The Fort Collins Museum of Discovery is a museum in Fort Collins, Colorado, United States, established in 2008 with collections-based explorations in science & history for lifelong learners of all ages!

It’s a cultural museum established through a public-private partnership between the City of Fort Collins Museum and the nonprofit Discovery Science Center. It is among the most-visited historical museums with an on-site archive & collections of rare objects and artifacts in Colorado.

History of the Museum

The merging between the city and the non-profit Discovery center along with the support of the community members contributed to the building of a new museum that shares unique and fun learning experiences about science and culture.

Since its establishment, the museum has estimated to have welcomed over 820,000 visitors from around the world.

The museum has long-term exhibits in science, music, agriculture, astronomy, and more — which makes it a perfect choice for all ages. The museum comprises 4 major buildings, including the regional historical importance, the on-site archive & collections, the northern 360° immersive theater, and the otterBox digital dome theater.

The Fort Collins Museums has become the home for special exhibitions from producers including National Geographic, the Smithsonian, and more. Every year lots of science and culture-based programs are offered to kids of all ages by this museum.

In 2018, the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery achieved accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums — which indicates that the museum understands the intangibles that make up a vibrant community and abides by them.

Collections in the Museum

Unlike other museums in the United States, the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery has a rich painting collection representing periods of the American arts and revolution along with other rare objects. It's interesting to know that almost all objects in this museum are unique and in a suitable condition.

The Fort Collins Museum of Discovery collections currently holds over 38,000 objects, acquired since the establishment of the museum in 1941. Only some of these objects are on display while others are kept in storage. The museum collections consist of a wide range of materials and objects dating back thousands of years.

The collection of stone objects shaped by the earliest people into artifacts during the famous Folsom era is the most popular attraction. There are also bulk collections of historic diaries about historical findings, clothing, and textile collections as well — dating back to the 19th century.

The Museum displays each object at one time while others are left in storage for research use. So, if you are conducting research, you might not see all of the items you are researching about on display unless you asked for them or book an appointment to inspect them.

After your done learning in the museum, go have some Fun at Fort Fun