Denver Museum of Nature and Science


The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is a municipal natural history and science museum in Denver, Colorado. It is a resource for informal science education in the Rocky Mountain region. A variety of exhibitions, programs, and activities help museum visitors learn about the natural history of Colorado, Earth, and the universe. The building houses more than one million objects in its collections including natural history and anthropological materials, as well as archival and library resources.
The museum is an independent, nonprofit institution with approximately 350 full-time and part-time staff, more than 1,800 volunteers, and a 25-member board of trustees. It is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and is a Smithsonian Institution affiliate.

Education programs

The museum provides programming in six main areas. The exhibitions, IMAX films, lectures, classes, and programs pertain to one or more of the following core competencies: anthropology, geology, health science, paleontology, space science, and zoology. More than 300,000 students and teachers visit the museum with school groups each year. In addition, the museum has science outreach programs and distance–learning opportunities for families, schools and surrounding communities. The museum also offers ongoing professional training workshops for teachers.

History

In 1868, Edwin Carter moved into a tiny cabin in Breckenridge, Colorado, to pursue his passion, the scientific study of the birds and mammals of the Rocky Mountains. Almost single-handedly, Carter assembled one of the most complete collections of Colorado fauna then in existence.
Word of Carter's collection spread and, in 1892, a group of prominent Denver citizens declared their interest in moving his collection to the capital city for all to see. Carter offered to sell the entire collection for $10,000. The founders also secured a collection of butterflies and moths, and a collection of crystallized gold.
Together, these three collections formed the nucleus of what would become the Colorado Museum of Natural History, officially incorporated on December 6, 1900. After years of preparation and construction, the Colorado Museum of Natural History finally opened to the public on July 1, 1908. John Campion, the first president of the board, said in his dedication address, "A museum of natural history is never finished". The first director was hired and quickly recruited staff to build more exhibits and create public programs. By 1918, another wing had opened and research efforts were well underway.
In 1927, a team led by the Colorado Museum discovered two stone projectile points embedded in an extinct species of bison, in Folsom, New Mexico. These Folsom points demonstrated that humans had lived in North America more than 10,000 years ago, hundreds of years earlier than previously believed.
The city of Denver increased its funding for the museum, leading to a name change to Denver Museum of Natural History in 1948. The name was changed again in 2000 to the present Denver Museum of Nature and Science, reflecting the institution's wider focus.
The museum is partially funded by the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District, which was created by area voters in 1988. It has also attracted large donations from benefactors, such as Morgridge Family Foundation led by philanthropist Carrie Morgridge, which gave $8 million to the museum in 2010, described as being the largest single gift since its founding.

Permanent exhibits

Prehistoric Journey
Prehistoric Journey traces the evolution of life on Earth. Displays include skeletons of Edmontosaurus, Maiasaura, Diplodocus, Gargoyleosaurus, Allosaurus, Stegosaurus and Othnielia, a sea lily reef diorama from 435 million years ago, a cast/replica skull of the ancient placoderm fish, Dunkleosteus, and a collection of trilobites.
Egyptian Mummies
Egyptian Mummies contains two mummies, along with several coffins and other various antiquities. In both 1991 and 2016, the mummies were subjected to CT scans at Children's Hospital in Aurora, Colorado.
Wildlife Halls
The Wildlife Halls are animal dioramas showing scenes of daily life of many different animals, one of the largest collections of its type in North America. The Wildlife Halls in the museum are:
Birds of the Americas
Species and locations represented in Birds of the Americas-----------
MexicoRed-billed tropicbirdHeermann's gullBrown noddyAmerican oystercatcherBrown boobyBlue-footed boobyMagnificent frigatebird----
British GuyanaHoatzinScarlet ibis---------
Weld County, ColoradoMallardPintail---------
Yuma County, ColoradoGreater prairie-chicken----------
Holt County, MissouriSnow geese----------
Morgan County, ColoradoBald eagle----------
Monroe County, FloridaGreat white heronAmerican crocodileEastern diamondback rattlesnakeTricolored heron-------
Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge, ColoradoSandhill crane----------
GuatemalaSpot-crowned woodcreeperMountain trogonBlue-throated motmotRufous-collared robinGuatemala juncoEmerald toucanetGreen violet-earUnicolored jayPink-headed warblerResplendent quetzalBlack-throated jay

