Even though I have driven past this museum for over a decade, today is the first time I've visited!…read moreIt has been on my wish list to visit for a long time. I thought the Dougherty Museum just housed antique automobiles and farm equipment. However, it also has collections of vintage organs, pianos, victrolas, clothing and furniture. It is family owned and operated, and this is the family's extensive collection. All of the automobiles are labeled. The label includes the name, year, original purchase price, where the item was purchased and if possible information about its connection to the local area. It's so well organized! You can sit on a vintage fire truck and ring the bell! Free water bottles are offered. They have a clean restroom, but I didn't see a lock. There are people there who are very happy to give you information about the collection. It is a cash only establishment. The current entry fee is $10. When you sign their guest book it gives you free return entry for the rest of the summer. They are only open on Saturdays and only open during the summer. There is free parking.

This was a really great place! It only costs $5 to get in but there are hours worth of amazing…read morehistorical relics. Cars, rifles, tractors, pianos, and some of the most comfy chairs ever. LOL. The staff are very knowledgeable and are ready and willing to share their passion and experience with everyone young or old. And they let you (cautiously) experience first hand some of the musical instruments and cars!! We really enjoyed the museum and the awesome customer service. This place is a gem of Longmont!!

Nothing has changed here in the years since my last review. Absolutely no one was here when I…read moreattempted to see what new items they may have collected. Just one guy behind the desk to tell me everything else was closed and I couldn't get in to see anything. I guess we know why no one ever goes here. It's honestly a shame because it has such potential to be an actual historical society and a good museum, but it's sadly managed very poorly.

We have attended some car shows there. The building were open and we were able to view an antique…read morefire truck, a historic gas station and an old two story period correct house. The school house also had a person showing people how they used chalk and a tablet vs an electronic tablet. It took us about 2 hours to see most of the major items.

The Butterfly Pavilion is always a hit for our family…read more My toddler loves going and staring at all the bugs in the front room. I think we are in there for about 30 minutes. Then we make our way to the tropical butterfly room. Where we spend 10 minutes at most because when we get there. He wants a snack but I know he knows the play area is next. It keeps my toddler busy for hours. And he leaves happy. Surprisingly a fun place for a toddler. I never knew he would be so interested in the bugs but he loves it. And asks to go back fairly often. I recommend it for sure. Especially for young children. You can end your time in the play area. They do close for about 15 minutes each day for a deep clean. I forget the time. Overall, a great place to go.

Best $15 I've ever spent! If you're a newbie like me and want to up your photography game, you have…read moreto check out this hidden gem at the Butterfly Pavilion. I used my iPhone and the tips I learned were such a game changer! Atmosphere & Service: Early birds get the best shots! Since it starts at 8:30 AM, it was a small, quiet group of three. The instructor is one of the official Pavilion photographers his knowledge of bugs and cameras is next level. Pro-Tip: If you aren't a morning person, grab a coffee on the way! You'll want that caffeine kick to stay sharp for the classroom portion. The Experience: The first hour is a classroom deep dive into tips. Everything from high end Canons to iPhone hacks. Then, you head into the Pavilion to put it all into practice! Bonus: They have a dedicated Photo Hour so you can keep shooting after class ends. Price: $15 Parking: Free and easy. Overall: A 10/10 budget-friendly experience for hobbyists or beginner photographers. It's fun and educational.

Very small museum with just a few exhibits. I allowed one hour for our visit before our lunch…read morereservations, we only needed five minutes. The reception staff was very friendly and although admission is free, they ask for a donation up front. I gave a nice donation, expecting a good experience! It would have been hard to donate after our short visit. Most of the pieces were typical for contemporary, interesting to unusual. There were two different video graphic art pieces that were interesting. Parking is tough, street parking. It's close to the Pearl Street Mall area.

Underwhelming, I'm glad they asked for a donation at the start because I was in and out in about 5…read moremins. The 2nd floor is empty besides a few chairs in the corner and a sofa and the 1st floor you can see in the 4 second video attached. I love art and this was just odd. No details. I would recommend just a walk through waiting for your reservation at the tea house.

