What are the opening hours?

Monday 10am - 4pm Tuesday 10am - 4pm Wednesday 10am - 4pm Thursday 10am - 4pm Friday 10am - 4pm Saturday 10am - 4pm Sunday 10am - 4pm

Mines Museum

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Golden, CO
Mines Museum

If you would like to visit with a group of 10 or more, please email [email protected] to schedule your visit. All visitors are required to wear masks.
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Located on the Colorado School of Mines campus, the Mines Museum of Earth Science showcases world-class mineral, gem, fossil, and rock collections for learners of all ages.

05/27/2026

🪨✨ Got a mystery rock, mineral, or fossil? Bring it to the museum for Mineral ID Day and let our experts help uncover what you’ve found!

📅 June 6
⏰ 1:00–4:00 PM

Our panel of specialists will identify up to 3 specimens per person, from sparkling minerals to ancient fossils and everything in between. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or just curious about a backyard find, this is your chance to finally put a name to your mystery treasures!

05/25/2026

🥾⛰️ Ready to get outside and explore even more geology after your museum visit?

Start your adventure at the museum and discover the Bob Weimer Geology Trail, a scenic, self-guided journey through the geology of the Mines campus and the Golden area! 🌎🪨

Along the trail, you’ll explore fascinating rock formations, local geologic history, and the landscapes that make this area so unique. Whether you’re a rock enthusiast, student, or simply looking for a fun outdoor activity, the Geology Trail is the perfect way to continue your adventure beyond the museum walls.

05/21/2026

🎉 Please welcome our new Student Lead, Rowan Welch! 🎉

Rowan is a senior from Denver, Colorado, pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. Rowan's favorite minerals are Rhodochrosite, that state mineral of Colorado, and Amethyst, famous for its beautiful purple crystals.

05/19/2026

✨💰 Gold Case Spotlight 💰✨

Step into the vault and explore one of the museum’s most dazzling displays, our Gold Safe! 🔒🌟

This exhibit features a remarkable collection of territorial gold coins on loan courtesy of Mrs. Jan Mayer, alongside stunning natural gold specimens from the Allison-Boettcher Collection. Together, these pieces tell the story of a time when gold wasn’t just treasured, it was money. 🪙⛏️

From historic coins to brilliant native gold, this case offers a glimpse into the legacy of the Gold Rush era and the role gold played in shaping the American West.

Come see these glittering pieces of history up close! ✨🌎

05/11/2026

🎓 Caps Off. Crystals On. 💎
Looking for the perfect graduation gift for your favorite Oredigger? We’ve got gifts that rock — literally.

From stunning minerals and fossils to Mines merch, jewelry, desk specimens, and one-of-a-kind treasures, the Museum Store is packed with gifts worthy of a hard-earned degree. ⛏️✨

Whether they survived ChemE, conquered senior design, or just spent four years running on coffee and Calc III… they deserve something unforgettable.

📍Stop by the Mines Museum Store
🕙 Open daily 10 AM–4 PM
🎁 Unique gifts for grads, alumni, and proud families

04/30/2026

🪨📦 Big things are happening behind the scenes at the Mines Museum!

Right now, our amazing volunteers are hard at work packaging 15,000 rocks for the Jefferson County Public Library Summer Challenge, and we couldn’t do it without them. Their time, energy, and dedication are helping bring hands-on geology to our community in a huge way. Thank you to every volunteer making this possible! 💙

Get ready to join the adventure:
📅 June 1 – July 31

The Summer Challenge is all about exploring, learning, and trying something new, through reading, creativity, and discovery (yes, even outside!). Participants can earn points, win prizes, and spark new interests all summer long.

👉 Sign up and learn more: https://jeffcolibrary.org/summer-challenge/

Stop by the museum to see the action in progress and celebrate the incredible teamwork bringing this project to life!

04/24/2026

⛏️🌄 Ready to hit the field?

The Mines Museum Store is now stocked with field tools, equipment, and supplies: perfect for geology students gearing up for field camp, beginners starting their rock collection journey, or anyone looking to spend more time exploring the outdoors.

From Rite in the Rain field notebooks (in a variety of colors!) to rock hammers, compasses, hand lenses, magnifying glasses, and durable pens, we’ve got the essentials to get you started and keep you going in any conditions.

Whether you’re mapping outcrops, identifying minerals, or just enjoying time in the field, these tools are built to go wherever your curiosity takes you.

Stop by and gear up, your next discovery is out there. 🪨✨

04/23/2026

🚀🌙 From the Moon… to Golden, Colorado!

Did you know you can see real Moon rocks right here at the Mines Museum? Our exhibit features two incredible samples returned during the Apollo missions, along with a Colorado state flag that actually traveled to the Moon aboard Apollo 17 in 1972.

These lunar specimens formed billions of years ago and offer a rare glimpse into the geology of another world. Even more exciting, you can get up close and experience a piece of space history right here on campus.

And the story doesn’t stop there. With NASA’s Artemis missions now underway, humans are preparing to return to the Moon for the first time in over 50 years, this time to stay longer, explore deeper, and pave the way for future missions to Mars. The same spirit of exploration that brought these Moon rocks back continues today.

🌌 Stop by the museum to connect the past, present, and future of space exploration.

03/03/2026

We've changed our hours!

03/02/2026

🦴🌍 Exhibit Spotlight: Paleontology 🌍🦴

Earth science isn’t just about shiny rocks and sparkling minerals, it’s also about uncovering the preserved evidence of life from long ago.

Our Paleontology Exhibit takes you on a journey through deep time, organized by major geologic eras:

🦣 Cenozoic – The “Age of Mammals,” featuring more recent fossils and Ice Age life.
🦖 Mesozoic – The “Age of Reptiles,” when dinosaurs ruled the land.
🐚 Paleozoic – An era of ancient seas, early fish, and the first life on land.

From marine invertebrates to massive vertebrates, these fossils tell the story of evolution, extinction, and the ever-changing planet we call home.

Stop by and explore millions of years of Earth’s history written in stone.

Address

1310 Maple Street
Golden, CO
80401

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 4pm
Tuesday	10am - 4pm
Wednesday	10am - 4pm
Thursday	10am - 4pm
Friday	10am - 4pm
Saturday	10am - 4pm
Sunday	10am - 4pm

Telephone

(303) 273-3815

Website

https://www.mines.edu/museum/

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