Denver Museum of Nature and Science

The naturalist Edwin Carter arrived in Breckenridge, Colorado in 1868, and began the process of gathering examples of wildlife from the surrounding area in his home. Over time, his collections grew into what would become known as the “Carter Museum” to the many local people he invited to have a look. The numbers of people and specimens continued to grow, leading to the creation of the Colorado Museum of Natural History in 1900, which would go on to become the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.Today the museum holds over one million pieces, from dinosaur bones to relics of ancient peoples to precious and semi-precious stones. There are eight separate exhibits on show on a permanent basis, with a number of often-changing temporary ones at any given time. The Native American Indian Cultures exhibit examines the huge variety between the many indigenous cultures, and the way that many of them regularly allied practicality with ornate design.Egyptian Mummies holds the remains of two preserved bodies from ancient Egypt, teaching about the role and the importance that the dead played in that civilisation, and in turn casting light on their attitudes towards the living.The Discovery Zone is specifically adapted for young children, enabling them to play with interactive exhibits as they learn. Check out the high-tech 3D IMAX cinema for a range of documentaries on topics as diverse as space, frozen wastes, or the bottom of the sea.Check the museum website for film times and details of what temporary shows are on while you're in town. Refreshments are also available from a snack bar and a café.Denver Museum of Nature and Science is in City Park, five kilometres from the city centre, and it has free parking. It is also on a number of city bus lines, and has a bicycle rack.