THE DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE AT A GLANCE
Welcome to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science! The 106-year-old Museum has grown to become one of the world’s largest natural history museums. It offers diverse exhibits and programs that help visitors understand how science affects their lives. The Museum hosts engaging traveling exhibitions, such as the hands-on exhibition Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World (on view from March 2—May 20, 2007) and creates and produces spectacular permanent exhibitions, such as Prehistoric Journey, Space Odyssey, Egyptian Mummies, and Coors Gem and Mineral Hall. The Museum also provides the Denver community with stunning IMAX films, high-tech planetarium shows, intriguing educational programs, and groundbreaking scientific research projects. In 2004, the Zagat Survey U.S. Family Travel Guide named the Denver Museum of Nature & Science the top family attraction in Denver.
The 500,000-square-foot building houses more than a million objects in its collections including natural history and anthropological materials, and archival and library resources.
Mission: The Denver Museum of Nature & Science inspires curiosity and excites minds of all ages through scientific discovery and the presentation and preservation of the world’s unique treasures.
Vision: We aspire to create a community of critical thinkers who understand the lessons of the past and act as responsible stewards of the future.
Visitors: In 2006, 1,606,600 individuals visited the Museum or attended our programs at schools and other locations around the state. The Museum finished the year with 49,975 member households.
Staff and volunteers: The Museum is an independent, nonprofit institution with approximately 350 full-time and part-time staff, more than 1,600 volunteers, and a 25-member Board of Trustees.
Hours: The Museum is open seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except for Christmas Day.
Admission: General Museum admission tickets are $10 each for adults and $6 each for juniors (ages 3-18) and seniors (65+). Phipps IMAX Theater tickets are $8 each for adults and $6 each for juniors and seniors. Museum/Gates Planetarium tickets are $15 each for adults and $10 each for juniors and seniors. Additional combination tickets and group discounts are available.
Information: Call 303-322-7009 or 1-800-925-2250 for more information, or visit www.dmns.org. The phone number for the hearing impaired is 303-370-8257.
Address: Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Boulevard, Denver, Colorado 80205. The Museum is located in City Park, approximately three miles east of downtown Denver, at the intersection of Montview and Colorado Boulevards (two blocks north of the intersection of Colorado Boulevard and Colfax Avenue). Parking is free.
Area of Expertise: Anthropology, Geology, Health Science, Paleontology, Space Science and Zoology
Accreditation: The Denver Museum of Nature & Science has been awarded the highest honor a museum can receive—accreditation by the American Association of Museums. Accreditation certifies a museum operates according to standards set forth by the museum profession, manages its collections responsibly, and provides quality service to the public.
Education Programs: More than 178,000 students and teachers visit the Museum with school groups each year. In addition, the Museum has innovative science outreach programs and distance–learning opportunities for families, schools and surrounding communities. Underserved youths are changing their lives through programs like “Girls at the Center,” a Museum after school program for girls living in low income communities. The Museum also offers teachers ongoing professional training workshops.
Finances: In 2006, the Museum operated on a budget of $35.3 million. This revenue is generated from admissions, gifts and grants, memberships, retail sales (food and merchandise), program revenues, the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District sales tax, the City and County of Denver and the Denver Museum of Nature & Science Foundation.
Museum Shop: Features educational toys, jewelry, clothing, souvenirs, books, CDs and DVDs. Open daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Food: The Museum’s T-Rex Cafe (open 11 a.m.–2 p.m.) offers hot entrees, grilled sandwiches, an extensive salad bar, kids meals, soups and drinks. The T-Rex Grab & Go (open 9 a.m.–5 p.m.) menu includes ready-made sandwiches, pizza, drinks and desserts.
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DMNS-07-011
