The Estes Park Museum is open year-round, Wednesday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Admission is free!
Estes Park has one of Colorado's longest histories as a destination community, which continues today. From its naming and widespread publicity in the 1864 Rocky Mountain News to today's millions of annual visitors, the allure and enjoyment of Estes Park remains across generations.
Nestled at the foot of iconic Longs Peak, Estes Park's story of Native American tribes, homesteaders, entrepreneurs, and artists is unique to Colorado. With the formation of Rocky Mountain National Park in 1915 and the incorporation of the Town in 1917, Estes Park hosted a number of notable individuals such as Isabella Bird, Enos Mills, Eleanor Hondius, and F.O. Stanley. Often remarked as a "paradise" by visitors, Estes Park experiences its own trials of floods and fires, lending to a strong sense of community by those who live here. Through interactive displays and in-depth exhibits, explore the place many have come to love - make the Estes Park Museum your destination today!
Mission: Contributing to the mission of the Town of Estes Park, the Estes Park Museum conducts activities that preserve, share, and respect the unique history of Estes Park.
Vision: Contributing to the vision of the Town of Estes Park, the Estes Park Museum will cultivate a passion for our history.
In 1962, the National Park Service razed Stead's Ranch, an 1876 homestead and guest ranch in Rocky Mountain National Park. Concerned citizens organized to preserve artifacts from the ranch, and then extended their vision to the Estes Valley, creating the foundation for the Estes Park Museum.
Operating as a municipal museum since 1992, the original non-profit reestablished itself to become the Estes Park Museum Friends & Foundation, Inc. to support the mission of the Museum.