The building features an 'Atrium' with a massive, four-story-tall digital map of Colorado embedded into the floor.
The facility was designed by Tryba Architects to achieve LEED Gold certification for energy efficiency.
It houses a massive collection of over 15 million artifacts and documents related to the American West.
The museum includes a 1920s-style 'Auto-Tour' exhibit that uses a real vintage car to simulate a road trip through the Rockies.
An exhibit area dedicated to the Dust Bowl uses interactive sensory technology to replicate the environment of the 1930s.
The building features a specialized 'Research Center' where the public can access primary source documents and historic photographs by appointment.
The History Colorado Center is a state-run facility featuring interactive, multi-sensory exhibits focused on the geography, culture, and social history of Colorado. The building is designed with a large atrium and uses sustainable architecture to house rotating and permanent collections. Permanent exhibitions include 'Zoom In,' which details personal objects from the state's past, and a simulated high-country adventure experience. The museum focuses heavily on the stories of Colorado’s diverse populations, including Indigenous nations and immigrant communities. It serves as the headquarters for the state historical society and acts as a research hub with an extensive library and archival collection. Visitors can engage with digital-mapping tables and oral history listening stations located throughout the gallery floors. The museum frequently hosts traveling national exhibitions in its dedicated changing gallery spaces. It is located in Denver's Golden Triangle Creative District.
The four-story atrium, specifically from the second-floor balcony looking down at the massive floor map.
Download the museum’s interactive map app before arriving to maximize your time in the large multi-floor galleries.
Visit the Research Center on the second floor if you have specific interests in genealogy or local history, but call ahead to confirm access policies.
Check the online event calendar for 'History Colorado After Dark' events if you prefer a quieter, adult-oriented environment.
Do not rush through the ground floor; many visitors miss the complex depth of the digital maps by heading straight to the elevators.
Casual, comfortable walking shoes are recommended; photography for personal use is allowed without flash.