On a recent solo date (#dateswithkate) in cold and snowy Denver, I ventured down to the American…read moreMuseum of Western Art! Located across from the Brown Palace Hotel, this museum is a little bit of a hidden gem, in that the historic building blends into its' nearby hotel. Parking is a bit tricky, in that it's only offered via meter or nearby garage. Be prepared for a bit of a walk or pay a few bucks. The museum itself is larger than it appears, in that it offers 4 floors of artwork, sculptures, statues, historic home space filled with artwork and western history dating from the 1800's - 1940. VERY cool! Each floor is an "exhibit", adding to the overall story of the west and how the west seen through the eyes of many artists and their interpretation. Walls are divided into little sections filled with both small and large sized art. With my "telephone" in tow, I made my way through the museum in reverse - starting on the 4th floor. The telephone-like object provided a thorough breakdown of the artwork, and provided context for the different artists, the year and their historic significance! Each room off the elevator featured a historic look into history, with traditional rooms featuring some notable art pieces - which was a cool way to see this converted house to museum come to life. Staff are very friendly, welcoming and provide guided tours throughout the week, offer their two cents on the varied pieces and even protect the artwork. Multiple security guards were on each floor, reminding guests not to take photos, videos or get too close! I very much enjoyed my solo experience and would highly recommend a visit - as it's worth it! *** MAJOR PERK: I'll shout from the rooftops that the library is the best kept secret for all things cool and FREE tickets to the museum (along with many others!) through the local library. I reserved mine online, allowing free entry to explore on a self-guided tour!

We stumbled across this museum during a stay at a nearby hotel. $5 entry and well worth it. We…read morespent an hour walking around looking at the paintings. It's several floors and they have stairs and an elevator. A lot of the painting are just mind blowing especially on floor 2. They are from the 1800's. They offer a phone type device that will tell you about what you are looking at. Really great for context. There is no photography and there are guards to make sure nothing is defaced. Check the hours of the museum, they are not open every day. The nice lady at the front desk was delightful.

There's not much I can cover that Rolf didn't in his descriptive review, but I really enjoyed…read morevisiting this mountaineering museum ($5) last week. We had an extremely helpful, knowledgeable, friendly and funny guide who walked us through a few of the exhibits and then left us alone to look around, watch the videos, listen to audio and read the numerous displays. After hiking my first two 14ers this fall, I have even more of an interest in and appreciation for the incredible outdoor adventures our state has to offer, and this museum gives a great glimpse into them all, as well as some outside our fair state. The large 3D model of Everest was super cool and the info about each 14er was helpful. To read that a family with four children, one as young as 8, summited them all in just a few months really made my jaw drop! Dang. You can learn all about the unique aspects of our climate, types of geology, hypothermia, altitude sickness, the 10th Mountain Division, ice climbing, female outdoor pioneers and more. There is a portaledge set up to check out and a bunch of other displays of real live equipment and artifacts. I think my favorite things I read were all of the quotes sprinkled throughout that talked about the inspiration people take from these outdoor pursuits, and the indescribable feeling one gets from a summit, any summit. Colorado is a very special place and this museum definitely left me feeling so lucky to live here, and maybe a little more willing to take on some risk and adventure. If that also strikes your fancy, you can walk upstairs to the Colorado Mountain Club and get info about the many outdoor classes they offer, like I did :)

The Bradford Washburn American Mountaineering Museum is the largest museum devoted to…read moremountaineering in the Western Hemisphere, and one of the very largest in the entire world. The museum is a little-known gem in Colorado and deserves greater exposure. The museum is a joint project of the American Alpine Club and the Colorado Mountain Club, and also features photographs and material provided by the National Geographic Society. Its mission is "to inspire in our visitors a greater appreciation for the mountains and for mountaineering, in all of its facets, including the cultural and inspirational qualities of the mountains and the sport; to help in the cause to preserve the mountains and the history of mountaineering; to educate our visitors and in so doing enhance their enjoyment and safety in the mountains." The museum is quite beautiful and is a good venue for a quarter-day or half-day in Golden, which itself is a very interesting place to visit with many other local museums and places of interest. The museum has an interesting collection of permanent displays and artifacts, including some of the most well-known artifacts in the history of mountaineering, as well as temporary exhibits and videos. It has a gigantic 3D model of Mt. Everest that shows the various routes to the top. There's also a display of Tenth Mountain Division equipment. There are numerous full-size mannequins with original equipment from - among other things - the first American expedition to summit Mt. Everest, some of the most famous Colorado mountaineers of the early 1900s. It's really interesting to see how technology and techniques have progressed in mountaineering. The museum does contain displays and hands-on exhibits that are of interest to younger kids, including a cool "crevasse" that they can jump over, and a hanging ledge shelter that they can hole up in. There's also a gift shop called the "Base Camp." Visitors should check the website at mountaineeringmuseum.org to make sure of the current hours and to learn about the latest exhibits.

