Museums in Golden cover railroad history, quilts and local stories, so you can choose a visit around the subjects you want to see. The Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum is about a 13-minute walk from a Golden bed and breakfast; the other museums offer distinct collections and admission options.
- The railroad museum has a 15-acre railyard and more than 100 historic locomotives, passenger cars and cabooses.
- The quilt museum is open daily, with different Sunday hours.
- Golden History Museum has free admission and a hands-on gallery for families with young children.
Choose a museum by interest
Golden’s museums suit different interests, from historic rail equipment to quilts and city history. For a larger outdoor setting, start with the Colorado Railroad Museum; for textile collections, consider the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum. Golden History Museum combines local objects with a hands-on gallery for families with young children.
The Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum is another named option in town. If you are planning several stops, the museums’ different opening days and hours make it worth checking schedules before you set out. A one-day Golden itinerary can help you place museum visits alongside other stops.
Colorado Railroad Museum
The Colorado Railroad Museum pairs a broad outdoor railyard with depot and model-railroad displays. Its 15 acres contain more than 100 historic locomotives, passenger cars and cabooses, alongside a replica 1880s depot museum, rotating exhibits and an HO model railroad. The museum opened in 1959.
Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors aged 60 and older, and $5 for children ages 2–17. Members enter free, and children under 2 do not require a ticket. The museum is open 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Tuesday–Sunday and closed Mondays. Groups are asked to call about reservation availability.
The museum describes paved walkways and ramps to ground-level areas including the Main Museum Depot, Library Archives and Restoration Roundhouse.
Its Main Depot upper and lower galleries do not have elevator access, and the Galloping Goose Motorcar is not wheelchair accessible. The museum is at 17155 W. 44th Avenue, Golden, CO 80403. Find more detail in this Colorado Railroad Museum guide.
Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum
The Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum is the Golden choice for quilt galleries and a gift shop. It is at 200 Violet Street, Unit 140, Golden, CO 80401, and says parking is free in its museum lot.
Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors over 65, $6 for students with ID and active military with ID, and $6 for children ages 6–12. Children under 6 enter free.
Galleries and the gift shop are open Monday–Saturday 10 a.m.–4 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m.–4 p.m. The Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum visitor guide covers this museum in more detail.
Golden History Museum
Golden History Museum focuses on the city’s past, with displays drawn from the City’s collection of more than 15,000 historic objects. Its hands-on gallery is designed for families with young children.
Admission is free. The museum is at 923 10th Street and is open Tuesday–Saturday 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Golden residents began collecting, exhibiting and preserving local artifacts in 1938; the museum’s grand opening took place January 14, 1939, at North School on Washington Avenue. It has been housed at 923 10th Street since 1996.
Before you go: Hours, admission and closure days can change, so check the official site before you go.
FAQs
Which Golden museum has free admission?
Golden History Museum has free admission. Children under 2 enter the Colorado Railroad Museum free, and children under 6 enter the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum free.
Which museum has the largest outdoor collection?
The Colorado Railroad Museum has a 15-acre railyard containing more than 100 historic locomotives, passenger cars and cabooses.
Which Golden museum is suited to families with young children?
Golden History Museum has a hands-on gallery for families with young children. Children under 2 do not require a ticket at the Colorado Railroad Museum, and children under 6 enter the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum free.