Estes Park is not only a picturesque city, but it also boasts a captivating history and the Estes Park Museum offers an immersive experience where you can delve into the rich heritage of this remarkable place.
Discover the impressive Stanley Steemer and delve into the evolution of the local tourism industry, as you admire artifacts and artwork from the early days of this region.
With its wealth of information and well executed exhibits, the museum provides an ideal opportunity to gain insights into the story behind this magnificent city.
Table of Contents
What is the Estes Park Museum?
The Estes Park Museum is a museum located in Estes Park, Colorado. It serves as a gateway to the history and heritage of the town and the surrounding area, showcasing exhibits that highlight the natural, cultural, and social history of Estes Park and its vibrant community.
How to get to the Estes Park Museum
The Estes Park Museum is situated at 200 4th St, Estes Park, CO 80517.
A complimentary parking lot is available adjacent to the museum.
Operating hours are from 10 AM to 4 PM throughout the year. However, please note that it is open only from Wednesday to Saturday, so be mindful of the specific days.
Admission to the museum is completely free, making it a wonderful opportunity to explore. Feel free to contribute a donation to support its endeavors when you visit.
Visiting the Estes Park Museum
After getting greeted by an extremely friendly receptionist, we started off our visit watching the introduction film that you can find right by the entrance.
Ask one of the receptionists to restart the film for you you’d like to watch it from the beginning which I would recommend. It gives you a good overview of the formation of the city and will help you appreciate some of the exhibits you’ll come across later. It also features some beautiful shots of Estes Park.
You’ll start off with exhibits that delve into the history of Longs Peak and the namesake of the town of Estes Park, a “typical frontiersman of the Daniel Boone style.” Learn about the early homesteaders and and the first surveys done by local resident Abner Sprague, which really kicked off development around 1905.
Exhibits tell the story of the early rise of Estes Park as one of the first tourism destinations in the region, with visitors flocking to the beautiful scenery all the way from Europe.
It was a growing summertime destination where people would enjoy things they still do today like fishing, hunting, mountain climbing, hiking and camping.
Special artifacts like a beautiful rustic grandfather clock take you back in time and help tell the story of the city in its early days and how lodge owners found ways to “blend the beauty of natural materials into architecture and decoration.” It’s one of my favorite types of decorative and architectural styles.
Mixed in with historical artifacts is some beautiful artwork. As Estes Park blossomed into an artistic haven, it attracted renowned artists of national acclaim such as Albert Bierstadt and Charles Partridge Adams. You’ll find beautiful paintings, etchings, and sketches, with some dating back to almost 100 years ago.
Undoubtedly, one of the standout attractions within the museum is the impeccably maintained 1909 model EX Stanley Steamer Runabout, a truly remarkable vehicle with the impressive ability to reach speeds of up to sixty-five miles per hour (they set several speed records in the early 1900s).
Discover the fascinating legacy of Freelan Oscar Stanley, a visionary figure who left an indelible mark on the region. Through his efforts, roads were enhanced, electricity was brought forth, and the iconic 1909 Stanley Hotel came to life, serving as an architectural gem that inspired Stephen King’s chilling masterpiece, “The Shining.”
Delve into the remarkable story of Stanley’s contributions and witness the enduring impact he had on this remarkable corner of the world.
Related: Stanley Hotel Shining Tour Review: The Supernatural Birthplace of an Iconic Horror Film
Get a little history lesson on the birth of Rocky Mountain National Park in 1915 and learn about how the lodging industry evolved over the years in Estes Park, as you admire century old artifacts.
The museum does a commendable job of providing insight into the Colorado Big Thompson project, which was an immense undertaking. It encompassed various construction projects aimed at creating reservoirs, canals, dams, power plants, and tunnels to redirect water from the western side of the Rockies to the eastern side.
In fact, Lake Estes, located just a few hundred feet away, stands as one of the remarkable creations resulting from that project.
Related: Discovering the Beauty of Lake Estes: A Guide to Scenic Trails and Wildlife Encounters
I really liked the exhibit for the historic Park Theater which give you a sample of what the historic theater has to offer.
In fact, it was so intriguing to me that we immediately bought tickets to a showing for a couple of days later and we absolutely loved the vintage theater experience which is the oldest continually operating motion picture theatre in the United States.
Like many museums in Colorado, such as the Littleton Museum, they tell a story of natural disasters in the form of river floods.
Estes Park has witnessed its fair share of them throughout the decades. You can delve into the devastating floods that have shaped the region through exhibits that truly convey the awe-inspiring might of Mother Nature.
If you have kiddos, there is a little play area with a blackboard wall where you can leave your own mark on the museum.
When you visit the museum, one thing you must see is the 1908 cabin, which is located just outside the museum. Unlike some historic cabins, you can actually walk inside this one and get a close-up view of the interior, transporting you back to the way people lived over 100 years ago.
There’s also an additional building, the Historic Board Building, which houses temporary exhibits, but the museum was in between exhibits when we visited.
Finally, consider visiting some of the related sites that the museum manages, such as the Birch Bruins, which are located in downtown Estes Park. We have a guide for you to utilize before your visit.
Final word
The Estes Park museum is worth your time as it is free to visit. You’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of the city’s development over the decades and learn about the key contributors who have shaped the land and preserved its stunning natural resources.
Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, and CNBC. Read my bio.