Western Museum of Mining and Industry

A nonprofit organization

The mission of the Western Museum of Mining & Industry is to preserve and interpret the rich mining history and continuing contributions of mining in the American West through preservation, exhibition and interpretation of artifacts related to mining, metallurgy and their support industries.

Mission

The mission of the Western Museum of Mining & Industry is to educate the public about the history and continuing contributions of mining in the American West through its collection, restoration, exhibition, and interpretation of artifacts related to mining, metallurgy, and their support industries. The museum also interprets the farming and ranching history of El Paso County through the historic 1890s Reynolds farmstead.

Background Statement

The museum was originally named the Museum of the West and opened in 1970 on a 20-acre parcel adjacent to the present Voyager Boulevard north of Colorado Springs. In 1973 the name was changed to the Western Museum of Mining and Industry to better describe the museum's mission. Many of the museum's artifacts came from the private collection of Mr. & Mrs. Frederick M. Farrar, though the museum staff aggressively added to the collection in the 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s.

In August 1977, the museum purchased a 27-acre parcel of land adjacent to I-25 and the present North Gate Boulevard. The land included the historic Reynolds farmhouse, 2 barns, and 2 bunkhouses. The first structure erected on the new purchase was the Yellow Jacket II Stamp Mill, which was completed in June 1979. A month later, construction started on an exhibits building, which was opened to the public in July 1982. Since that time, the museum has installed several artifacts for outdoor viewing, has continually updated its public exhibits in the 12,000-square-foot exhibits building, and has expanded its programming.

Currently, WMMI presents two changing exhibits per year (Feb-Jun and Sep-Dec), three family day events--geology (Jan), science (Mar), history (Sep), a Second Tuesday Lecture Series (February-November), a seminar on gold assaying, and a few other public events that draw visitors of all ages, including more than 5,000 school children from Denver to Pueblo and beyond. Guided tours commence at 10am and 1pm, and include the operation of several of the museum's working steam engines (now run on compressed air). Miners of all ages have the chance to placer mine for gold and gems and can walk through a recreated underground mine as part of their tour.

In 2021, the museum introduced a new rental venue in its historic 1893 hay barn that already has been rented for meetings and weddings.

2021 also saw the completion of a three-phase, $550,000 rehabilitation of the historic 1890s Reynolds House, which is listed in the Colorado Register of Historic Properties. The structure will be available for rental for small meetings and weddings and will be part of an upcoming (in 2022) optional tour of the Reynolds Farmstead for museum visitors.

WMMI consistently ranks in the top twelve area attractions on tripadvisor.com and receives very favorable comments from visitors on other social media platforms.

Organization Data

Summary

Organization name

Western Museum of Mining and Industry

other names

WMMI, Museum of the West

Year Established

1971

Tax id (EIN)

84-0603781

Category

Arts, Culture & Humanities

Organization Size

Medium Organization

Address

225 North Gate Blvd.
Colorado Springs, CO 80921

Service areas

El Paso County, CO, US

Phone

7194880880

Other

719-488-0880

Other

719-488-9261

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