Discover Colorado School of Mines Museum: A Hidden Gem

If you have never been to the Colorado School of Mines Museum (Mines Museum), I highly recommend going. It is truly a hidden gem.

Miss Colorado crownPhoto byColorado Martini

The 15,000 square foot geology museum attracts over 30,000 visitors per year. In this large space are many displays and interactive exhibits. Such as the Miss Colorado Crown with its 600 gemstones and 21 diamonds. A “Goodwill” moon rock collected during the Apollo 17 mission. The museum even includes the Bob Weimer trail. This great trail will take you through time to authentic triceratops tracks.

Gold at the Mines MuseumPhoto byColorado Martini

There are more than 2,000 items currently on display and more than 40,000 total items in the museum’s collection. Which are regularly rotated for new educational experiences and displays for all to enjoy.

This amazing geology museum is located on the campus of the Colorado School of Mines, in Golden, Colorado. The museum had its beginnings in 1874 with the collection of geologist, Arthur Lakes. Which includes the historic Colorado State Mineral Collection created by the Bureau of Mines in the 1890s. The museum serves as the state repository for Colorado’s mineral heritage and showcases the most extensive public collection of minerals from Colorado.

Moon rock from Apollo 17Photo byColorado Martini

Admission: FREE

Regular Hours: Monday - Saturday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sunday 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Address: 1310 Maple St., Golden, CO 80401

They have many great events. Presently you can enjoy “Night at the Museum” every first Friday from 5:00-9:00 p.m. and it is free. During the evening event, you will enjoy live music, cash cocktail bar, special guests, activities, and a whole lot of fun for the whole family.

Visitor Parking

Parking is fee-based in the visitor parking lot (including handicapped spots). It can be found just outside of the main museum entrance (the south side of the GRL building). Additional fee-based parking is available in the garage on the south side of the museum building (the blue rectangle labeled “PG” on the parking map) and the small north side lot behind the museum (the blue rectangle labeled “GRL” on the parking map). On WEEKDAYS, you must pay to use ANY visitor parking space using the kiosks outside of either entrance to the museum. Parking is FREE on weekends. Visitor parking spaces will appear in purple sections on the campus parking map.

The Ore Cart is a free transit shuttle that runs from the Colorado School of Mines campus, downtown Golden and beyond. The Ore Cart is free for all riders. There is a stop located next to the museum.

Have you ever been to this musuem? What did you think? Let us know in the comments.

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