Colorado Experience

Explore the booming 1866 town on the Eastern Plains and the colorful characters who lived there until tragedy struck in the 1880s.

From opium “Joss Houses” and Lydia E. Pinkham’s Tonic to the 1937 Marijuana Tax Act, discover the early addictions of the west.

As El Paso County’s first sheriff, Rankin Scott Kelly helped pursue the Espinosa Brothers and found himself in numerous shootouts with notorious outlaws.

From rodeos and parades to auctions and cowboy art, discover the globally known event that has occurred annually since 1906.

From Mary Cawker to Millie Booth, meet the pioneering women whose hard work and vision brought the oldest house in Denver to life.

Meet the controversial Mayor whose “City Beautiful” vision built Denver’s Civic Center Park and parkway system in the late 1890s.

Examine the lasting impact of the cultural, artistic and architectural contributions of “Colorado’s First Town.”

Discover the glamorous Hollywood-style movie theatres that served as social hubs from 1910 to the 1950s.

Marvel at Colorado’s most famous tunnel, the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel, and discover the tragedies it has seen.

Step inside the historic 1906 building, investigate the wild robbery of 1922 and discover the secrets behind the Denver Mint.

High altitude, groceries delivered by mule train, pack rats and spoiled Thanksgiving turkeys are just a few of the challenges faced by ladies living in Colorado's remote mining towns at the end of the 19th Century. Learn the stories of three inspirational women who held their own while surrounded by a harsh landscape and un-lady-like company.

In 1859, two surveyors stumbled upon the Garden. One gentleman remarked this spot, surrounded by towering red geological features would be a "capital place for a beer garden," to which his companion replied "Beer garden! Why this is a place fit for the gods to assemble!" With a 3000 year history stemming from Native Americans to thrill seekers, discover one of the world's most celebrated parks.

"For all who wish to learn," are the words by which Emily Griffith lived her life. Influenced at a young age by her uncle, Griffith set off to offer a free education to all regardless of age, ethnicity or social stature. Meet the woman whose lasting legacy in education lives on today, even as her murder remains a mystery.

In March, 1931, a winter blizzard took the lives of five children who were stranded inside a school bus in southeastern Colorado. Learn of the events that unfolded over 33 fateful hours, and how the story remains a vivid one today.