers an engaging environment that inspires children and families to explore, create and learn together through discovery and play. The current long-term goals of the Trailhead are as follows:
-- Create a state-of-the-art, nationally recognized children’s museum.
-- Deliver extraordinary exhibits and programs to ALL residents and visitors.
-- Ensure organizational stability and growth, including finances, human and material resources, as well as organizational reputation within the community.
What We Do
-- We have many hands-on educational exhibits in two floors of our 2800 sq foot facility.
-- For all museum visitors we also provide guided learning activities in our Art Bar such as Kids Create and the Exploration Station.
-- We offer a selection of education opportunities through our Art & Science Camps, After School Classes, and programs for toddlers, pre K, and Kindergarten.
-- We collaborate with many local organizations to enrich other educational programs in our community and to offer affordable access to our Museum. Some of our partners include the Crested Butte Music Festival, the Crested Butte Center for the Arts, Gunnison County Libraries, Gunnison County Public Health, and the Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum.
Expected results of The Trailhead’s exhibits, programs and outreach are enriching, educational experiences for ALL children, the strengthening of the educational resources in the community, as well as the opportunity for families and caregivers to connect with children in meaningful ways.
Hamill House Museum
305 Argentine Street, Georgetown, CO
HGI owns and operates The Hamill House Museum, which is the centerpiece of its comprehensive residential interpretation of the Georgetown-Silver Plume National Historic Landmark District (designated 1966) within the context of the Rocky Mountain Mining West.
Originally constructed by Joseph Watson as a modest Country Gothic house in 1867, it was later purchased by Watson's wealthy brother-in-law William Arthur Hamill. By 1879, Hamill had greatly expanded the mountain estate into a lavishly beautiful home with its conservatory, gas lighting, bay windows, walnut woodwork, central heating, and luxurious interior decor. The Hamill House Museum boasts original wallpaper in many of the rooms, as well as many original pieces of furniture. The other buildings on the property include the carriage house, Mr. Hamill's granite office building, a laundry/summer kitchen, and a spacious six-seater privy.
Visit this beautifully restored 19th century home, and take a step back into the past. This is a must-see museum for visitors to the town of Georgetown.
Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum
479 Main Avenue, Durango, CO
History
Durango was founded by the Denver & Rio Grande Railway in 1880. The railroad arrived in Durango on August 5, 1881 and construction on the line to Silverton began in the fall of the same year. By July of 1882, the tracks to Silverton were completed and the train began hauling both passengers and freight.
From the very beginning, the railroad was promoted as a scenic route for passenger service although the line was constructed primarily to haul mine ores, both gold and silver, from the San Juan Mountains. It is estimated over $300 million in precious metals has been transported over this route.
By 1885 the population of Silverton had grown to 1100 and Otto Mears completed the toll road to Ouray and additional narrow gauge track out of Silverton was laid down in 1887. In 1893, 10 large mines in the Silverton district were forced to close when silver prices dropped from $1.05/oz to $.63/oz. Just three years later the Yankee Girl and Guston Mines played out. In Durango, the fire of 1889 virtually destroyed downtown and the first automobile arrived by train in 1902. By 1906, Mesa Verde was designated a National Park, increasing the potential for tourism promotions.
Throughout the next twenty years the railroad faced many challenges; slides, floods, snow, war and financial instability. When the US Government entered WW I, it assumed operation of the railroad. Shortly after resuming control of railroad operations, the D&RGW reorganized due to financial difficulties. Silverton suffered devastating effects from the Spanish Flu Epidemic of 1918 – 10 percent of the population died in just six weeks! In addition, the Gold King Mine closed, the Sunnyside Mine temporarily ceased operations for almost ten years and the Silverton Railroad closed.
With the advent of WW II, the US Government requisitioned narrow gauge equipment to use in Alaska and the smelter in Durango reopened to process uranium for use in the war. The smelter continued to process uranium instead of silver into the late 1940’s due to the Cold War. By 1947 the Silverton branch was in danger of being abandoned. A determined staff stepped in and helped to promote tourism keeping the line alive. Then Hollywood discovered Durango and the railroad. Over the next ten years several movies were filmed in the area showcasing the train: Ticket to Tomahawk, Across the Wide Missouri, Denver & Rio Grande, Viva Zapata and Around the World in 80 Days.
