 the early mining days. Self-guided tours through the 27 themed rooms include an antique toy room, a kitchen with a coal range, school- room with sewing cards, army room with World War II army and navy uniforms, and buggy shed with a 1936 Dodge.
(970) 723-3282 www.northparkvisitorsbureau.com
White River Museum
The 1880 U.S. army officers' quarters has been converted into a museum doc- umenting the history of Meeker and the Ute tribe. Unique artifacts on display include Chief Colorow’s peace pipe, the hand printing press that was used to produce the Meeker Herald, photos of Teddy Roosevelt with his handwritten comments on the importance of military service, and a Victorian wreath made of human hair.
(970) 878-9982 www.meekercolorado.com/museum.htm
Argo Gold Mill and Museum
This 1910 gold mine mill sits at the en- trance of the 4.16-mile Argo Tunnel lo- cated in the heart of Idaho Springs historic district. Visitors can view rock-drilling demonstrations in the mine tunnel during a 60-minute guided tour; a mining and milling museum displays grinding equip- ment and fire ore pieces.
(303) 567-2421 www.historicargotours.com
Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave
William Frederick “Buffalo Bill” Cody gained fame from his experience riding for the Pony Express, killing 4,860 buffalo in an eight-month period, and creating the popular traveling Wild West Show. A 5,000-square-foot museum displays his buckskin coats, shotguns, and costumes. A 17-minute video explores his controversial hero status and relationship with the plains Indians. His grave is located on Lookout Mountain, 200 yards from the museum.
(303) 526-0744 www.buffalobill.org
Clear Creek History Park
This late 19th-century mountain ranch features 10 original structures including two cabins, a blacksmith shop, school- house, and bee yard. Two blocks to the northwest is the Astor House Museum, an 1867 boarding house, and Golden History Center, a museum containing Golden area artifacts.
(303) 278-3557 www.goldenhistorymuseums.org
Colorado Railroad Museum
The 15-acre rail yard features a recon- structed 1880s depot, roundhouse, depot, general store, and more than 100 train cars including a Rio Grande Southern #0404 Caboose and a Coors Refrigerator Car #5400. Locomotive exhibits feature a 90-foot “Armstrong” turntable and arti- facts, such as Otto Kuhler oil paintings and William Henry Jackson photographs.
(800) 365-6263 www.coloradorailroadmuseum.org
Georgetown-Silver Plume National Historic Landmark District
Clear Creek runs along the 19th-century mining towns of Georgetown and Silver Plume, which contain reconstructed his- toric buildings, such as the 1867 Hamill House and the 1875 Hotel de Paris. During the summer months, the narrow gauge Georgetown Loop steam loco- motive takes visitors 3.1 miles through Clear Creek Valley and past the Lebanon Silver Mine. Walking tours of the mine are available for visitors who want to see hard rock veined with silver inside the 1870s tunnel.
(303) 569-2504 www.colorado.com/Articles.aspx?aid=42175
MacGregor Ranch Museum
Founded in 1873 by the mountain ranch- ing MacGregor family, this working cattle ranch remains the oldest of its kind in operation. The 1896 ranch house has been converted into a museum containing MacGregor family artifacts, including diaries, clothing, and mineral collections. Visitors can explore the 42 buildings on the 1,200-acre site, including the milk house, smokehouse, and blacksmith shop.
(970) 586-3749 www.macgregorranch.org
Meeker Home Museum
Nathan Meeker, agricultural editor of the New York Tribune , began the “Union Colony of Colorado” here, a utopian community established within a town he named after his boss, Horace Greeley. Costumed interpreters lead visitors on 45-minute guided tours through the re- stored bedrooms that contain Meeker’s clock and bed stand, kitchen, and 1870 parlor.
(970) 350-9220 www.greeleygov.com/ museums/MeekerHome.aspx
Stanley Hotel and Museum
F. O. Stanley, inventor of the steam auto- mobile, built this hotel in 1909. Today it remains a historic landmark in Estes Park, Colorado’s oldest 