So much fun exploring and learning about Earth, the solar system, nature, and history! The…read morePlanetarium is a wonderful experience. Watching the presentations about the solar system makes you feel like you're right there, riding alongside the planets and floating through space. Walking through the museum, interacting with the exhibits, and learning from the stewards made the visit even more enjoyable. It was also awesome to see school groups and summer camps exploring the museum. I love that the kids have a designated place to sit and eat their lunches instead of having to use the café. There is so much to see and learn that you can easily spend hours here. It's a great way to spend the day, whether you're visiting with family, friends, or on your own. Happy Yelping!

Our family of seven adults and three young children descended upon the Denver Museum of Nature &…read moreScience. We joined as members, which turned out to be a great value since the membership cost less than purchasing individual tickets and allowed us to return throughout the year. Some of the toddlers were especially excited to see The World's Largest Dinosaurs exhibit (a separate ticket is required), which explores the biology and amazing anatomy of sauropods, the largest land animals ever to walk the Earth. We also enjoyed Discovering Teen Rex, which featured interactive exhibits for the kids. The fossil preparation lab was on display as well, showcasing Triceratops and Edmontosaurus fossils along with the tools used by paleontologists. Both exhibits were listed as temporary. The biggest surprise was the Wildlife Halls on the second and third floors. These 90-plus wildlife and habitat dioramas are beautifully detailed, many featuring enormous and exotic animals within realistic ecosystem settings. Everyone was impressed by how clean and vibrant they looked, especially compared to the classic dioramas at the American Museum of Natural History, which we still greatly enjoy. The Discovery Zone on the second floor was the biggest hit with the children. Designed for kids up to age eight, it offers a variety of hands-on exhibits. From uncovering buried bones in the sand to designing custom bug badges and experimenting with the force of moving water, it was difficult to pull the kids away. Outside the museum, there are additional attractions including animal statues, a playground, and a splash fountain. The museum is located within the expansive Central Park area, providing plenty of room to explore before or after your visit. We found the Denver Museum of Nature & Science to be well worth the visit and highly recommend it for adults and children of all ages.

A large, impressive museum with something for everyone. The main museum is technically two museums…read more(there are a total of three), the Hamilton building and the Martin building. Sections include modern and contemporary African art, arts of Oceania, Western American art, latin American art, indigenous art, alaskan art. They also have textile, fashion, and architecture exhibitions. They also have rotating temporary exhibitions. When I visited, it was European and American art. I had a little fun finding paintings of judgmental looking people and making a "we listen and we judge" instagram post. All the rooms are large and well curated/presented. I visited on a Tuesday and it was free (I still donated). On regular days, admission is 30 dollars, but gets you into all three museums, including the Kirkland (reviewed separately), which is right next door. I'm going to let the pictures speak for themselves as far as the variety available at this museum.

The depth and breadth of the Denver Art Museum's collection is breathtaking. There is so much to…read morelearn and enjoy in the standing exhibits and the rotating exhibits that amaze and delight the senses. The current exhibition on Australian Indigenous Art "The Stars We Do Not See" is a stunning example of how much there is to gain and appreciate from going to see something you know nothing about. I particularly enjoy the tours, ongoing programs and lectures that the Museum offers. In conjunction with with the Aboriginal exhibit, the monthly "Mindful Looking" program offered a deep dive into one painting in that exhibit as a group of maybe 50 patrons listened in rapt attention as the curator of "The Stars We Do Not See" gave us a deep understanding of not only how that piece was made, but also its historical, symbolic and hidden perspectives. This is just a tiny slice of the education, amazement and enjoyment the Denver Art Museum has to offer. It's a treasure.