Colorado is rich with history, offering a variety of fascinating sites perfect for group visits. From scenic railroads to old mining towns and historic landmarks, the state’s diverse past is on display in every corner. Whether you’re interested in Native American history, the gold rush era, or early pioneer life, Colorado’s well-preserved places provide a unique opportunity to step back in time and explore the stories that shaped the region. Ideal for educational trips, tours, or casual group outings, these destinations offer both cultural insight and scenic beauty.
Image courtesy of History Colorado
1. History Colorado Center
Kick off your group’s statewide journey in Denver. For a deep dive into the history of the Centennial State, start with a visit to History Colorado Center downtown. With more than 15 exhibitions that span four floors, the center takes tourgoers through the fascinating history of the state’s Indigenous peoples, displays local artifacts and artwork, and even offers a History Colorado Makerspace, where visitors can enjoy hands-on constructive experiences.
2. Center for Colorado Women’s History
Get a glimpse into the role that women have played over time at the Center for Colorado Women’s History, located in a restored historic home that was built in Denver in 1883. Groups can partake in a guided tour of the property while learning about the many women who lived and worked there while getting a close-up look at the families’ original belongings.
3. Georgetown Loop Historic Mining & Railroad Park
Next, start making your way west. Less than an hour from Denver, the Georgetown Loop Historic Mining & Railroad Park allows tourgoers to experience the mining history and culture of the region. As Colorado’s most historically immersive experience, this park offers year-round train rides along a railroad built in 1884, mine tours, and gold-panning demonstrations.
4. Healy House Museum & Dexter Cabin
From Georgetown, head to the Healy House Museum & Dexter Cabin, perched at an altitude of nearly 2 miles and surrounded by some of the state’s tallest mountains. This landmark is lasting example of Western life in Leadville as a booming 19th-century silver-mining town. Visitors can wander the area, explore lush gardens, and partake in guided tours of the iconic structures.
5. Ute Indian Museum
Next, your group will want to visit the Ute Indian Museum in Montrose, which explores the deep traditions of adaptation and persistence of the Ute peoples through educational exhibits and an immersive Naturescape Playground. The largest feature at the museum is the Ute Ethnobotany Garden, a haven for plants native to the Western Slope that have been used by Colorado’s longest continuous residents for generations.
6. Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center
Begin journeying back east with a stop at Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center. A finalist for the 2023 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, Fort Garland allows visitors to explore life in a 19th-century military fort. The site offers tours of the original adobe buildings and features several exhibits that focus on topics like settlement in the West, the impact of Black Army regiments, and more.
7. Trinidad History Museum
From Fort Garland, make a short jaunt to Trinidad History Museum, which features the historic Bloom Mansion and Baca House, two residences built in the late 19th century, as well as heritage gardens and the Santa Fe Trail Museum. Here, tourgoers will learn about the region’s diverse cultural and ethnic heritage through lively evens and exhibitions.
8. El Pueblo History Museum
Finally, your group will start making the trek north to Denver, stopping in Pueblo along the way. The El Pueblo History Museum incorporates a reconstructed and immersive 1840s trading post, an archaeological site, and innovative exhibits that explore the many cultures and ethnic groups of the region. Here, your group can step foot inside a historically accurate pueblo and learn about the day-to-day life of those who may have lived there.
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History Colorado
historycolorado.org
Illustrations courtesy of History Colorado
