American Mountaineering Museum

This is a great little museum that has many interactive displays that are very well organized and very well put together. All the information presented in this museum is interesting and educational. This museum not only tells you about mountain climbing here in America, but also tells you about mountains all over the world, The country that they are in and the culture of the native indigenous peoples. Other displays show the timeline of mountain climbing and how it changed over the years, what people would wear compared to now and how the technology and climbing gear has changed. I really liked the computer interactive display that showed the highest points in all 50 states, Alaska being the highest with Mt McKinley at 20,322 ft and Florida being the lowest with Britton Hill at only 345 ft. It was also interesting to know that Colorado comes in at #3 with Mt Elbert at 14,440 ft. Our tour guide, which is not normally included but it was a slow day when we visited, did a super fantastic job of telling us and showing us on the 3D model of Mt. Everest, how since the very first people started climbing this majestic mountain the trail that is taken, how long it usually takes to climb this mountain (60 days) and how much it usually cost in fees, supplies, and sherpa labor costs (around $ 11,000 per person). He also explained in better detail about the recent earthquakes and avalanches in the Nepal region than any other newscaster ever could. All this for less than it costs for lunch at Mcdonalds. A truly great place to visit.

A great little gem for only $ 5! I am not someone who climbs, and as such, was not sure how enjoyable this would be. However, it’s very informative, giving plenty of history of the sport. The docent who was working at the door gave us a brief guided tour of some of the highlights, and then we were able to spend about an hour looking around the rest of the display.

I can’t say enough good things about this place I’ve been to their thirsty Thursdays which are the third Thursday of every month. Very fun place for kids very entertaining place for adults. One of my first stops whenever I have guests in town. I would recommend that you check it out even if you’re not that interested in climbing or mountaineering just for the interesting history.

This place has some good stuff, but not a lot of it and a small selection. The store is nice and clean, the staff is nice but it’s hit and miss will staff that knows their stuff. This is mostly high (er) end type outdoor gear and apparel. We have always found what we were looking for, so no complaints here.
Bring the kiddos if you want to shop, they have a lego table to play with.

There’s not much I can cover that Rolf didn’t in his descriptive review, but I really enjoyed visiting this mountaineering museum ($ 5) last week. We had an extremely helpful, knowledgeable, friendly and funny guide who walked us through a few of the exhibits and then left us alone to look around, watch the videos, listen to audio and read the numerous displays. After hiking my first two 14ers this fall, I have even more of an interest in and appreciation for the incredible outdoor adventures our state has to offer, and this museum gives a great glimpse into them all, as well as some outside our fair state. The large 3D model of Everest was super cool and the info about each 14er was helpful. To read that a family with four children, one as young as 8, summited them all in just a few months really made my jaw drop! Dang.
You can learn all about the unique aspects of our climate, types of geology, hypothermia, altitude sickness, the 10^th Mountain Division, ice climbing, female outdoor pioneers and more. There is a portaledge set up to check out and a bunch of other displays of real live equipment and artifacts. I think my favorite things I read were all of the quotes sprinkled throughout that talked about the inspiration people take from these outdoor pursuits, and the indescribable feeling one gets from a summit, any summit. Colorado is a very special place and this museum definitely left me feeling so lucky to live here, and maybe a little more willing to take on some risk and adventure. If that also strikes your fancy, you can walk upstairs to the Colorado Mountain Club and get info about the many outdoor classes they offer, like I did :)

The Bradford Washburn American Mountaineering Museum is the largest museum devoted to mountaineering in the Western Hemisphere, and one of the very largest in the entire world. The museum is a little-​known gem in Colorado and deserves greater exposure.
The museum is a joint project of the American Alpine Club and the Colorado Mountain Club, and also features photographs and material provided by the National Geographic Society. Its mission is «to inspire in our visitors a greater appreciation for the mountains and for mountaineering, in all of its facets, including the cultural and inspirational qualities of the mountains and the sport; to help in the cause to preserve the mountains and the history of mountaineering; to educate our visitors and in so doing enhance their enjoyment and safety in the mountains.»
The museum is quite beautiful and is a good venue for a quarter-​day or half-​day in Golden, which itself is a very interesting place to visit with many other local museums and places of interest. The museum has an interesting collection of permanent displays and artifacts, including some of the most well-​known artifacts in the history of mountaineering, as well as temporary exhibits and videos. It has a gigantic 3D model of Mt. Everest that shows the various routes to the top. There’s also a display of Tenth Mountain Division equipment. There are numerous full-​size mannequins with original equipment from — among other things — the first American expedition to summit Mt. Everest, some of the most famous Colorado mountaineers of the early 1900s. It’s really interesting to see how technology and techniques have progressed in mountaineering.
The museum does contain displays and hands-​on exhibits that are of interest to younger kids, including a cool «crevasse» that they can jump over, and a hanging ledge shelter that they can hole up in. There’s also a gift shop called the «Base Camp.»
Visitors should check the website at
to make sure of the current hours and to learn about the latest exhibits.