The Pioneer Museum – A beautiful, historic, free place to visit in Colorado Springs!

I love Colorado Springs!

There are ENDLESS places to visit in this city.

One of my favorites is the Pioneer Museum.

The Colorado Springs Pioneer Museum was once the city’s courthouse – but is now a beautiful, historic building full of interactive stations and information about the history of our city. And it’s FREE to visit!! (Though they do accept donations)

There is parking all around the building that costs $0.75 an hour – so bring some change with you.

Walk inside and ENJOY the beauty of the marble lobby. You’ll also see an antique cash register that was used in 1912. You and your children can push the buttons to see how store owners collected money 100+ years ago!

One thing I love about the Pioneer Museum is that they change the displays on a regular basis. Every time I visit, I see and learn something new about Colorado Springs.

My first visit taught me all about the Waldo Canyon fires – with videos, pictures, and items on display donated by local residents.

Right now, the theme is “Colorado Springs from A to Z.”

You learn something interesting about Colorado Springs with every letter of the alphabet. For example, A is for the Antlers Hotel. Pictures and artifacts from Colorado Springs FIRST hotel are on display.

Z is about Colorado’s first Zoo!

 

The room my children love most is on the main level – it’s a “Play Room” for kids. They have hands-on stations and toys that teach children about our city’s history. My boys set up shop, played on an Indian drum, road a horse, and played a game of checkers.

 

They also enjoy visiting the small gift shop. We bought them each a GEODE – rock that they could take home and break open to reveal beautiful crystals hidden inside.

They also sell our book! Pick up a signed copy if you don’t already have one!

Another thing we all love at this Museum is the antique elevator that takes us up to the second floor.

On this level, you can walk through the original courtroom and imagine what it was like to be a judge, juror or lawyer 100 years ago.

The 2nd floor also has part of Helen Hunt Jackson‘s original home built into the museum.

You can view Indian artifacts and learn about the Indian heritage in Colorado Springs.

I won’t tell you about every exhibit, because you really must see and experience this place for yourself. If you’ve been, what do you love about this museum?

Here some video clips of our visit:

Before or after the museum, get some food! Click here to read the best places to eat.

For a list of other free things to do around town, click here.