The sparklers have fizzled out, the heat’s set in and your kids have already returned from summer camp, bug-bitten and sunburned. Water parks and movies are a fine time filler, however predictable and expensive they may be, but you’re busy saving for school supplies.
What’s a mid-summer parent to do?
Now’s your chance to visit some of Denver’s best museums — for free — while you’ve got the family in one place. You can thank us after your 5-year-old paints her first family portrait, an heirloom-quality one, anyway.
Denver Museum of Nature & Science
2001 Colorado Blvd.,
Recently recognized as the 10th most-visited museum in the country by , with 1.7 million visitors in 2015, this City Park institution has groomed and supports internationally groundbreaking research. It also hosts top-notch touring exhibits, runs countless educational programs and offers a little something for every age. Its are often crowded, but well worth the trip if you’ve never been — as well as incentive for future, less hectic visits.
Upcoming free days: Aug. 29, Sept. 11
Children’s Museum of Denver
2121 Children’s Museum Dr.,
The Marsico Campus of this 43-year-old museum, as the downtown location is called, last fall opened a that included the 30,000-square-foot Joy Park outdoor play area and other improvements. Sandwiched between the Downtown Aquarium, Elitch Gardens and the South Platte River, Joy Park offers great views of the city and plenty of kinetic activities for the little ones. For summer 2016, the museum is offering , 4-8 p.m. or until dusk (Note: except for the restrooms, the inside of the museum will be closed) and free overall museum visits from 4-8 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month.
Upcoming free days: July 16, Aug. 19 and Sept. 16 (Joy Park); Aug. 2, Sept. 6 (4-8 p.m. Target Tuesday nights)
Denver Art Museum
100 W. 14th Ave.,
You’ll find thousands of paintings, sculptures and other cultural artifacts contained in two architecturally striking main buildings at this downtown beacon. The museum complex also sits within walking distance of the Clyfford Still Museum, History Colorado, the State Capitol grounds and the 16th Street Mall, so it’s easy to turn a visit into a full day. Through spring 2020, kids 18 and younger get free general admission on a daily basis, so even if you miss an overall free day, you can still visit on the cheap. General admission does not include specially ticketed exhibitions.
Upcoming free days: Aug. 6, Sept. 3
History Colorado
1200 Broadway,
Not only does the official home of Colorado’s history offer free admission to kids 18 and younger for the summer, its Community Museums are also free through Labor Day. Those include the nearby Byers-Evans House Museum (10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily); El Pueblo History Museum (10 a.m to 4 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon-4 p.m. Sunday), Fort Garland Museum and Cultural Center (9 a.m-5 p.m. daily); Fort Vasquez Museum (10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily); Healy House and Dexter Cabin (10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily); and Trinidad History Museum (10 a.m-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday).
Upcoming free days: Daily for ages 18 and younger through Sept. 5; free for all ages on Colorado Day, Aug. 1.
Denver Botanic Gardens
1007 York St. (central) and 8500 W. Deer Creek Canyon Rd. in Littleton (Chatfield Farms), Perfect picnic spots and striking sculptures bolster the appeal of these , which aren’t strictly museums but certainly have all the exercise and educational benefits of one. Bring the sunscreen and plan to take your time.
Upcoming free days: July 26 and Sept. 14 (York Street) and Aug. 2 (Chatfield)
Denver Public Art Tours
Various locations,
The city becomes an open-air museum during Denver Public Art’s free summer tours, which includes stops at well-known pieces and — new for this year — adds options for Spanish speakers and the visually impaired. Also worth checking out: a Downtown Denver Bike Tour taking place at 10 a.m. Sept. 13 and a tour of the newly renovated McNichols Civic Center Building at 2 p.m. Sept. 25. Tours are free but require RSVPs at .
Upcoming tours: Denver Performing Arts Complex (July 24, Aug. 7 and Aug. 21), Colorado Convention Center (July 31), Curtis and 14th streets (Aug. 10 and Aug. 24) and Urban Arts Fund Murals (Sept. 25).
Clyfford Still Museum
1250 Bannock St.,
It may not offer the most kid-friendly subject matter around, but expanding aesthetic horizons is part of the mission of the Clyfford Still Museum, which offers a uniquely comprehensive collection of this renowned abstract expressionist.
Upcoming free days: Every Friday from 5-8 p.m. Free all day on the last Friday of every month through October (including July 29, Aug. 26 and Sept. 30).
Colorado’s Central Plains
Various locations,
A number of museums and attractions in our state’s Eastern Plains are participating in the Off The Beaten Trail program whereby families can get free admission through Sept. 1 after flashing a free (via mail order or download) . That includes historical sites like Lincoln County’s Hedlund House Museum, Limon Heritage Museum & Railroad Park, Arriba Museum, Elbert County Museum, Bailey Saddleland Museum, Flagler Hospital Museum & Hal Borland Room, Kit Carson Museum, Cheyenne Wells Old Jail Museum and more.
Upcoming free days: Daily through Sept. 1. Call 800-825-0208 or visit for details.
Post-summer free days and additional locations, including Hudson Gardens, the Museum of Outdoor Arts and others, is available in calendar form on the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District website at .
