You probably know that Colorado has a number of fantastic museums to explore but maybe you’re wondering if your kids will be interested before you head out the door? Or maybe you’re looking for somewhere new to add to your family’s routine? From small to big, here’s our Colorado museum guide for kids and families. Whether you want to learn more about dinosaurs or space, we’ve got the perfect spot for you. Curious to see what they’re all about? Here’s our quick reference guide to what each has to offer:
Where: Pueblo
Overview:
Located in the Sangre de Cristo Arts Center, this children’s museum offers interactive exhibits, toys and exhibits. This is one cool option of our Colorado museum guide for kids and families!
Your Kids Will Love:
Opportunities for hands on crafts and activities.
Where: Denver
Overview:
A fully interactive museum for children of all ages with a 3.5 story climbing structure, water exhibit, bubbles, outdoor play area and much more.
Your Kids Will Love:
Their very own place to explore and create, this museum has something to engage children with a wide range of interests.
Where: Denver
Overview:
An entire museum dedicated to the work of contemporary artist Clyfford Still.
Your Kids Will Love:
Special family tours for children aged 5-10 where kids can create their own artwork.
Where: Golden
Overview:
Train lovers can see historic trains and learn more about the history of railroading in the Rocky Mountain region. The museum also hosts special events like Day Out With Thomas and The Polar Express.
Your Kids Will Love:
Riding a real train!
Where: Arvada
Overview:
The Cussler Museum showcases over 100 significant rare and vintage automobiles. Please note, the museum is only open May – September.
Your Kids Will Love:
Checking out vintage cars up close.
Where: Denver
Overview:
The Denver Art Museum showcases a variety of work from all around the world and from the past and present. Please note, children 18 and under are free every day.
Your Kids Will Love:
Denver Art Museum has games and activities for children spread throughout the exhibits.
Where: Denver
Overview:
The Denver Firefighters Museum strives to preserve the history of firefighting and the Denver Fire Department through photographs and other artifacts.
Your Kids Will Love:
Seeing real firetrucks and having their own kids’ firetruck to play in.
Where: Denver
Overview:
This museum showcases the best of nature, science and history with exhibits about space, dinosaurs, the human body, animals, gems and minerals and more. They also have an IMAX Theater and Planetarium.
Your Kids Will Love:
Learning about their favorite topics and the Discovery Zone – an interactive play area for children.
Where: Fruita
Overview:
A Paleontology and Geological museum showcasing fossils and dinosaurs from the Western Colorado region.
Your Kids Will Love:
Animatronic dinosaurs, interactive exhibits and a kids’ dino dig site.
Where: Denver
Overview:
A unique collection of over 600 artifacts related to historical transportation including cars, buggies, motorcycles, locomotives, aircraft and much more.
Your Kids Will Love:
Seeing a wide range of vehicles… and even a couple they can touch!
Where: Denver
Overview:
An entire museum dedicated to the rich history and culture of Colorado.
Your Kids Will Love:
Destination Colorado, an exhibit showing what life was like in 1918 Keota, Colorado, has a General Store and Barn with interactive elements for children to play.
Where: Lakewood
Overview:
Lakewood Heritage Center showcases the history of Lakewood and the many innovations and changes of the area over the 20th century.
Your Kids Will Love:
Lakewood Heritage Center is home to events like Rockin’ Block Party, Cider Days and Lakewood Lights
Where: Longmont
Overview:
Longmont Museum features changing exhibits on history, art and science and is also home to Front Range Rising, a long term exhibit on the history of the region.
Your Kids Will Love:
Interactive exhibits and hands-on learning. Don’t miss Discovery Days – an opportunity for 2-6 year olds to engage in themed arts and crafts with music and movement.
Where: Colorado Springs
Overview:
Known as the “Bug Museum” – visit a collection of over 7000 mounted specimen of butterflies, moths, beetles, spiders, scorpions and more.
Your Kids Will Love:
Getting to see unique creepy crawlies up close!
Where: Colorado Springs
Overview:
Explore this museum dedicated entirely to numismatics – the study or collection of coins, paper currency and medals.
Your Kids Will Love:
Free KidsZone classes held each month where your children can learn all about money while having fun.
Where: Morrison
Overview:
A regional Dinosaur Museum with historic and modern fossils
Your Kids Will Love:
Getting to peek into the fossil prep lab where museum staff are actively uncovering local finds.
Where: Denver
Overview:
A Latin American Art museum located in the Sante Fe Arts District dedicated to educating the community about the diverse arts and cultures of the Americas.
Your Kids Will Love:
The vibrant artwork and exciting exhibits.
Where: Boulder
Overview:
An innovative and educational museum exploring the continuing history of the Boulder region.
Your Kids Will Love:
The Google Garage where children can learn through exploring and creating.
Where: Denver
Overview:
The Museum of Contemporary Art features the modern art and culture through rotating exhibitions and public education programs.
Your Kids Will Love:
The top floor play area where kids can work on a craft project related to one of the exhibits.
Where: Burlington
Overview:
A historic 6 acre site that will give you a glimpse of what life was like for early Colorado settlers.
Your Kids Will Love:
Exploring the Old Town and watching live shows with CanCan dancers and live gunfights.
Where: Sterling
Overview:
The Overland Trail Museum is dedicated to the migration of gold seekers and early pioneers looking to strike it rich.
Your Kids Will Love:
Seeing Colorado history come to life!
Where: Woodland Park
Overview:
A museum showcasing dinosaurs, prehistoric marine reptiles, pterosaurs and fish from North America’s late Cretaceous period.
Your Kids Will Love:
The Children’s Learning Center where your child can expand on what they’ve learned with hands-on experiences.
Where: Cañon City
Overview:
A regional museum with exhibits highlighting the history of Fremont County and the surrounding region.
Your Kids Will Love:
Rotating exhibits like Digging It! Fossils of Fremont County.
Where: Golden
Overview:
An Earth Science museum featuring a world-class collection of various rocks, fossils, minerals and more.
Your Kids Will Love:
An indoor cave and a kids area.
Where: Colorado Springs
Overview:
The perfect place for all ages to learn about space and technology.
Your Kids Will Love:
Space suits, scale model rockets and learning all about discovering the universe.
Where: Denver
Overview:
Wings Over the Rockies is a museum located inside of a hangar at the former Lowry Air Force Base showcasing aircraft, space vehicles, artifacts, military uniforms and more.
Your Kids Will Love:
Exploring full size aircrafts and a special play area with hands on fun.
Where: Lafayette
Overview:
A museum just for children where they can learn through hands-on exhibits ranging from art to mechanics and more. This is one cool option of our Colorado museum guide for kids and families.
Your Kids Will Love:
Learning through play!
We hope this guide gave you some great ideas of things to do with your family. If you’re looking for more great ideas, check out some of our other articles:
