Denver Museum of Nature and Science

The Denver Museum of Nature and Science is a natural history museum located in the city of Denver in the state of Colorado. The exhibition halls spread across several floors and display fossils, mounted North American animals, gemstones, and interactive stations on space topics.

The collection began in 1868 with Edwin Carter's specimens from Colorado wildlife, which he gathered in the mountains around Breckenridge. In 1900 the collection moved to Denver and grew over the decades into an institution with several research areas.

The name honors the tradition of natural history collecting in the Rocky Mountains, and today school groups from across the state visit for hands-on workshops in the lab areas. Families often pause in the main atrium, where children pose for photos on platforms beside mounted animals.

The building sits in City Park east of downtown and offers accessible entrances plus elevators to all floors. Most visitors plan at least two hours to walk through the main galleries, with fewer crowds forming in the morning hours.

In the basement rooms thousands of collection items are stored that researchers regularly use for scientific studies, but remain closed to the public. The roof of the building carries solar panels that cover part of the electricity needs and are visible from a distance in clear weather.

Location: Colorado

Location: Denver County

Location: Denver

Inception: 1900

Accessibility: Wheelchair limited access

Fee: Yes

Address: 2001 COLORADO BLVD

Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 09:00-17:00

Phone: +13033706000

Website: https://dmns.org

GPS coordinates: 39.74750,-104.94200

Latest update: December 14, 2025 19:57