During the latter part of the 1960s, the Durango-Silverton was registered as a National Historic Landmark and was awarded as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. In 1969 the D&RGW abandoned the tracks south of Durango isolating the line and leaving the future of the line in question. Hollywood continued its fascination with the area and the railroad with the filming of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. As the railroad prepared to celebrate its 100th birthday, Charles E. Bradshaw, Jr. purchased the Silverton branch and with the restoration process complete, engine #481 returned to service after 20 years in retirement.
Throughout the 1980s, the D&SNGRR continued to build on the scenic tourist railroad industry. Engines and coaches began to be weatherized for winter use; a third train to Silverton was added to the schedule along with an alternative fourth train to Cascade Canyon Wye; major track reconstruction occurred as nearly ten thousand ties were replaced. Locomotives #497 and #480 were restored and returned to service, the #497 being the only K-37 to run on the line and the innovative RailCamp was built for use in the summer. In 1985 the D&SNGRR purchased the Silverton Depot, returning it to service. By 1986 there were four trains running to Silverton with a fifth running to Cascade Canyon Wye!
Today the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad continues to provide year-round train service, operating a historical train with rolling stock indigenous to the line. The locomotives used to pull today’s train remain 100% coal-fired, steam-operated. The locomotives are 1923-25 vintage and are maintained in original condition. The coaches each feature bathroom facilities and are heated during the winter months for passenger comfort. Open gondola cars provide a panoramic view of the mountains. Concessions are available on every train. The Durango & Silverton is owned and operated by American Heritage Railways.
Boulder Museum Of Contemporary Art
1750 13th Street, Boulder, CO
About :-
The Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art is a dynamic venue dedicated to the presentation of significant art of our time. Through an innovative program of regional, national and international exhibition and performance, the museum inspires and educates its communities and visitors from around the world to explore the forefront and evolution of contemporary art.
The museum's black box theater space is the home to Theatre 13, the resident performance group.
History:-
BMoCA was originally called the Boulder Arts Center. It was founded in 1972 by a group of local artists as a venue to showcase and promote the visual arts in Boulder. The group moved to its current space, a warehouse-style historic landmark building, in 1976. In 1995, the organization was renamed and a series of renovation efforts expanded the facilities to include three galleries and a 100-seat black box theater. Along with the growth of the facilities, BMoCA expanded its mission to include the presentation of national and international contemporary art. The museum is committed to providing local and regional artists with a significant venue, as well as, artists who are recognized both nationally and internationally
University Of Colorado Museum Of Natural History
1030 North Broadway Street, Boulder, CO
The mission of the University of Colorado Museum of Natural History is to contribute to the knowledge of the natural world and human history through research, teaching, and public education.
Leanin Tree Museum and Sculpture Garden of Western Art
6055 Longbow Drive, Boulder, CO
The Leanin’ Tree Museum of Western Art in Boulder, Colorado, exhibits the private art collection of Ed Trumble, Founder and Chairman of Leanin’ Tree, Incorporated, publisher of fine art greeting cards since 1949. His collection was born of a passion for American western art that has spanned five decades and continues to grow today. It is a collection that will surprise you in scope and inspire you in quality.
Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum
Colorado School of Mines, General Research Lab (GRL) building, 1310 Maple St., Golden, CO
About Us:
The Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum, home to one of the state’s two Goodwill moon rocks collected during the Apollo 17 mission, was started in 1874 and displays mineral, fossil, gemstone, meteorite and historic mining artifact exhibits on two floors.
The museum serves as the state repository for Colorado’s mineral heritage and promotes its importance and understanding to the university community and the public. It aims to inspire scientific curiosity through education and research while encouraging appreciation of the earth and responsibility for its mineral, fossil, meteorite and historic mining treasures.
Longmont Museum and Cultural Center
400 Quail Road,, Longmont, CO
Mission: The Longmont Museum is a center for culture in Northern Colorado where people of all ages explore history, experience art, and discover new ideas through dynamic programs, exhibitions, and events.
Vision: The Longmont Museum fosters a community that is culturally educated and creatively inspired.
History:
In 1940, the first exhibits opened to the public in the carriage house at the Callahan House. The Museum outgrew that space, and, in 1954, moved to the basement of the Memorial Building in Roosevelt Park.
The Museum became more officially structured with the incorporation of the Longmont Museum, Inc., on October 4, 1961.
In 1970, the Museum changed from a private, nonprofit organization to a department of the City of Longmont. Shortly after that, the Museum moved again, this time to a converted Sorenson garage at 3rd and Kimbark. The new space opened its doors on September 13, 1970. In 1973, the garage was torn down and the Museum moved to a converted City warehouse and garage at 375 Kimbark Street.