Explore Colorado
Species and locations represented in Explore Colorado: From Plains to Peaks------------------------
Weld County, ColoradoTiger swallowtailBlack-billed magpieVirginia railDragonflyYellow-headed blackbirdRed-winged blackbirdAmerican bitternCommon yellow-throatMallardAmerican avocetPronghorn antelopeThirteen-lined ground squirrelWilson's phalaropeBlack-tailed prairie dogChestnut-collared longspurCoyoteMcCown's longspurWood nymphHorned larkMountain ploverWestern meadowlarkUncas skipper butterflyLark buntingBlack-tailed jackrabbit
Arapahoe County, ColoradoGreat blue heronSnowy egretBlack-crowned night heron---------------------
Routt County, ColoradoMilbert's tortoiseshell butterflyOrange sulpher butterflySage grouseSage thrasherNuttall's sheep moth-------------------
Douglas County, ColoradoScrub jayNuttall's cottontailSharp-tailed grouseRufous-sided towheeBuck mothBandtailed pigeon------------------
Custer County, ColoradoDeer mouseWild turkey----------------------
Ouray County, ColoradoPine grosbeakFritillary butterflyLong-horned beetleBlue grousePhoebus parnassian butterflyRed squirrel or chickareeBrown creeperDark-eyed juncoWarbling vireoGray jay--------------
Summit County, ColoradoMartenLeast chipmunkClark's nutcrackerLincoln's sparrowWilson's warblerWhite-crowned sparrow------------------
Larimer County, ColoradoWater pipitPikaYellow-bellied marmotPhoebus parnassian butterflyBruce's checkerspotWhite-tailed ptarmigan------------------
Montezuma County, ColoradoGreen-tailed towheeTarantula hawk waspTarantulaScaled quailBlue-gray gnatcatcherCollared lizardCommon bushtitPlain titmousePiñon jayEastern fence lizardPiñon mouseRingtail------------
Douglas County, ColoradoGolden eagleCottontail----------------------
Sonoran Desert, ArizonaChuckwallaRoadrunnerGila woodpeckerNorthern flickerTarantulaGambel's quailElf owlWhite-winged doveCommon poorwillPeccaryPhainopeplaCactus wrenVermillion flycatcher-----------

South America
Species and locations represented in Sketches of South America-----------------
BrazilBrocketWhite-lipped peccaryHowler monkeyKing vultureBlue-crowned parakeetMonk parakeetRed-headed blackbirdBlue-fronted parrotCapybaraPampas deerScarlet macawToddy flycatcherTapirSwamp deerOrange-fronted parakeetAmazon Cassin's parakeetScaly-headed parrot
GalápagosSally lightfoot crabGalápagos mockingbirdGalápagos marine iguanaGalápagos tortoiseGalápagos land iguanaVermilion flycatcher-----------
PatagoniaGuanaco----------------
BrazilGreater rheaGiant anteater---------------
BrazilManed wolf----------------

Botswana, Africa
Species and locations represented in Botswana: Safari to Wild Africa----------
BotswanaChacma baboonRufus-crowned rollerGreater kuduSable antelopeWarthogRed-billed francolinSteenbokPlains zebra--
Northern BotswanaLionYellow-billed hornbill--------
BotswanaSitatungaMalachite kingfisherNile crocodileHippopotamus------
BotswanaDung beetleCheetahImpala-------
Southern BotswanaGemsbokZebra whiteAfrican monarchBrown-veined whiteLemon travelerBanded gold tipBroad-bordered grass yellowAfrican orange tipSpringbokRed hartebeest
Northern BotswanaAfrican fish eagleRed lechweAfrican monarchWaterbuck------
BotswanaBat-eared foxAfrican civetAfrican porcupineGiant eagle owlRatel or honey badgerSpring hareAfrican wildcat---
BotswanaLeopardCommon duiker--------
BotswanaAardwolfAardvarkCape pangolin-------

