Children explore the world around them when they’re young, absorbing everything from each second. And where better to grow and expand these thoughts than in a museum?
Museums are exceptional educational institutions that provide children with opportunities to learn about history, art, and culture, all of which shape today’s society. But let’s face it, some museums are just dull displays of artifacts behind glass. This kind of environment isn’t exactly helpful for keeping kids interested.
There are plenty of local museums where you can find hands-on exhibits for children, educational workshops for kids, outdoor exploration, interactive displays of dinosaurs, artifacts from the past, and much more.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through our top picks for museums for kids in Colorado Springs. Let’s check them out!
Top 16 Museums for Kids in Colorado Springs
1
5200 Nature Center Rd, Pueblo, CO 81003, USA
Nature and Wildlife Discovery Center
This is at the top of the list of natural history for kids in Colorado Springs! This sort of outdoor museum is a great place for education, wildlife rehabilitation, and outdoor recreation. It provides a perfect setting for bird watching, a variety of outdoor activities, educational programs, and more! You can also enroll your kid in a summer camp at this museum.2
420 S 14th St, Burlington, CO 80807, USA
Old Town Museum Complex
Old Town Burlington features over 25,000 artifacts from the turn of the century. Open year-round, it offers interactive exhibits for children that allow them to learn about pioneer life. Seasonal highlights include live can-can shows during the summer months. Although they don’t offer free museum days for families, you can bring your baby or toddler, as they are welcome for free.3
1805 N 30th St, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, USA
Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center
Another excellent destination for natural history for kids in Colorado Springs is the Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center. Families can explore Colorado's wildlife and its unique scenery. It features a Visitor and Nature Center that offers interactive exhibits, events, programs, and more for all ages! Kids will love learning while enjoying views of 300-foot-tall sandstone rock formations!4
210 N Santa Fe Ave, Pueblo, CO 81003, USA
Buell Children's Museum
The Buell Children’s Museum in Pueblo is considered one of the best art museums for kids in Colorado Springs—and even in the country! It features hands-on exhibits in arts, science, and history, along with outstanding children’s museum programs and exciting events. Kids will have a super fun and educational experience!5
4425 Arrowswest Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80907, USA
Space Foundation Discovery Center
If your kids love discovering new things, take them here! The Space Foundation Discovery Center is filled with interactive science activities, making it a perfect spot for curious explorers of all ages. Young and old alike can explore this space-themed place where they will come across different hands-on activities that are perfect for learning new things. It’s definitely one of the best museums for kids in Colorado Springs!6
201 S Fairview St, Woodland Park, CO 80863, USA
Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center
The Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center is filled with hands-on exhibits for children, featuring uniquely displayed dinosaurs, prehistoric marine reptiles, and more! There’s a children’s area that features a magnetic board, a book area, movies, and plenty of activities for rainy days!7
10 Cliff Rd, Manitou Springs, CO 80829, USA
Manitou Cliff Dwellings
Located just outside Colorado Springs, the Manitou Cliff Dwellings offer visitors a unique opportunity to explore the ancient cliff dwellers' architecture. With two museums featuring cultural displays that highlight Native American history, it's also a great alternative when looking for museums for kids in Colorado Springs.8
7075 Austin Bluffs Pkwy, Colorado Springs, CO 80923, USA
Play Street Museum
Play Street Museum is the best option for play museums in Colorado Springs! Children will get to explore, learn, and have a great time through interactive exhibits, the amazing tree-house, and the campsite. If you’re looking for toddler time at museums, be sure to check their events calendar for several options!9
710 Rock Creek Canyon Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80926, USA
May Natural History Museum
At this great Colorado Springs destination for educational fun, families with kids will get to see over 7000 species of butterflies, giant spiders, moths, beetles, scorpions, and more! Also known as the Bug Museum, the May Natural History Museum features one of the world’s largest collections of insects, making it an ideal spot for interactive science museum activities.10
550 Jurassic Ct, Fruita, CO 81521, USA
Dinosaur Journey
The Dinosaur Journey Museum has numerous hands-on exhibits for children and features over 15,000 fossil specimens in its collection. Its displays highlight regional discoveries, and visitors can observe paleontologists preparing dinosaur bones. Throughout the year, the museum hosts events and educational workshops for children.11
E. 40, 4545 US-40, Dinosaur, CO 81610, USA
Dinosaur National Monument
Dinosaur National Monument is an excellent destination for families looking for natural history for kids in Colorado Springs. Explore over 1,500 dinosaur fossils displayed in the Quarry Exhibit Hall, hike miles of scenic trails, and more. With over 210,000 acres of diverse landscapes, including mountains, deserts, and rivers, the monument is ideal for outdoor family adventures.12
612 Royal Gorge Blvd, Cañon City, CO 81212, USA
Royal Gorge Regional Museum & History Center
When looking for free museum days for families, the Royal Gorge Regional Museum & History Center is a great option. Admission is free and open to the public. Here, you’ll find a variety of amazing rotating exhibits, such as “Digging it! Fossils of Fremont County” and “The World in 80 Artifacts,” which are very popular, especially with families.13
200 S Sierra Madre St, Colorado Springs, CO 80903, USA
United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum
The United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum is a 60,000 square foot museum dedicated to US Olympic and Paralympic athletes and their stories. The museum is accessible and interactive for visitors of all abilities. They offer a special “Family Tour,” designed for both kids and adults, featuring hands-on activities. For this reason, it can definitely be added to the list of the best museums for kids in Colorado Springs!14
818 N Cascade Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80903, USA
The Edward C. Rochette Money Museum
Looking for rainy day museum activities in Colorado Springs? Look no further! Families will explore money’s role in art, history, science, and see collections of coins, paper currency, and medals at this cool museum! It also offers monthly KidZone classes—completely free—where children can learn about money through play, activities, and fun!15
400 S 21st St, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, USA
Ghost Town Museum
Ghost Town Museum is a terrific and unique option for museums for kids in Colorado Springs. Preserving Colorado’s western past, it’s a fantastic place for children to learn about history by exploring what an actual Old West town looked like during the late 1800s and early 1900s! Don’t forget to check out their hands-on activities for children, like cranking a butter churn and playing antique arcade games!16
Ent Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80914, USA
Peterson Air and Space Museum
Another excellent option for rainy day museum activities is the Peterson Air and Space Museum. Both kids and adults will enjoy exhibits that illustrate the history and missions of the Peterson Space Force base and learn about the aviation and space history of Colorado Springs!Colorado Springs offers a variety of places to visit with kids, ranging from top indoor playgrounds to laser tag and arcades. When it’s time to look for fun yet educational activities, there are some unique destinations worth exploring.
All of these museums for kids in Colorado Springs feature exciting hands-on exhibits or top children’s programs that are perfect year-round. The next time you want your child to engage in enjoyable and educational experiences, be sure to take them to one of these spots.