In November 1999, Longmont voters approved $5 million in a bond issue to build a new museum. The bond issue was approved by over 77 percent of voters. The Longmont Museum & Cultural Center was further enhanced by a $1 million gift from the Bill and Lila Stewart family. Now located at 400 Quail Road, just east of Main Street in south Longmont, the Longmont Museum invites visitors to come and see our regularly changing exhibits, experience our education programs, and enjoy the views from our Longs Peak Room tower.
In 2015, the Museum opened the Stewart Auditorium, an 11,000 square foot expansion made possible by a $4.5 million capital campaign. The expansion included the 250-seat Stewart auditorium and Cone-Shortall stage, the glass-walled Swan Atrium, and the Kaiser Permanente Education Center, which greatly expanded the Museum's classroom space.
In 2023, the Museum once again launched a new capital campaign, this time to fund a comprehensive expansion, including a complete renovation of the outdoor courtyard, adding a dedicated children’s gallery, and doubling the size of the existing gallery space, among other enhancements. The campaign goal is $8 million with a kickoff and groundbreaking in September, 2023.
Longmont is a diverse, multicultural and receptive city, one in which it's easy for people to make connections and to thrive as part of the community. As home to many customs and cultures, it's easy for residents and visitors to find fellowship with others of similar backgrounds and to explore and join in traditions that are new or foreign. The many nonprofit, civic and cultural organizations of Longmont welcome new people to become involved, and there is opportunity to find others with whom to share almost any interest. Not only do "you belong in Longmont" if you’re looking for a welcoming hometown or business location, but "when you’re in Longmont, you belong."
WOW! Children's Museum.
110 North Harrison Avenue, Lafayette, CO
Founded in 1996, WOW! Children's Museum (World of Wonder) is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization that is dedicated to providing educational interactive exhibits, activities, and programs for all children - bringing families together in a creative environment that sparks imagination, inspires learning through play, and supports school readiness.
WOW! offers science, art, and cultural exhibits, programs and events for children ages 15 months-11years old.
Fort Collins Museum of Discovery
408 Mason Court, Fort Collins, CO
An exciting and unique new museum experience is coming to Fort Collins! Combining science with history and culture, the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery will connect you to a deeper understanding of your world and your place in it, from our local community to the global community beyond. The new museum will be a place where people can come together for shared events and experiences, a place for building community while providing inspiration and insight.
This is the vision of the FCMoD — to create meaningful opportunities for people of all ages to learn, reflect, and have fun through hands-on and collections-based explorations in science and culture.
Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus
2121 Children's Museum Drive, Denver, CO
The Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus believes in kid-powered learning. Every day, our expertly designed exhibits and programs open doors for Colorado's curious young minds to express what they know and to discover, create and explore more - on their own terms.
Since 1973, the Children’s Museum of Denver has served the metro-Denver community as a learning institute dedicated to the education and growth of young children and their caregivers. The Museum provides rich play experiences and a dynamic learning environment for children to joyously learn through innovative and interactive Playscapes (hands-on exhibits), engaging daily programming and year-round special events. Last year, the Museum served more than 359,000 children and their grown-ups.
The Museum is currently under construction on a $16.1 million expansion to create a 9-acre campus and new experiences; doubling the size of the current facility. New exhibits include: The Art Studio, Altitude (a 3 ½ story climber), Water, Energy, The Teaching Kitchen, and Joy Park: An Outdoor Adventure. The expansion is slated for completion in late 2015.
The Children's Museum of Denver is a 501(c)(3), private non-profit organization, and a Tier II SCFD member.
Museum Of Contemporary Art Denver
1485 Delgany Street, Denver, CO
About
The Museum of Contemporary Art Denver (MCA Denver) explores the art and culture of our time through rotating exhibitions and public educational programs. Featuring regional, national and international artists, MCA Denver offers a wide range of exhibitions promoting creative experimentation with art and ideas. Through adult and youth education programs and other creative events, the museum serves as an innovative forum for a culturally engaged community.
MCA Denver was founded in 1996, when philanthropist Sue Cannon and a group of volunteers created the first dedicated home for contemporary art in the city of Denver. For seven years, MCA Denver occupied a renovated fish market in Sakura Square in lower downtown Denver.
In 2003, Mark Falcone and Ellen Bruss, members of MCA Denver’s Board of Trustees, donated a gift of land in Denver’s Central Platte Valley in order to realize the organization’s goal of building a permanent home for contemporary art in Denver.