Northern and Rare Birds
Species and locations represented in Birds of North America---------
Avery Island, LouisianaCarolina parakeetIvory-billed woodpecker-------
Aransas County, TexasWhooping crane--------
Johnson County, IowaPassenger pigeon--------
Ventura County, CaliforniaCalifornia condor--------
Cape Prince of Wales, AlaskaHarlequin duckSteller's eiderBrantKing eiderSpectacled eiderCommon eider---
Cape Prince of Wales, AlaskaWillow ptarmiganSandhill craneSnow buntingEmperor goosePacific golden-ploverYellow wagtailTundra swanRed phalarope-
Bering Strait, AlaskaBlack-legged kittiwakeHorned puffinCommon murreCrested aukletPigeon guillemotTufted puffinLeast aukletParakeet aukletPelagic cormorant
Bonaventure IslandBlack-legged kittiwakeGannetCommon murreRazorbillAtlantic puffin----

Edge of the Wild
Species and locations represented in Edge of the Wild---------
Weld County, ColoradoPronghornBlack-tailed prairie dogCoronis fritillaryLesser earless lizardPrairie RattlesnakeLark bunting---
Park County, ColoradoBisonWhite-tailed jackrabbit-------
Clear Creek County, ColoradoElkLewis' woodpeckerPorcupineWhite-breasted nuthatchDark-eyed juncoMountain chickadee---
Yuma County, ColoradoWhite-tailed deerWestern box turtleBlue jayGreat horned owlBobwhiteWoodhouse's toad---
Eagle County, ColoradoMule deerWestern tanagerLong-tailed weaselSteller's jayAmerican robinWestern toadLeast chipmunkPhoebus parnassianColorado chipmunk
El Paso County, ColoradoMule deerDeer mouseLong-tailed weaselSteller's jayRed squirrelRed-naped sapsucker---
Park County, ColoradoBighorn sheepMexican woodratGlover's silk moth ------
Mesa County, ColoradoMountain lionGopher snakeEastern fence lizardPiñon jay-----

Australia and South Pacific Islands
Species and locations represented in Australia--------
AustraliaAustralian king parrotShort-nosed echidnaSuperb lyrebirdCrimson rosellaBrush bronzewingLaughing kookaburra--
AustraliaGould's sand goannaEmuFrilled lizardGalahCrested pigeonRed-tailed cockatooBudgerigarA mob of red kangaroos
AustraliaKoala-------
AustraliaLumholtz's tree kangaroo-------
Barron Falls, Northern Queensland, AustraliaParadise riflebirdLittle red flying foxSpectacled flying foxGouldian finchDouble-wattled cassowaryScrub pythonBrush turkeysRainbow lory

Species and locations represented in South Pacific-------------------
Sub-Antarctic Campbell Island, New ZealandRoyal albatross------------------
Sub-Antarctic Campbell Island, New ZealandNew Zealand fur sealRockhopper penguinErect-crested penguinYellow-eyed penguinsSilver gullSouthern giant petrelSouthern elephant sealBrown skua-----------
Laysan Island, HawaiiWhite ternCommon noddySooty ternBrown boobyPacific golden ploverLaysan albatrossRuddy turnstoneBristle-thighed curlewBlack-bellied ploverLaysan finchLaysan honeycreeperLaysan duckLaysan millerbirdRed-tailed tropicbirdWedge-tailed shearwaterBlack-footed albatrossLaysan railMasked boobyGreat frigate bird

Bears and Sea Mammals
Species and locations represented in Northern Sea Mammals----
Diomede Islands, Bering StraitWalrusBearded sealRinged sealSpotted seal
Pribilof Islands, AlaskaNorthern fur seal---
Monterey County, CaliforniaCalifornia sea lionSteller sea lion--
AlaskaPolar bearRibbon seal--

Species and locations represented in North American Bears--
Aleutian Islands, AlaskaBrown bear-
Yakutat, AlaskaGlacier bear-
Gribbell Island, British ColumbiaSpirit bear-
AlaskaBarren ground grizzly-
Archuleta County, ColoradoGrizzly bear-
Yellowstone National Park, WyomingGrizzly bearBlack bear

