Outside the front entrance of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

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Denver Museum of Nature & Science

Natural history exhibitions, IMAX and planetarium shows, activities, and lectures that explore the wonders of science, Colorado, Earth, and the universe.

Sensory Friendly Visits

We are so excited you’re thinking about a visit to Denver Museum of Nature & Science! We also understand the Museum can be an overwhelming environment sometimes. Here are a few ideas to help you plan a more sensory friendly visit.

Plan Your Visit

Plan your visit to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. The museum is open seven days a week year-round, except December 25, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. The Guest Services phone line is open daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., at 303.370.6000, except December 25. IMAX, Planetarium, Special Exhibits, maps, access and more.

Overnight Adventures

Ever wondered if the Museum comes alive at night? Find out for yourself while sleeping among polar bears and zebras in our wildlife diorama halls. For grades 3-6; offered on select dates throughout the year.

Reservations

All of our school programs can be booked online! For phone reservations please call 303.370.6000, 7 days a week, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Black Holes

Run time: 25 mins. There's a place from which nothing escapes, not even light, where time and space literally come to end. It's at this point, inside this fantastic riddle, that black holes exert their sway over the cosmos … and our imaginations.

Directions, Parking and Entrances

Directions, Parking and Entrances. Directions by Car, Bus, and alternative transportation such as Lyft (use the code DMNSNEW for $5 off 3 rides). Save yourself some time, money, and hassle. Purchase tickets online before you arrive and save $2 on Museum admission!

Onsite: At The Museum

Onsite: At the Museum offerings include free and flexible self-guided field trips, Field Trip Adventures facilitated programs, and Overnight Experiences. Teachers! Did you know that you can always visit the Museum for free? Present your school ID and get a sneak peek so you can prepare for your visi

Friday Evening Hours

The Museum will be open until 10 p.m. on Fridays beginning January 17! It will be business as usual, with a few extras thrown in.

Scavenger Hunts

Have some additional fun while visiting the museum with the ELF, Museum Treasures, National Parks or State Symbols scavenger hunts - Can you find them all?

Catalyst Archive

Museum Magazine - All members receive a one-year subscription to Catalyst, the Museum magazine, mailed quarterly.

Membership FAQ

Have questions? We have answers! Get answers to some commonly asked questions regarding your visit to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. If you don't find what you're looking for below, please call or email the Membership Department at 303.370.6306 or [email protected].

At Home Science Fun

Our talented educator performer team (the folks facilitating shows and experiments in our exhibitions and hosting our virtual programs) created a list of their favorite at-home science activities.

Jeff Stephenson

Jeff Stephenson, Zoology Collections Manager

John Demboski

John Demboski, Vice President of Science

Living with the Enemy: The Peculiar Life History of an Ant-Eating Spider

Over the years, Norman sent specimens of this mystery spider to various arachnologists throughout the country and world, including me. These minuscule arachnids were a puzzle to every expert consulted. It wasn't until 2019, two decades later, that the pieces started falling into place.

Why is Castle Rock so prominent?

Drivers on I-25 near the town of Castle Rock have likely marveled at iconic Castle Rock, towering over its namesake city.

New Cryolab Launches at the Museum

Just how cold is liquid nitrogen? With a boiling point of negative 196 degrees Celsius, liquid nitrogen is over 100 degrees colder than the coldest temperature ever recorded on Earth.

A few billion dung beetles

Do we have dung beetles in Colorado? Yes, we have over 85 species of dung beetle in our state — out of around 9,800 species of dung beetles worldwide.

Dust Settles on Massive Rehousing Project at the Museum

A colossal effort has been quietly unfolding over the past several years in our collections at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

Laura Uglean Jackson

Digital Archivist at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science

David Krause

David Krause, Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology

Ryan Jones

Ryan Jones, Research Assistant

Andrew Doll

Andrew Doll, Zoology Assistant Collections Manager

Giant Gar from Cretaceous–Palaeogene

The team stopped to find and dig through the Cretaceous/Paleogene (K/Pg) boundary, a thin band of rock containing much more iridium than other rock units and marks the end of the Mesozoic Era and the beginning of the Cenozoic Era.

Magic Mountain

Magic Mountain Community Archaeology Project

Genetics Lab

Capturing life in sequence.

COME TO YOUR SENSES!

When it comes to our senses, hasn’t the number five had enough time in the spotlight? Now other sensory heroes get some overdue attention in “Our Senses: Creating Your Reality,” an exhibition for the whole family where you play with color, patterns, sounds, scents, and textures.

Family Fun Awaits! Explore Dazzling Colors, Ancient Ice and Giant Screen Films at the Museum

This winter, visit two temporary exhibitions – Wild Color and Mysteries of the Ice Ages – and three Giant Screen Movies at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

One World One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure

One World, One Sky is a brilliant spectacle of light and color that follows Sesame Street's Big Bird and Elmo as they explore the night sky with a new friend from China. Together, they take an imaginary trip from Sesame Street to the moon, where they discover how different it is from Earth.

Floor Maps

Museum Map. Explore the Museum floor plan before you visit. Find the Infinity Theater, Science atrium, Space Odyssey, T Rex Cafe, Gems & Minerals, Ricketson Auditorium, Gates Planetarium, Exhibition Health, Discovery Zone, Prehistoric Journey, Sky Terrace.

Field Trip Adventures

If a fully planned and guided day sounds like a dream come true, let our Field Trip Adventures do the work by maximizing your fun with activities designed to align with Colorado Academic Standards.

T. REX 3D

Take an immersive journey with "T. REX” into the dinosaur king’s world — and discover the captivating real-world paleontology tale of "Teen Rex" now on display at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

Wildlife Halls

Wildlife Halls at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. World renowned wild life halls filled with animals from all over the world. Get up close to animals and experience, study and learn about these animals. Perfect for still life drawings and studies, examination, and wildlife conservation.

Planetarium

Current and upcoming shows at the Gates Planetarium. A 25 minute space-themed film in a small dome theater.

SCFD Free Day: Denver Arts Week 2024

Explore art, nature and science at the Museum as we join many of Denver’s cultural institutions in a free evening celebrating Denver Arts Week! Museum admission is free from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.