Colorado.com Staff Writer

<p>Stop by these off-the-beaten-path spots for a unique point of view on Colorado's Old West heritage.</p>


Hidden-Gem Wild West Museums in Colorado

Intro

Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center

A.R. Mitchell Museum of Western Art in Trinidad

Limon Heritage Museum & Railroad Park Complex

Slideshow

<h2>Outlaws &amp; Lawmen Jail Museum</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/cripple-creek">Cripple Creek</a><br />
Relive the outlaw days of the Wild West in the red-brick building that served as the Teller County Jail for almost 90 years at the <a href="https://www.colorado.com/history-museums/outlaws-lawmen-jail-museum">Outlaws &amp; Lawmen Jail Museum</a>.</p>
<h2>Black American West Museum</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/denver">Denver</a><br />
At the <a href="https://www.colorado.com/history-museums/black-american-west-museum-heritage-center">Black American West Museum</a>, learn the stories of Black miners, soldiers, homesteaders, ranchers, lawmen and other professions that built the West. (Call ahead for hours.)</p>
<h2>Frontier Historical Museum</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/glenwood-springs">Glenwood Springs</a><br /><a href="https://www.colorado.com/history-museums/frontier-historical-society-and-museum">The Frontier Historical Museum</a> is a historic house with tales of the area that include characters like Doc Holiiday, Buffalo Bill Cody and Teddy Roosevelt.</p>
<h2>Museum of Northwest Colorado</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/craig">Craig</a><br />
See one of the country’s largest collections of cowboy and gunfighter memorabilia on public display at the <a href="https://www.colorado.com/history-museums/museum-northwest-colorado">Museum of Northwest Colorado</a>.</p>
<h2>Pioneer Village Museum</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/hot-sulphur-springs">Hot Sulphur Springs</a><br />
Learn about tools of Grand County inhabitants, pioneer clothing and more in a 1924 schoolhouse that houses the <a href="https://www.colorado.com/museums/pioneer-village-museum">Pioneer Village Museum</a>.</p>
<h2>A.R. Mitchell Museum of Western Art</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/trinidad">Trinidad</a><br />
The <a href="https://www.colorado.com/art-museums/ar-mitchell-museum-western-art">A.R. Mitchell Museum of Western Art</a> includes more than 350 of Mitchell’s works, Spanish folk art and Native American artwork.</p>
<h2>Limon Heritage Museum &amp; Railroad Park Complex</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/limon">Limon</a><br />
The heritage of the eastern plains is on display thanks to donations from the families of those who lived it at <a href="https://www.colorado.com/history-museums/limon-heritage-museum-railroad-park">Limon Heritage Museum &amp; Railroad Park Complex</a>.</p>
<h2>Cross Orchards Historic Site</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/grand-junction">Grand Junction</a><br />
Tour historic buildings (including an 1890s barn/bunkhouse), railroad cars and vintage agricultural equipment at <a href="https://www.colorado.com/museum/cross-orchards-historic-site">Cross Orchards Historic Site</a>.</p>
<h2>Gunnison Pioneer Museum</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/gunnison">Gunnison</a><br />
Historic buildings from around the county, including the Paragon School House and Alfonzo Hartman's post office, make up <a href="https://www.colorado.com/history-museums/gunnison-pioneer-museum">Gunnison Pioneer Museum</a>.</p>
<h2>John W. Rawlings Heritage Center and Museum</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/las-animas">Las Animas</a><br />
Exhibits at the <a href="https://www.colorado.com/museums/john-w-rawlings-heritage-center-and-museum">John W. Rawlings Heritage Center and Museum</a> include early 1900s storefronts of a post office, barber shop, jewelry store, candy shop and bank.</p>
<h2>Rimrocker Historical Society</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/naturita">Naturita</a><br />
Catch up on 150 million years of archaeological, mining and pioneer heritage amid items donated by local citizens at <a href="https://www.colorado.com/museums/rimrocker-historical-society">Rimrocker Historical Society</a>.</p>
<h2>Underground Mining Museum</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/creede">Creede</a><br />
At the <a href="https://www.colorado.com/history-museums/underground-mining-museum">Underground Mining Museum</a>, learn about stoping, blacksmithing, mucking, blasting and assaying in the cool heart of the mountain.</p>
<h2>Victor Lowell Thomas Museum</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/victor">Victor</a><br />
The <a href="https://www.colorado.com/museums/victor-lowell-thomas-museum">Victor Lowell Thomas Museum</a>, housed in an 1899 building, is the place to go to see artifacts, photos and memorabilia from the area's Gold Rush heyday.</p>
<h2>Ouray Alchemist Pharmacy Museum</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/ouray">Ouray</a><br />
A guided tour through the <a href="https://www.colorado.com/museums/ouray-alchemist">Ouray Alchemist Pharmacy Museum</a> takes you through a Wild West pharmacy, with 700 hand-blown pharmacy bottles, leech jars, medicines and more.</p>
<h2>Cozens Ranch Museum</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/fraser">Fraser</a><br />
The first homestead in the Fraser Valley is now <a href="https://www.colorado.com/museums/cozens-ranch-museum">Cozens Ranch Museum</a>, which explores the area's pioneer past.</p>
<h2>Fort Garland Museum &amp; Cultural Center</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/fort-garland">Fort Garland</a><br />
Discover a 19th-century military fort's parade grounds and adobe buildings at <a href="https://www.colorado.com/museums/fort-garland-museum-cultural-center">Fort Garland Museum &amp; Cultural Center</a>. Learn about the Buffalo Soldiers stationed there after the Civil War.</p>
<h2>Four Mile Historic Park</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/denver">Denver</a><br />
In the heart of the city, <a href="https://www.colorado.com/history-museums/four-mile-historic-park">Four Mile Historic Park</a> is a 12-acre historical site that's home to Denver's oldest standing structure, hosting exhibitions and workshops.</p>
<h2>Want More?</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.colorado.com/activities/museums">Check out all Colorado museum listings</a></p>
