Hidden-Gem Wild West Museums in Colorado
Stop by these off-the-beaten-path spots for a unique point of view on Colorado's Old West heritage.
Stop by these off-the-beaten-path spots for a unique point of view on Colorado's Old West heritage.
Outlaws & Lawmen Jail Museum, Cripple Creek
Relive the outlaw days of the Wild West in the red-brick building that served as the Teller County Jail for almost 90 years.
Black American West Museum, Denver
Learn the stories of Black miners, soldiers, homesteaders, ranchers, lawmen and other professions that built the West. (Call ahead for hours.)
Frontier Historical Museum, Glenwood Springs
Historic house with tales of the area that include characters like Doc Holiiday, Buffalo Bill Cody and Teddy Roosevelt.
Museum of Northwest Colorado, Craig
See one of the country’s largest collections of cowboy and gunfighter memorabilia on public display.
Pioneer Village Museum, Hot Sulphur Springs
Learn about tools of Grand County inhabitants, pioneer clothing and more in a 1924 schoolhouse.
A.R. Mitchell Museum of Western Art, Trinidad
The collection includes more than 350 of Mitchell’s works, Spanish folk art and Native American artwork.
Limon Heritage Museum & Railroad Park Complex, Limon
The heritage of the eastern plains is on display thanks to donations from the families of those who lived it.
Cross Orchards Historic Site, Grand Junction
Tour historic buildings (including an 1890s barn/bunkhouse), railroad cars and vintage agricultural equipment.
Gunnison Pioneer Museum, Gunnison
Historic buildings from around the county, including the Paragon School House and Alfonzo Hartman's post office, make up this historic park.
John W. Rawlings Heritage Center and Museum, Las Animas
Exhibits include early 1900s storefronts of a post office, barber shop, jewelry store, candy shop and bank.
Rimrocker Historical Society, Naturita
Catch up on 150 million years of archaeological, mining and pioneer heritage amid items donated by local citizens.
Underground Mining Museum, Creede
Learn about stoping, blacksmithing, mucking, blasting and assaying in the cool heart of the mountain.
Victor Lowell Thomas Museum, Victor
Housed in an 1899 building, see artifacts, photos and memorabilia from the area's Gold Rush heyday.
Ouray Alchemist Pharmacy Museum, Ouray
A guided tour takes you through a Wild West pharmacy, with 700 hand-blown pharmacy bottles, leech jars, medicines and more.
Cozens Ranch Museum, Fraser
The first homestead in the Fraser Valley is now a museum that explores the area's pioneer past.
Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center, Fort Garland
Discover a 19th-century military fort's parade grounds and adobe buildings. Learn about the Buffalo Soldiers stationed there after the Civil War.
Four Mile Historic Park, Denver
In the heart of the city, a 12-acre historical site is home to Denver's oldest standing structure, hosting exhibitions and workshops.