In October 2007, under the directorship of Cydney Payton, MCA Denver opened its new, 27,000-square foot, environmentally sustainable facility in lower downtown Denver designed by acclaimed architect David Adjaye of Adjaye Associates (UK). The building, Adjaye's first museum commission, was designed to minimize boundaries between the exterior spaces of the city and the interior galleries of the museum. Hidden skylights fill the interior spaces with natural light. Windows look out on the streets of the central Platte Valley. The building has five galleries on two floors as well as dedicated education spaces, a shop, library and rooftop cafe.
In March 2009, Adam Lerner was appointed as the new director of MCA Denver. Upon Lerner’s move from his former position at The Lab at Belmar to MCA Denver, the Boards of Trustees agreed to merge the two institutions.
MCA Denver is an innovative forum for contemporary art that inspires and challenges all audiences, creating understanding and dialog about the art of our time.
Operating Hours
MON: CLOSED
TUES: NOON–7PM
WED: NOON–7PM
THURS: NOON–7PM
FRI: NOON–9PM
SAT: 10AM–5PM
SUN: 10AM–5PM
Clyfford Still Museum
1250 Bannock Street, Denver, CO
About the Museum
Considered one of the most important painters of the 20th century, Clyfford Still (1904-1980) was among the first generation of Abstract Expressionist artists who developed a new and powerful approach to painting in the years immediately following World War II.
After the artist's death in 1980, the Clyfford Still Estate was sealed off from public and scholarly view. Still's will stipulated that his estate be given in its entirety to an American city willing to establish a permanent museum dedicated solely to his work, ensuring its survival for exhibition and study. In August 2004, the City of Denver, under the leadership of then Mayor John W. Hickenlooper, was selected by Still's wife, Patricia Still, to receive the substantial Still collection. In 2005, Patricia Still also bequeathed to the city her own estate, which included select paintings by her husband as well as his complete archives. The Still Museum collection, which represents 95 percent of the artist's lifetime output, includes approximately 3,125 works created between 1920 and 1980.
The Clyfford Still Museum opened in 2011 and is the newest addition to Denver's burgeoning Cultural Arts District located adjacent to the Denver Art Museum in the city's Civic Center Cultural Complex. The two-story, 28,500-square-foot building was designed by Brad Cloepfil of Allied Works Architecture specifically to display Still's work. The museum allows visitors the unique experience to understand the legacy of Clyfford Still, an artist whose life has been shrouded in mystery and the bulk of whose work has been hidden from public view for more than 30 years.
The Mission
The Mission of the Clyfford Still Museum is to advance the understanding and appreciation of Clyfford Still's art and legacy through the presentation, research, interpretation, preservation, and stewardship of its unique collections.
Denver Art Museum
100 West 14th Avenue Parkway, Denver, CO
Mission:
The Denver Art Museum is an educational, nonprofit resource that sparks creative thinking and expression through transformative experiences with art. Its holdings reflect the city and region—and provide invaluable ways for the community to learn about cultures from around the world. Its mission is to enrich the lives of present and future generations through the acquisition, presentation, and preservation of works of art, supported by exemplary scholarship and public programs related to both its permanent collections and to temporary exhibitions presented by the museum.
History Colorado Center
1200 Broadway, Denver, CO
Mission
Inspiring generations to find wonder and meaning in our past and to engage in creating a better Colorado
Who We Are
Welcome to History Colorado, a twenty-first-century historical society. Established in 1879, History Colorado is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and an agency of the State of Colorado under the Department of Higher Education. We offer public access to cultural and heritage resources of Colorado, including statewide museums and special programs for individuals and families, collection stewardship of Colorado’s historic treasures, educational resources for schools, students and teachers, services related to preservation, archaeology and history, and the Stephen H. Hart Research Library.
History Colorado’s statewide activities support tourism, historic preservation, education and research related to Colorado’s rich western history, offering the public unique opportunities to interact with Colorado history through its network of museums which offer engaging exhibitions and special programs for adults and children.
Through our education programs, we work with schools across the state to provide classrooms and teachers with important resources and curriculum related to Colorado history, and offers local communities resources that help them to enrich historical-related community based programs.
Through the State Historical Fund historic preservation grants program, History Colorado has awarded millions in competitive grants to all 64 counties across Colorado, which has resulted in a more than $1.5 billion impact on Colorado’s economy.
