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 2022
Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield
Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus
No Free Days announced at this time. 2121 Children’s Museum Dr., Denver, 303-433-7444.
Clyfford Still Museum
January 20, February 15, March 19, April 24, May 18, June 10, July 24, August 5, September 10, October 18, November 5, December 7. 1250 Bannock St., Denver, 720-354-4880.
Colorado Railroad Museum
2022 schedule to be announced. 17155 W. 44th Ave., Golden, 303-279-4591.
Denver Art Museum
January 11 & 22, February 8, March 8, April 12 & 24. The rest of 2022 to be announced. 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 17, February 17, March 16, April 21, June 7, July 6, August 16, November 25. Advanced online registration is required. Tickets will be released on the 15th of the current month for the following month. Go here to find the link for tickets. 1007 York St., Denver, 720-865-3500.
Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms
January 17, February 17, March 16, April 21, June 7, July 6, August 16, November 25. Advanced online registration is required. Tickets will be released on the 15th of the current month for the following 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 3 & 23, February 7 & 27, May 1 & 23, June 29 (free only from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.), August 17 (free only from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.), September 7 (free only from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.) & 19, October 9, December 5. 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 7 & 22, February 6, April 10, October 8 and November 1 & 13. 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
2022 free days are the second Friday of each month. January 8, February 11, March 11, April 8, May 13, June 10, July 8, August 12, September 9, October 14, November 11, December 9. 715 S. Forest St., Denver, 720-865-0800.
Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) Denver
January 8, February 5, March 5, April 2, May 7, June 4, July 2, August 6, September 3, October 1, November 5, December 3. Admission is 1¢ for Colorado residents on the first Saturday of each month. 1485 Delgany St., Denver, 303-298-7554.
Plains Conservation Center
January 20, February 17, March 19, June 16, July 23, August 18, November 19, December 15. Free Day hours are either 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. or 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. depending on date. 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.
Museum of Outdoor Arts
MOA’s outdoor collections are always FREE to visit. Indoor exhibitions incur a charge. 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.
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