It’s been HOT outside 🥵 Looking for somewhere ~cool~ to kill time? Spend the day in one of Denver’s many independent museums, where admission is typically free or affordable, the AC is almost always on full blast, and the hours fly by. Take your pick from some of our favorites:
Black American West Museum & Heritage Center (Five Points)
Founded by Paul W. Stuart in 1971 after someone told him there was “no such thing as a Black cowboy,” this organization is focused on spotlighting the role of Black residents in western history.
National Ballpark Museum (LoDo)
Arguably the best place for diehard baseball fans in Denver to visit (since the Rockies have been struggling), this spot houses a collection recognized by Smithsonian Books as one of the best in the world. One of my favorites is a lightbulb from the very first game at Ebbets Field in 1938.
Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum (Englewood)
Whether you’re an aspiring pilot like me or you just want to learn more about aviation, this place offers more than 100,000 square feet of iconic planes, military garb, and even space vehicles.
Forney Museum of Transportation (Elyria-Swansea)
For a broader study of transportation, explore the more than 800 artifacts at this museum. There are bikes, planes, locomotives, sleighs, and one of Amelia Earhart’s gorgeous cars.
Museo de las Americas (Art District on Santa Fe)
Founded in 1991, this gem has rotating exhibitions from artists across Latin America and of Latin American descent. The small space punches well above its weight, often featuring art media beyond paintings and sculptures.
Buffalo Bill Museum & Grave (Golden)
Though the gift shop at this longtime tourist attraction is undergoing a total transformation, the museum itself is still well worth a trip to Golden. It’s got wild west history, cowboy lore, and an Instagram-friendly fake horse.
Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls and Toys (Lakewood)
The organization relocated to Lakewood in 2020 and is continuously making upgrades to its new home. I go for the miniatures alone, but there’s plenty of intrigue for kids, toy nerds, and perhaps folks who have not seen “The Conjuring” movie franchise.
I want to hear about all the cool museums I missed in this list.
