Western Museum of Mining and Industry

About this activity

There is SO much history within Colorado, as well as the American West, it's no wonder you need a museum to cover just one important section of it - mining!

The Western Museum of Mining and Industry (WMMI) preserves and interprets the rich mining history of the area, and it's a great place for kids to really understand how important this industry was for the state - and how important the state was for the industry!

Within the Western Museum of Mining and Industry, you'll find over 4,000 artifacts which are on display across a HUGE 27 acres of museum space - both indoors and outdoors.

Kids can use the exhibits as a learning tool to uncover Colorado history, geology, mining and industrial technology, and even the environment. 

Have you ever seen a 10-stamp mill up close (or even knew what it was!?) Here, you can see a carefully reproduced stamp mill that was actually rebuilt using 19th century construction methods, showcasing machinery typical of the Western mills from as far back as 1890!

The Reynolds Ranch House is also a great exhibit within this museum, with it's Queen Anne Farmhouse style, showcasing what life would have been like in a once-thriving community.

Kids - what do you know about mine reclamation? If you said "not much", that will change soon! Also at the WMMI you can learn all about mine reclamation, where mined lands are restored after the mining has finished. So important to the environment, the wildlife, and the water quality, it's an invaluable lesson for kids to understand why conservation and the planet is so important!

The museum also has special exhibits across the year, which change every few months, so there is no excuse not to go back to learn something new!

A fascinating day out through the rich history of Colorado at the Western Museum of Mining and Industry for the whole family!