Things to do in Golden, Colorado (CO): The Best Museums

Located in historic downtown Golden, Foothills Art Center leads and inspires the community through art, education, and cultural excellence with engaging exhibitions and dynamic arts programming for learners of all ages. Foothills Art Center was founded in 1968 and is an official member of the United States National Registry of Historic Buildings. The center is housed in an 1872 Gothic style church, an 1892 Queen Anne style manse and a Victorian-era mansion built in 1899 – all surrounded by a sculpture garden at 809 15th Street in downtown Golden, Colorado.

Pioneer life in the hills and canyons near Golden was harsh, difficult, and not for the faint of heart. Most who survived in the beautiful, if inhospitable region, succeeded as farmers and ranchers. Relive the experience by exploring the blacksmith shop, log cabins, hay barn and root cellar. Visit with our heirloom-breed chickens and discover a buzzing beehive. On select days, interact with costumed interpreters who enliven the landscape with cooking and blacksmithing demonstrations. Step inside the one-room Guy Hill Schoolhouse and take a seat in a student’s desk, but don’t wisecrack to the school mistress! After your History Park visit, remember to check out the free (for all of 2019) Golden History Museum directly across Clear Creek.

The Bradford Washburn American Mountaineering Museum inspires an appreciation for the mountains and mountaineering. Through exceptional, interactive exhibitions, education programs, and world-renowned speakers, the Museum educates visitors about the history of the mountains, the climbers who visit them, their delicate environments, and the diverse cultures which inhabit them. "It is the first of its kind in North America and the ultimate mountaineering experience available indoors" - Jim Whittaker, First American to summit Mount Everest

Golden History Museum has fully transformed into a warm, welcoming, and vibrant public space for uncovering and sharing our past. The renovation includes new programming spaces, a research center, a hands-on gallery for families with young children, and dynamic new exhibits that highlight the City’s collection of historic objects. With the vision of “always something new to discover,” the renovated Golden History Museum brings the behind-the-scenes practices of object discovery and preservation to the front of the house. Admission is free throughout 2019. Open six days; closed Tuesdays.

Gravesite and museum dedicated to the life and times of Buffalo Bill Cody.

All Aboard for one of Denver’s Top 10 Attractions! We're open, with updated health and safety protocols in place at our primarily outdoor site. Featuring a 15-acre railyard with dozens of historic locomotives, passenger and freight cars on display, plus train rides Saturdays (January-October) with expanded operations May-August and during seasonal special events. Changing exhibits, tours and school programs throughout the year explore Colorado’s rich railroad heritage. Especially popular are Day Out With Thomas (September) and Polar Express Train Ride (November-December). Visit our website for admission, hours, group rates, events and more information!

The focus of the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum is the preservation and art of quilts and quilt-making through our permanent collection of more than 500 quilts in a variety of styles, from historic and traditional to contemporary and artistic. We also feature quarterly exhibits of quilts and a quilting gift shop.

The Astor House is closed to the public for historic rehabilitation. Built in 1867 when Golden was the territorial capital, the Astor House stayed in continuous operation as a boarding and rooming house until 1971, serving legislators, miners, and students. With one of the first bathtubs in town, the Astor House also attracted trail-dusted visitors willing to pay 25 cents for a hot bath. Although the tub is no longer used for soaking, a visit to the Astor House Museum will show you why it’s on the National Register of Historic Places!