Welcome to the Museum!

Click here for our 2008 events.

NEW! Download our program catalog.

The Estes Park Museum, in Estes Park, Colorado, was founded by volunteers in 1962. As a department of the Town of Estes Park, its purpose is to collect, interpret and preserve local history, as well as present exhibits, programs and events, for the education and benefit of residents and visitors of all ages.

What an exciting history it has been! From the first inhabitants, the Ute, Shoshone and Comanche, to the early explorers in the mid-nineteenth century, hunters and ranchers, the Estes Park area, at the eastern gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park, has seen its share of both heroes and villains.

See a Stanley Steamer, a remnant of the days when F.O. Stanley built the Stanley Hotel, the inspiration for Stephen King's movie The Shining. The hotel appears as one of the stars of the recent television mini-series. Visit the changing exhibits gallery in the restored original headquarters of Rocky Mountain National Park. See a genuine main street log cabin, now situated on the museum grounds.

Be sure to visit the Historic Fall River Hydroplant, built in 1909 to power the famous Stanley Hotel.

The Museum’s full-time director, Betty Kilsdonk, along with her staff and many volunteers, has an exciting day waiting for you, as you tour the permanent and changing exhibits that illustrate the growth and change of this beautiful mountain area.

The mission of the Estes Park Museum Friends & Foundation is to ensure that the Estes Park Museum is the premiere local history museum in Colorado. Each year they sponsor fund-raising activities, like the "Coolest Car Show in Colorado," to assist the Museum in making accessible to the public the history of Colorado's first mountain resort. The tax-deductible membership brings you invitations to exhibit openings, special Members Only educational programs and events, a 10% discount in the Museum Shop, the quarterly newsletter, and a gift.