City Park Denver CO Real Estate

Like most other grandiose projects the Denver Museum of Nature and Science started in earnest, as the Colorado Museum of Natural History in 1900 with a collection of mountainous plants and animals gathered by a man named Edwin Carter. Though it was originally housed on another site, the museum opened up in its current location in City Park in 1908 and has continued to expand since then. The first addition, the Phipps Auditorium, came in 1940, with the Gates Planetarium following next in 1968. Perhaps one of the most notable additions to the museum was Denver’s very first IMAX theater, which appeared in 1983. To give the museum more room to showcase its incredible collections, a 187,000 square foot addition was put on the museum shortly following the IMAX, in 1987. Since then, the Leprino Atrium and Anschutz Sky Terrace have been added, and plans for a ground-breaking in the Fall of this year are in the works. This newest addition, scheduled to be completed by 2014, will add another 126,000 square feet and house the newest of the museum’s interests, the Rocky Mountain Science Collections and the Science Engagement Center. Within the expansive confines of this museum a number of permanent collections are on display, as well as world-renowned traveling exhibits.

The Denver Museum of Nature and Science’s permanent exhibits have something for everyone. Geared towards the little ones, the Discovery Zone allows children to dig for fossils, dance to world music, and see how it feels to walk like an animal of a different breed. The Egyptian Mummy collection is a great addition to the recent King Tut exhibit the Denver Art Museum had. Staples of most nature and science museums, ours houses incredible interactive collections on Native American culture, the wonder of space, and an epic journey through pre-history and the evolution of animals from small organisms to dinosaurs to the creatures that roam the earth today. If you need a break from wandering the halls, the IMAX theater is steps away, waiting for you to step in and enjoy some 3D science from the comfort of your chair. If you’re feeling a little more 2D, check out some of the shows at the Gates Planetarium. Young visitors can enjoy a can-do story about a star that travels the galaxy, meeting new planets and stars, while the older visitors can soak in informational programs about black holes.

As a public entity, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science subsides on donations, entrance fees, and grants, but they also offer a number of free days throughout the year as a part of their public service. Rates for entrance into the museum vary based on what activities you want to participate in once you reach the doors. Special exhibits, like National Geographic’s Real Pirates exhibit currently on display, often cost a bit extra, but are more than worth it. Parking on the grounds is free too, so splurge on the experience inside!

As part of the grounds of City Park, Denver Museum of Nature and Science holds a little secret that is worth sharing: the best view of sunset over Denver that you can find anywhere in the city. Situated at the highest elevation in the park, the back side of the museum is the perfect place to wind down your day and watch the sun shower the mountains and Denver skyline with the bold colors of the end of the day. Just don’t tell too many people….

Website: dmns.org

Tags: City Park Museum, denver museum of nature and science, IMAX Denver, Nature and Science Museum

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