As the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation handles the processing and documenting of statewide archaeological and historic preservation related projects.
Molly Brown House Museum
1340 Pennsylvania Street, Denver, CO
As more and more historic properties were demolished in the 1960s, a group of preservation-minded Denver citizens joined efforts in 1970 to rescue the home of Titanic survivor Margaret Tobin Brown. The group incorporated as Historic Denver, Inc. and began major restoration efforts in order to return the home’s interior and exterior to its early 20th century grandeur. Guided tours of the Museum reach an average of 45,000 visitors a year, sharing the story of Margaret "Molly" Brown and Denver history. It is our mission "to inspire courage, conviction and proactive change in the spirit of Margaret Brown."
The Molly Brown House Museum is one of only a few history organizations in Denver to provide both on-site and off-site educational programming. The education programs at the Museum happen both on-site and travel to schools, libraries and after-school programs. On-site programs include guided tours of Margaret “Molly” Brown’s 1889 home, an environmental theater program that brings Victorian literature to life, and etiquette teas that educate students about the cultural customs of the Victorian era. Off-site traveling programs range in topic from mining, the industrial revolution, the science of restoration, and civic activism. These programs bring artifacts and primary sources into the classroom and help students learn by providing an interactive hands-on experience. Each of these programs align with Colorado State Standards.
The Museum’s educational programming has become increasingly popular as Historic Denver is the one of the only organizations with the capacity to travel to classrooms across the metro-area. We have also become a go-to resource for teachers because of our ability to structure programs to fit classroom content and because we provide direct access to our full-time educator, who both schedules activities and facilitates them with the support of volunteers. With school budgets cuts, our programs, and the quality of our educational support, need to remain a valuable option for teachers. The Molly Brown House Museum has made a significant commitment to keeping our programs accessible. Currently, 50% of the schools served by these programs include students that receive free and reduced lunches, and nearly 20% of the schools have more than 25% of the student body receiving free and reduced lunch.
Since opening the Museum, Historic Denver has worked to save countless other Denver landmarks and increase public awareness of Denver’s unique historic structures. Historic Denver has a more broadly based mission and over the years has worked to provide direct preservation services to historic properties, offer technical assistance, advocate for threatened resources and serve as a voice for the preservation community. Historic Denver operates a Sacred Landmarks Preservation Program, the Urban Living Program, and a new history experience for visitors, the Denver Story Trek. Historic Denver also works as an advocate in the community, supporting neighborhoods interested in preserving the character of our built environment and promoting the value of historic preservation as a key element of economic growth and community revitalization.
Forney Museum Of Transportation
4303 Brighton Boulevard, Denver, CO
Experience Transportation History!
The Forney Museum of Transportation is a one-of-a-kind collection of over 600 artifacts relating to historical transportation. It began 60 years ago with a single 1921 Kissel, but soon expanded to include vehicles of all kinds. Today it includes not just vehicles, but also buggies, motorcycles, steam locomotives, aircraft, carriages, rail equipment, fire apparatus, public transportation, sleighs, bicycles, toys & diecast models, vintage apparel and much, much more!
Our Mission
The Forney Museum of Transportation is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization which exists to collect, preserve, and exhibit items of artistic, historical and technological interest relating to transportation for the purposes of education and personal enrichment.
Denver Museum Of Nature and Science
2001 Colorado Boulevard, Denver, CO
Mission:
Be a catalyst! Ignite our community’s passion for nature and science.
Vision:
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science envisions an empowered community that loves, understands, and protects our natural world.
Core Values:
-We love science.
-We are curious, creative, and playful.
-We cultivate relationships with each other, diverse communities, the environment, and for our future.
-We think critically and act with empathy.
Wings Over The Rockies Air And Space Museum
7711 East Academy Boulevard, Denver, CO
Our Mission
The mission of Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum is to educate and inspire people of all ages about aviation and space endeavors of the past, present and future.
Centennial Village Museum
1475 A Street, Greeley, CO
Centennial Village Museum is a living history experience that features over 35 historical buildings, costumed interpreters, heritage farm animals, and 8-acres of beautifully landscaped grounds. Visitors step back in time and learn about the settling of the western high plains, a time when grand houses, growing businesses, extensive prairies and agriculture were all a part of daily life.
Opened during the nation’s bicentennial in 1976, Centennial Village Museum preserves and interprets American western heritage in the Colorado high plains region. Some of Weld County’s oldest structures are located in this museum.