North American Wildlife
Species and locations represented in Scenes of Change---------
Jackson County, ColoradoBeaver--------
Elbert County, ColoradoCoyoteDarkling beetleEdwards' fritillaryOrange sulphur-----
Talkeetna Mountains, AlaskaCaribouArctic ground squirrelMoose------
Montague Island, AlaskaSitka deerAmerican crowSteller's jay------
Porter's Creek, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina and TennesseeBlack-and-white warblerScarlet tanagerEastern chipmunkOvenbirdBlack-throated blue warblerDark-eyed juncoRed squirrelStriped skunkWhite-eyed vireo
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina and TennesseeSouthern flying squirrelWhip-poor-willHairy-tailed moleRaccoonEastern screech-owl----
Hoh River, Olympic National Park, WashingtonDouglas squirrelPacific banana slugYellow-spotted millipedeLorquin's admiral-----
Orient Mine, San Luis Valley, ColoradoMexican free-tailed bat--------
Citrus County, FloridaWest Indian manateePinfishStriped mulletBluegill-----

Species and locations represented in North America's Wild Places----
Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, AlaskaCanada lynx---
Yellowstone National Park, WyomingAmerican martenRed squirrelGolden-mantled ground squirrelClark's nutcracker
Kenai Fjords National Park, AlaskaMountain goatGyrfalcon, largest of the falcons--
Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, AlaskaGray wolf---
Denali National Park, AlaskaDall's sheep---
Ellesmere IslandMuskoxGray wolves --
Cassiar Mountains, British ColumbiaStone's sheepHoary marmot--
Prudhoe Bay, AlaskaCaribouWillow ptarmigan in winter-white plumage--
San Miguel County, ColoradoAmerican minkSteller's jays--
Denali National Park, AlaskaWolverine---

Out of all of the dioramas in the museum listed here, only one, Western Brazil, which depicted wildlife on the Brazilian savanna, was removed for not being scientifically accurate, because it included animals that didn't naturally interact with each other in the wild. However, at least three pieces of evidence that prove that the diorama did exist can be found in the museum: one being a cropped image of the screenshot of the diorama's brocket deer from the museum's 1961 annual report in Edge of the Wild, and the other two being the scarlet macaw and blue-fronted parrot found in the glass case at South America's entry wall.
Space Odyssey
Space Odyssey is about the Universe and our place in it. One major highlight is a full-scale replica of a Mars Exploration Rover.
Expedition Health
Expedition Health teaches visitors about the human body, including the science of taste.
Gems & Minerals
Gems & Minerals is a re-created mine where visitors can examine many colorful crystals and minerals found both locally and globally.
North American Indian Cultures
North American Indian Cultures explores the diversity among Native American groups and the practicality and artistry of their everyday objects.

Research and collections

Gates Planetarium is a 125-seat planetarium that features unidirectional, semi-reclining stadium seating, 16.4 surround-sound system featuring Ambisonic, a 3-D spatial sound system, and a perforated metal dome, in diameter and tilted 25 degrees. The current planetarium replaces an older, dome-style planetarium.

Phipps IMAX Theater

The Phipps IMAX Theater on the second floor of the museum was built as the Phipps Auditorium in 1940, and was used for lectures, concerts, and films until 1980. Renovated and reopened in 1983 as the Phipps IMAX Theater, it seats 440 people and now shows large-format IMAX films daily.

Morgridge Family Exploration Center and Avenir Collections Facility

In 2014, a $70 million addition was added to the museum containing the Morgridge Family Exploration Center and the Avenir Collections Center.
The Morgridge Family Exploration Center constitutes three above-ground levels that encourage visitors to learn about science and the natural world. The center includes Exploration Studios, a new temporary exhibition gallery, an atrium space, a completely-redeveloped Discovery Zone for early learners, and the outdoor, Boettcher Plaza with unique public art.
The Avenir Collections Center, part of a $70 million expansion in 2007, is a climate-controlled facility devoted to housing for nearly 1.5 million artifacts and specimens. The facility includes 63,000 square feet in two underground levels, and holds specimens such as bison from the 1870s, passenger pigeons, the last grizzly bear to be killed in Colorado in 1979, and roadkill brought in by the public. The data from these specimens is placed in online databases, and linked to public databases, like BioPortal.

Museum secrets

The museum contains a number of hidden secrets that visitors may search for. On the Denver Museum website, there are four different downloadable scavenger hunts available, ranging from State Parks to "Museum Treasures". Kent Pendleton, one of the museum's diorama painters, painted eight elves in his work, hidden throughout the museum. Guests are encouraged to search for the elves with one of the printable scavenger hunts. In the IMAX lobby entrance there are several painted pictures hidden on the walls relating to Star Wars.

Gallery