January 1, Museum Closed
Due to the New Year holiday, the museum will be closed. We will reopen on January 2
at 9:00 a.m.

January 12, Family Exploration Day, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Simple Machines, Legos & the Industrial Revolution Motor on down to the Museum to explore simple machines, over 30 model Lego steam engines, and the machines of the Industrial Revolution. Various work stations will be set up to explore levers, axles, inclined planes, and pulleys. Visitors should plan on spending at least an hour for this special exhibit. Reservations are necessary to help us staff and prepare for this family friendly event. Free with paid admission. Save with a family membership! Call 719-488-0880.

February 21, Uranium: Back to the Future Exhibit Opening & Lecture, 5:00 p.m.
URANIUM--it's HOT and back by popular demand. The exhibit focuses on the history of uranium mining in Colorado by exploring the early prospector and the boom and bust cycles since 1910. The exhibit opening will be complemented by guest speaker Matt Mathisen who will talk about his early uranium prospecting experiences. The exhibit runs through April 26, 2008. The exhibit opening is free and will include light appetizers, beverages, and music. Customary admission applies to ongoing dates. Please RSVP by February 14 at 719-488-0880.

February 28, Heritage Lecture Series: Uranium, 7:00 p.m. Guest Speaker Jim Burnell In conjunction with WMMI's ongoing exhibit on Uranium, guest speaker Jim Burnell, Geologist for the Colorado State Geologic Survey, will overview the historic, economic, environmental, and energy questions posed by current demand and discuss vital issues revolving around Colorado uranium mining. Heritage Lecture Series are free, and donations are accepted. For reservations, call 719-488-0880.   Sponsored by:

March 15, Family Exploration Day, 1:00- 3:00 p.m. Women's History Celebration & Edwardian Tea Experience the lives of pioneer women with featured scholar Susan Marie Frontczak portraying Marie Curie and take part in hands-on activities such as quilting, wool dying, spinning, and soap making. The Colorado Women's Hall of Fame will display an exciting temporary exhibit that shares stories of women who "created, shaped, and changed our state's and nation's history." Women in Mining will discuss career opportunities in mining, and the Gold Prospectors of the Rockies will be in period costume. To top off the celebration, we'll have an Edwardian era tea! Included with admission. Reservations at 719-488-0880. Supported by the Linda LeMieux Diversity Fund and sponsored by:

 

March 28, Spring Break with the Burros & Pioneer Games 10:00 a.m. & 1:00 p.m. Join us at the Western Museum of Mining & Industry and meet our famous donkeys, Oro & Nugget. Meet and greet as you learn what a pink donkey is and see how donkeys count. Afterwards, come inside to warm up and learn what games pioneer children played in the 1800's. Use your imagination and venture to a time of limited technology but tons of creativity! Picnic grounds are available, and there are over 27-acres to explore. Included with admission or better yet, purchase a Family Membership! Reservations please. Call (719) 488-0880.

 

April 12, Teacher Training Seminar, 8:30 a.m.- 5:30 p.m.
Mining and Minerals: The Foundation of Society
Teachers and other interested adults can join the Western Museum of Mining & Industry for a fascinating day exploring Colorado's mining heritage! Participants will learn about historic mining and milling (including a one-of-a-kind virtual tour of the Ghost Town of Gillman and the associated Eagle Mine!), explore modern mining methods, environmental considerations, and become familiar with available mining educational resources. The course teacher is Geologist Steven Veatch whose research has focused on paleontology, Colorado geology, and Quaternary geology. Steve is an adjunct professor of Earth science at Emporia State University where he received an MS in Earth Science and has published over 100 articles and professional papers on geology and regional history. The course fee of $50 includes all materials and a box lunch. For an additional fee of $30, participants may earn 0.5 graduate-level semester credit from the Colorado School of Mines. This credit is optional but is applicable for teacher license renewal in the State of Colorado and is generally accepted elsewhere. For additional information and reservation procedures, call 719 488-0880.
  

May 17, Heritage Lecture Series Colorado Prospecting & Mineral Collecting Seminar 10 a.m.-7:00 p.m. Catch the fever and discover the secrets of mineral collecting and gold prospecting in Colorado's world famous geology! With the assistance of the Gold Prospector's Club of Colorado, the Colorado Mineralogical Society, the Lake George Gem & Mineral Club, and the Friends of the Florissant Fossil Beds, experts in Colorado geology will teach an introduction to mineral collecting and gold prospecting. The course will include a practical hands-on session in the morning, a classroom session in the afternoon, and a keynote speaker in the early evening. This is a fundraiser for the Museum. Members are encouraged to donate $5 per person and a $10 donation is encouraged for nonmembers. For an additional $10 per person, a box lunch can be reserved or attendees can bring their own picnic lunch to be enjoyed on the Museum grounds. Space is limited so please RSVP to the Museum at 719-488-0880. Sponsored by:

May 26, Museum Closed
The Museum will be closed in honor of Memorial Day. We will reopen on May 27 at 9:00 a.m.

June 2, Summer Hours Begin. The Museum will be open Monday - Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Watch for the opening of the Farmers' Market featuring the finest of Colorado's fruits and vegetables. Located at the entrance to the Museum in front of the red farmhouse.

