CITY SPOTLIGHT
DENVER
Denver Art Museum
The main attraction(s)
Culture lovers will find a lot to their liking in the Golden
Triangle area near the state capitol.
“The museums in Denver’s Golden Triangle neighborhood are
easy to walk to from downtown hotels,” says Buck. “The History
Colorado Center provides an overview of the state’s past, present
and future. Across the street, the Denver Art Museum is home to
impressive collections of American Indian and Western art.”
History Colorado Center
At the History Colorado Center, which is an NTA member,
groups can get a feel for many aspects of life in the Rocky
Mountain West. In addition to seeing history-focused exhibits,
visitors can enjoy interactive components such as a ski-jump
simulator, a virtual ride in a real Ford Model T and a simu-
lated dynamite explosion in a circa-1880’s mine.
Since its founding in 1893, the Denver Art Museum has become
one of America’s most significant art institutes west of the
Mississippi River. It is home to a number of renowned collections
that highlight local and r egional works, as well as European, Asian
and African art. The sleek architecture of the Daniel Libeskind-
designed Frederic C. Hamilton Building is itself a work of art.
Two other attractions Buck recommends, the Byers-Evans
House Museum and the Molly Brown House, are located
within four blocks of History Colorado. The story of Molly
Brown, a noted 20th-century activist and Denver philanthro-
pist, is shared at her namesake residence/museum. At Byers-
Evans, visitors can learn about the lives of two of city’s promi-
nent families in the early 1900s.
A natural trio
The downtown area also is home to the following three group-
friendly, nature-based attractions:
Denver Botanic Gardens
One of the top five botanic gardens in the U.S., Denver Botanic Gardens
is an oasis in the city. Groups can explore the different styles of gardens
and enjoy year-round special events such as the Lavender Festival, the
Pumpkin Festival, the winter market and the summer concert series.
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science
For more than 100 years, the attraction has showcased the fascinating
world of science. Visitors can learn more about the cosmos, view precious
minerals and gems, see massive dinosaur skeletons, check out planetarium
and IMAX shows, take part in educational sessions and more.
The zoo is home to more than 4,000 animals representing 650 spe-
cies, including everything from Asian elephants and African lions to
Komodo dragons and lowland gorillas. Interactive animal encounters,
zookeeper sessions, teen volunteer programs and student overnight
stays are popular.
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Denver Museum of Nature & Science
The Denver Zoo