Wendy Burt-Thomas
Posted: Tuesday, April 28, 2009 12:13 pm

Prehistoric Journey

 Have a hankering for history? A craving for quilts? A curiosity for Columbian art? Then you’re in the right state. Colorado is jam-packed with a wide variety of museums, and we’re not just talking art. From rodeos and railroads to minerals and mountaineering, even the most difficult to impress can find something for their taste. Find a museum (or two!) that fits your interest and make a day of it!

WOW Children’s Museum

110 North Harrison Ave., Lafayette • 303-604-2424, www.wowmuseum.com • An interactive museum featuring science and arts exhibits, toddler-focused areas, and a variety of role-playing adventures.

Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum

1111 Washington Ave., Golden • 303-277-0377, www.rmqm.org • Dedicated to the preservation of quilts and the continuation of the art of both traditional and contemporary quilt-making.

Colorado Railroad Museum

17155 West 44th Ave., Golden • 303-279-4591, www.crrm.org • A wonderful collection of narrow and standard gauge locomotives, cars and 50,000 rare old photographs, papers and artifacts taking up 12 acres.

Denver Museum of Nature & Science

2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver • 303-322-7009, www.dmns.org • The Rocky Mountain region’s leading resource for informal science education, including exhibitions, programs and activities to help visitors of all ages experience the natural wonders of Colorado, Earth and the universe. The exhibitions, IMAX films, lectures, classes and programs touch on one more of the following: Anthropology, Geology, Health Science, Paleontology, Space Science and Zoology.

Children’s Museum of Denver

2121 Children’s Museum Dr., Denver • 303-433-7444, www.cmdenver.org • Offering a variety of Playscapes designed for children ages 0-8. Interactive exhibits feature art, sports, mini trains, a real fire truck, a veterinarian office, a mini-grocery story and mall.

The Arvada Center

6901 Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada • 720-898-7200, www.arvadacenter.org  • In addition to rotating public art, the center features an historical museum. The showpiece of the museum is the 144-year-old Haines log house, furnished for the time. The museum itself holds 2,500 additional pieces, including farm equipment, furniture, tools, household materials, books, photographs, clothing and documents.

Buffalo Bill Grave and Museum

9871⁄2 Lookout Mountain Rd., Golden • 303-526‑0744, www.buffalobill.org • If you like the Old West you won’t want to miss the exhibits exploring Buffalo Bill’s life. Featuring Indian artifacts, antique firearms, Wild West show outfits and a special temporary exhibit every year.

National Earthquake Information Center

1711 Illinois St., Golden • 303-873-2430 • Set an appointment for a tour of this “rockin’ ” museum that features a working seismograph, storyboards and touch TV monitor with earthquake statistics.

The Bradford Washburn American Mountaineering Museum

710 10th St., Golden • www.bwamm.org • 303-996-2755 • The first and only museum in the United States dedicated to the heroism, technology, culture and spirit of mountaineering.

Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy

101 ProRodeo Dr., Colorado Springs • 719-528-4764, www.prorodeohalloffame.com • The only museum in the world devoted exclusively to the sport of rodeo and its star, the rodeo cowboy. Visitors can enjoy videos and memorabilia from 160+ inductees — from Joe Beaver’s first saddle and boots to Descent’s silver halters.   

Denver Art Museum

100 W. 14th Ave. Pkwy., Denver • 720-865-5000, www.denverartmuseum.org • While the museum’s collection includes more than 60,000 works of art, there are also constantly changing temporary exhibitions. Permanent pieces include African, Asian, American Indian, European, American, Oceanic, pre-Columbian, Textile and Western American Art, among others.