Mines Museum, home to one of Colorado’s two Goodwill moon rocks collected during the Apollo 17 mission, had its beginnings in 1874 with the collection of geologist, Arthur Lakes, and includes the historic Colorado State Mineral Collection created by the Bureau of Mines in the 1890’s. The museum serves as the state repository for Colorado’s mineral heritage and showcases the most extensive public collection of minerals from Colorado.
Discover Golden’s Hidden Gem
Take in over 15,000 square feet of rocks, minerals, fossils and other fascinating Earth Science-related objects. Pass through our indoor cave and discover minerals that glow. Gaze at the sparkling Miss Colorado Crown containing over 600 gemstones and 21 diamonds. Transport yourself to Golden’s geologic past through our windows. Hike the Bob Weimer trail and visit authentic triceratops trackways. Marvel at our beautifully restored Irwin Hoffman mining murals.
Visit often. With more than 3,000 items currently on display and more than 40,000 total items in our collection, there will always be something new to see. We regularly rotate exhibits to provide fresh educational experiences and displays for our visitors to enjoy. Earn a free rock or mineral by participating in a family-friendly scavenger hunt and watch for changing themes!
OUR MISSION
We are committed to fostering an appreciation of the Earth, energy and the environment through exploration, engagement, and enlightenment.
OUR VISION
To be the leader in Earth Science exhibition and education, connecting the public to Mines and encouraging the pursuit of careers in STEM.
Geology Museum
Visit us
Admission: FREE
Regular Hours: Mon. – Sat. 9AM-4PM and Sun. 1PM-4PM
CLOSED July 4th, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.
Location: Colorado School of Mines, General Research Lab (GRL) building,
1310 Maple St., Golden, CO 80401
Contact us
MANAGEMENT
Renata Lafler, Executive Director
rlafler@mines.edu
Samara Rhett Tebo, Operations Manager
srhett@mines.edu
COLLECTIONS
Ed Raines, Curator
eraines@mines.edu
Land Acknowledgement
It is important to understand the longstanding history that has brought us to reside on this land as an institution of higher learning and to seek to understand and acknowledge our place within that history. We wish to recognize that we reside in the ancestral lands of the Ute, Cheyenne, and Arapaho people of Colorado. We also acknowledge the 48 contemporary tribal nations tied to the lands that make up the state of Colorado and the lands we call Colorado.
For those unfamiliar with the practice, it is a small gesture of recognition of peoples, cultures, and acknowledgment that seeks to speak against the invisibility and erasure faced by Native peoples from their homelands—in this context, especially in education– and to consider how we can each, in our own way, move forward informed by our collective history and commit to a more equitable present and future.
This statement was adapted from resources provided by the American Indian Higher Education Consortium and the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine. Contributors include Arthur Lakes Library and Mines DI&A.