🦕Natural History Museum🏠 Homeschool ProgramsPaid admission

Denver Museum of Nature & Science

Denver, Colorado

About

The Denver Museum of Nature & Science (DMNS) is Colorado's largest museum and one of the premier natural history and science institutions in the American West. Located at the edge of City Park with views of the Rocky Mountains, it draws over 1.5 million visitors annually and serves as a center of scientific research across paleontology, anthropology, and earth sciences. The museum's Prehistoric Journey takes visitors through 3.5 billion years of life on Earth with exceptional fossil specimens including multiple dinosaur skeletons, early mammals, and the dramatic transition from the age of dinosaurs. Space Odyssey is one of the largest permanent space exhibitions in the country, featuring a 1:5 scale model of the Space Shuttle and hands-on exploration of the solar system and universe. The Infinity Theater offers giant-screen films in a tilted dome format for an immersive viewing experience, while the Gates Planetarium presents digital star shows, astronomy programs, and laser light shows. Ancient Egypt, North American Indian Cultures, and Expedition Health galleries offer additional depth across anthropology and human biology. DMNS operates as an active research institution with significant collections and ongoing fieldwork. The museum's commitment to community access is expressed through Scientifically Speaking programs for low-income families and partnerships with Denver Public Schools. Science camps, homeschool days, teacher professional development, and weekend family programming are offered throughout the year. The museum is open 363 days a year and frequently extends evening hours on Fridays, making it one of the most consistently accessible major natural history museums in the country.

🏠 Homeschool Programs

This institution offers dedicated programming for homeschooling families. Visit the website for details.

Subject Areas

🦴 Natural History🔬 Science🌌 Space & Astronomy🪨 Earth & Geology🌍 Culture & Anthropology

Best For

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 All Ages👨‍👩‍👧 Families🏫 School Groups🎒 Elementary (6–10)🧑 Tweens & Teens (11–17)🧑‍💼 Adults

Visit Website

Hours of Operation

Daily 9am–5pm (selected Fridays 9am–9pm). Open 363 days/year.

Hours change seasonally — verify before visiting.

Admission

Paid admission

General admission required. SCFD discount for Colorado residents. Members free.

✓ Membership available

ASTC

ASTC Travel Passport Program

Members of the Association of Science and Technology Centers' Travel Passport Program offer free or discounted admission to members of other participating institutions. Over 300 science centers worldwide participate.

Learn more →

47 other places in our directory accept this membership: