Visiting museums can get expensive, especially for families. However, many local museums and attractions offer FREE admission every month — some even offer special activities on those days. The free days are funded, in part, by taxes collected through the Science and Cultural Facilities District and/or donations from generous sponsors. Because free days are so popular, you are wise to reserve tickets in advance if the attraction has a timed-entry policy.
While admission is FREE, special exhibitions or other add-on activities may incur a fee. Dates and times may change, so always double-check before you visit.
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Free Museum Days 2023
Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield
Clyfford Still Museum
January 13, February 23, March 26, April 30, May 31, June 25, July 23, August 18, September 6, October 5, November 4, December 3. 1250 Bannock St., Denver, 720-354-4880.
Colorado Railroad Museum
TBD. 17155 W. 44th Ave., Golden, 303-279-4591.
Denver Art Museum
January 10 & 28, February 14, March 14, April 11 & 30, May 9 & 14, June 13, July 11 & 30, August 8, September 9 & 12, October 10, November 4 & 14, December 12. General admission is FREE for kids 18 and younger every day. 100 W. 14th Ave. Pkwy., Denver, 720-913-0130.
Denver Botanic Gardens at York Street
January 16, February 16, March 15, April 22, June 6, July 5, August 15, November 24. Advanced online registration is required. Tickets will be available three months at a time (on a rolling basis) and the tickets will be released on the 1st of the month. Go here to find the link for tickets. 1007 York St., Denver, 720-865-3500.
Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms
January 16, February 16, March 15, April 22, June 6, July 5, August 15, November 24. Advanced online registration is required. Tickets will be available three months at a time (on a rolling basis) and the tickets will be released on the 1st of the month. Go here to find the link for tickets. 8500 W. Deer Creek Canyon Rd., Littleton, 720-865-3500.
Denver Museum of Nature & Science
January 9 & 29, February 6 & 26, April 30, June 28 (free only from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.), August 16 (free only from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.), September 6 (free only from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.) & 18, October 15, December 4. Check here for more information on programming. (Note: FREE admission does not include IMAX or Planetarium.) 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver, 303-370-6000.
Denver Zoo
January 6 & 22, February 5, April 9, October 7 and November 7 & 12. The Zoo provides a limited number of tickets for each Free Day, using an online lottery system. If you want to visit on a free day, you must enter the lottery for a chance at up to five (5) vouchers. The lottery opens about 12 days before the free day and runs 5 days. Go here for more Free Days info. 2900 E. 23rd Ave., Denver, 720-337-1400.
Four Mile Historic Park
January 27, February 24, March 24, April 28, May 26, June 23, July 28, August 25, September 22, October 27, November 24, December 22. Free days are the fourth Friday of each month (but this sometimes changes so check first on the Park’s website). 715 S. Forest St., Denver, 720-865-0800.
Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) Denver
January 7, February 4, March 4, April 1, May 6, June 3, July 1, August 5, September 2, October 7, November 4, December 2. Admission is 1¢ for Colorado residents on the first Saturday of each month. 1485 Delgany St., Denver, 303-298-7554.
Plains Conservation Center
January 19, February 23, March 11, June 15, July 15, August 17, November 18, December 7. Advance registration is not required. Go here to check for free day hours. 21901 E. Hampden Ave., Aurora, 303-326-8380.
In addition, smaller museums, including strictly local ones, tend to have more free days (some are always free):
Aurora History Museum is FREE every day (closed on Monday). 15051 E. Alameda Parkway, Aurora, 303-739-6660.
Broomfield Veterans Memorial Museum is FREE Thursday & Saturday. 12 Garden Center, Broomfield, 303-460-6801.
Golden History Museum is open and FREE Wednesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., 923 10th St., 303-278-3557.
Hudson Gardens is FREE every day. Hours vary by season. 6115 S. Santa Fe Dr., Littleton, 303-797-8565.
Longmont Museum and Cultural Center is FREE on the second Saturday of each month. 400 Quail Rd., Longmont, 303-651-8374.
Mines Museum of Earth Science features minerals, fossils, gemstones, meteorites and historic mining artifacts. Always FREE. General Research Lab (GRL) Building, 1310 Maple St., Golden, 303-273-3815.
The Money Museum is currently closed. 1020 16th St., Denver, 303-572-2300.
CLOSED. Museum of Outdoor Arts
MOA’s outdoor collections are always FREE to visit. 1000 Englewood Pkwy., Englewood, 303-806-0444.
Nederland Mining Museum. Celebrates hard-rock mining in Boulder County in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. FREE. Open from early June through late October. 200 N. Bridge St. (at the traffic circle), Nederland.
University of Colorado Museum of Natural History is open to the public and FREE seven days a week. Donations are appreciated. 15th and Broadway, Boulder, 303-492-6892.
