"The University of Colorado Museum of Natural History is an academic unit of the Graduate School at the University of Colorado at Boulder with a mission to contribute to knowledge of the natural world and the humanities through research, teaching, and public education. The Museum's collections number more than four million objects in anthropology/archaeology, botany, entomology, paleontology, and zoology.
The University of Colorado Museum offers a wide variety of K-12 and adult educational programs and activities throughout the year, including lectures, family days, and guided tours. The exhibition galleries are open to the public seven days a week, free of charge. The Museum and Field Studies Graduate Program offers students an opportunity to earn a Master of Science degree or a certificate in Museum Studies." (from (
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"In 1902 Junius Henderson was appointed Curator of the Museum. His responsibility, without salary, was to develop the unrelated collections of the University into a museum. Aided by Professors T.D.A. Cockerell and Francis Ramaley, Henderson began the University of Colorado Museum with a few fossils and mollusk shells, a small collection of rocks and minerals, and several mounted birds and mammals. In 1909, the University granted Henderson a salary and a full professorship and declared the Museum a separate University department with a $500 annual budget. Earl Morris began archaeological work for the Museum in 1913.
During the next twenty years, Museum founders Henderson, Cockerell, Ramaley, and Morris worked with University faculty and staff, other scientists, and collectors to expand the Museum. In 1933, Henderson retired and Hugo G. Rodeck was named Curator of the Museum. Subsequent Directors include Peter Robinson (1971-1982), William Hay (1982-1987), David Armstrong (1987-1993), and Linda Cordell (1993-2006). The current director is J. Patrick Kociolek.
The Museum's New Home
The Museum was located in the Hale Building until 1937, when the construction of a new museum building was completed.
The Henderson Building, as it is known today, has been the Museum's primary home ever since. During the mid-1900s, however, some of the Museum's collections were kept in many buildings across campus, including Henderson, Hellems, Macky, and the Fine Arts Building.
Today, the Museum has moved the majority of its collection into the Bruce Curtis Building, and the herbarium into the Clare Small Building. The Museum employs more than fifty faculty and staff as curators, collection managers, public program specialists, designers, instructors, and administrators.
The Museum's collection has grown from a handful of objects to more than four million. The University of Colorado Museum of Natural History has the largest natural history collection in the Rocky Mountains. It received accreditation from the American Association of Museums in 2003, an achievement earned by less than 5% of museums in the U.S." (from (
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The museum is on the campus of the University of Colorado, so either use public transportation or parking (for a fee) is available nearby at (
visit link) (As of 2013, 3 hours was $1.75). Do check the website as the museum is closed during college holidays (
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