All the Free Museum Days in Denver This Year

Free dates for the Denver Art Museum, the Museum of Nature & Science, the Botanic Gardens and more.

May 8, 2024

Lush greenery at the Denver Botanic Gardens. Abigail Bliss

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Whether you're a born-and-raised Denver resident, a transplant or a tourist, Mile High museums always have something to offer anyone looking to fill a rainy day or just an hour or two.

While there aren't any completely free museums in the city, thanks to the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District tax, most institutions do host free days, as well as some free evenings. And then there's Visit Denver's Night at the Museums during Denver Arts Week on Saturday, November 2.

Here are all the free museum days in Denver for the rest of the year:

The Clyfford Still Museum, art in itself.

DAF

Clyfford Still Museum

1250 Bannock Street
clyffordstillmuseum.org
Sunday, July 28
Saturday, November 2

click to enlarge

The Hamilton Building of the Denver Art Museum.

Denver Art Museum

100 West 14th Avenue Parkway
denverartmuseum.org
Tuesday, May 14
Tuesday, June 11
Tuesday, July 9
Sunday, July 21
Tuesday, August 13
Saturday, September 7
Tuesday, September 10
Tuesday, October 8
Saturday, November 2
Tuesday, November 12
Tuesday, December 10

click to enlarge

a building with a sign that reads "Freyer-Newman Center"

The Freyer-Newman Center at Denver Botanic Gardens.

Denver Botanic Gardens

1007 York Street
botanicgardens.org
Wednesday, June 5
Wednesday, July 3
Wednesday, August 28
Friday, November 29

click to enlarge

Visit the Denver Museum of Nature & Science for free.

Richard Wicker/DMNS

Denver Museum of Nature & Science

2001 Colorado Boulevard
dmns.org
Tuesday, June 4, 5 to 9 p.m.
Wednesday, June 19
Wednesday, August 21, 5 to 9 p.m.
Tuesday, September 10, 5 to 9 p.m.
Monday, September 30
Sunday, October 20
Saturday, November 2, 5 to 9 p.m.
Monday, November 18
Sunday, December 8

click to enlarge

Courtesy of Denver Zoo

Denver Zoo

2300 Steele Street
denverzoo.org
A free day ticket reservation is required; visit the zoo's website to see how to register.
Sunday, November 3; tickets released on October 23
Saturday, November 9; tickets released on October 30
Sunday, November 17; tickets released on November 6

Four Mile Historic Park

715 South Forest Drive
fourmilepark.org
Friday, May 24
Friday, June 28
Friday, July 26
Friday, August 23
Friday, September 27
Friday, October 25
Friday, November 22

History Colorado Center

History Colorado

1200 Broadway
historycolorado.org
Sunday, August 4
Saturday, November 2

click to enlarge

MCA Denver

Museum of Contemporary Art

1485 Delgany Street
mcadenver.org
The museum offers "Penny Saturdays" on the first Saturday of the month, when admission is one penny. Children and teens up to age eighteen are always allowed in free.

The SCFD extends far beyond Denver city limits, of course, and so do the free days. Find the complete lineup here.

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Emily Ferguson has been the music and culture editor atWestword since November 2021. In her role, Emily writes and edits profiles of local and national musicians, previews of upcoming performances and guides to the best of Denver’s entertainment scene. Her previous work experience includes contributing to the arts sections of the Wall Street Journal, The Spectator and the Free Beacon. While attending the College of Charleston, Emily was a fire performer and worked at music festivals.

Contact: Emily Ferguson

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