June 13 -15, 5th Annual Model Engineering & Historic Power Show, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Inspired by the Museum's historically significant and mechanically distinctive collection of operating steam engines and mining equipment, this event will be an entertaining and technical educational experience for our visitors! The event will showcase:

• Exhibition of quality engineered, handcrafted scale models
• Operation of full-sized historic steam engines & mining equipment
• Historic tractors & antique stationary engines
• Museum tours, Keep-What-You-Find gold panning & hay rides
• Operation of the 1890's Yellow Jacket II Stamp Mill & the 1920's Osgood Steam Shovel
• Picnic grounds and food vendor on site

For additional information, please click here to see our event page! Customary admission applies. Click here for directions to museum.

July 4, Museum Closed
WMMI will be closed in celebration of Independence Day on Friday, July 4. We will reopen on Saturday, July 5 at 9:00 a.m.

July 14, 26th Anniversary of Museum Building Opening, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Join the Museum as we celebrate our anniversary with a special admission price of $2.60 and special tours throughout the day.

July 26, Outside Machinery Day, 10 a.m. & 1:00 p.m. Hear the shrill whistle of the Western Museum of Mining & Industry's 1928 Osgood Steam Shovel. Learn how compressed air locomotives replaced the poor mule in hauling mountains of ore, and then see one rumble out of the past and down the track! Last, but not least, walk into the Museum's operating gold refinery. Listen to the stories describing the dangers of being a mill man. Understand how industrial revolution technology helped our ancestor's hew a living out of Colorado's hard rock, and then brace yourself as the kinetic energy of the 1890's refinery comes alive. Included with admission.

 

August 2 & 3, The Creative Crafters' Summer Craft Show, 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
The Creative Crafters' Summer Showcase invites you to the grounds of the Western Museum of Mining & Industry to experience a fun and unique craft show for the whole family. This is a great opportunity to get your special occasion and holiday shopping done early! There will be a separate admission fee for the craft fair. Call 719-488-0880 for further information.

August 16, 3rd Annual Burro Birthday Concert Western Museum of Mining & Industry's mascot burros are celebrating another birthday (HEE HAW), and we are celebrating by throwing a party for you! Museum tours, gold panning, and outside machinery operations will be available topped off by a meet & greet with the burros and a rockin' afternoon concert with Grass It Up, winner of the Independent's silver award for best original band in Colorado Springs! Food and drink vendors will be on site for this special event! Picnics and lawn chairs/blankets encouraged. Admission fee. A fun-filled event for the entire family!

September 1, Regular Operating Hours Resume
Monday - Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 

September 20, Outside Machinery Day, 10 a.m. & 1:00 p.m.
Hear the shrill whistle of the Western Museum of Mining & Industry's 1928 Osgood Steam Shovel. Learn how compressed air locomotives replaced the poor mule in hauling mountains of ore, and then see one rumble out of the past and down the track! Last, but not least, walk into the Museum's operating gold refinery. Listen to the stories describing the dangers of being a mill man. Understand how industrial revolution technology helped our ancestor's hew a living out of Colorado's hard rock, and then brace yourself as the kinetic energy of the 1890's refinery comes alive. Included with admission.

October 3, Haunted Mines, opens 7:00 p.m.
Experience Total Terror!
Looking for some thrills in October? Check out the HAUNTED MINES on the grounds of the Museum. The attraction will be open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in October at 7 p.m. and will be open every day beginning October 27 through November 1. Additional information may be obtained at the Haunted Mines website at www.hauntedmines.org.

October 11, Family Exploration Day, 1:00- 3:00 p.m.
Art Rocks!
Check back for further details.

November 11, Veterans Day Remembrance
The Western Museum of Mining & Industry wants to thank all veterans and active duty for their service to our country. All veterans and active duty military with ID will be given free entrance to the Museum. Regular admission applies to family members. Tours at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

November 27, Museum Closed
The Western Museum of Mining & Industry will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday. We will reopen
on Friday, November 28 at 9:00 a.m.

November 29, The Gold Assay Process, 10:00 a.m. & 1:00 p.m.
Magic or Chemistry?
Gold does not come out of the ground ready to wear. Join us at the Western Museum of Mining & Industry to discover the fascinating process of how rock is turned into gold. Hands-on learners of all ages will crush and classify ore as they learn the basics of gold ore assaying--determining the value of gold in the rock. This fast moving, interactive "cold" assay demonstration will overview the math, mechanics, and chemistry of this exciting process. Customary admission applies, and reservations are requested. Please
call 719-488-0880.

December 24, 25 & 31 Museum Closed
The Western Museum of Mining & Industry will be closed for the holidays.

December 27, Cookie Mining!, 10:00 a.m. & 1:00 p.m.
Become part owner of an imaginary mining company! Participants will receive an introduction to the dynamics of team building by making decisions on resource quality, job responsibilities, tool purchases, budgetary expenditures, environmental issues and more. After forming a new company, it's--Ready, Set, Go! Participants race other teams to mine chocolate chips from cookies. Everybody gets a chance! Come to the Museum where we let you play with your food! Customary admission applies. To reserve your spot, call 719-488-0880.