Stand-in photo, not this place: Telluride's railway yard in 1940, not the museum building
Telluride Historical Museum
History museum
About
The Telluride Historical Museum tells the story of the town and the San Juan Mountains from an old hospital at the top of North Fir Street. Galleries cover how the mountains formed, the Ute people (the Nuchu), the mining camp that grew into a town, family life in town and at the mining camps, the red-light district, and Telluride's rebirth as a ski and festival town.
Look for the Telluride Blanket, an Ancestral Puebloan twill blanket radiocarbon dated to between 1041 and 1272. Outside, a hands-on mining exhibit finished in 2011 lets you walk into the Bullion Tunnel and, in summer, try your luck at the sluice. Plan on 45 minutes to an hour.
History
The building went up in 1896 as Hall's Hospital and served as Telluride's hospital until 1964. It reopened as the museum in 1966. After part of the outside masonry crumbled in 1995, voters approved public money for repairs, and the museum reopened seven years and $2 million later. The building is part of Telluride's National Historic Landmark District, designated in 1961.
When to go
The museum closes for two off-seasons, early April to early June and mid-October to early December, so it's closed in November 2026. Last winter it opened December 2, 2025; the 2026-27 winter dates weren't posted when we checked.
In winter it's open Tuesday to Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm, and in summer Monday to Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm. Last admission is 4:30 pm, so aim to arrive by 4.
Good to know
Kids get a free scavenger hunt at the front desk.
The first-floor galleries and entrances are wheelchair accessible, and the ground-floor restrooms have grab rails. The second floor isn't.
Four parking spaces sit beside the museum, with free two-hour street parking nearby.
Off-season tours can sometimes be arranged by calling at least 48 hours ahead.
Price
- General admission$9
- Students (6 to 17)$6
- Seniors (65 and older)$6
- Children 5 and underFree
- Audio tour, English or Spanish (optional)$3
Telluride locals get in free on Saturdays.
Prices checked November 2026 on the website of the Telluride Historical Museum. They can change, so check before you go.
Run Telluride Historical Museum? Offer a coupon here for free.
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