Initial Feasibility StudyBy: Jason Hanson I For: Historic Denver I May 15, 2020

McNichols Building

Webb Municipal Building

Denver City and County Building

Center for Colorado Women’s History

Colorado State Capitol

Denver Public

Library

History Colorado Center Denver Art

Museum (Hamilton Bldg)

Clyfford Still Museum

Kirkland Museum

Denver Art Museum

(Ponti Bldg)

Nearly every community in Colorado has its own museum. Except Denver. Is it time for that to change?

Do We Really Want a Museum of Denver?

A survey of potential visitors found strong community support for the museum of Denver. And Blue Bear.

Do you think Denver should have a museum showcasing our history and the city today?

6.3%

Would you visit a Museum of Denver? Blue Bear or Blue Horse?

How We Make It Better

Who We Are

Our Darkest Days

Where We Call Home

How We Built This City

How It All Started

What Was Before Denver

85%

82%

67%

66%

64%

58%

55%

RIVERNORTH

CITY PARKDenver Museum of Nature and Science

Denver Zoo

CIVIC CENTERCenter for Colorado Women’s History

Clyfford Still Museum

Denver Art Museum

History Colorado Center

Kirkland Museum

PLATTE RIVER CORRIDORChildren’s Museum

Downtown Aquarium

Meow Wolf (future)

DOWNTOWNMuseum of Contemporary Art

Selfie Museum

Rockies Museum (future)

Can Denver Support Another

Cultural Attraction?

Case studies of eight peer museums

nationally and locally highlight Denver's

advantages as among cultural markets.

With a relatively affluent and highly

educated population, as well as the city's

rapid recent growth and strong tourism

sector, Denver enjoys a number of market

advantages that auger support for a new

city museum.

What Do Potential Visitors Want to See at the Museum of Denver?

From a list of seventeen potential themes, seven were selected by more than half of all survey respondents. Likely

museum visitors desire an institution that focuses clearly on the city, exploring the creation and evolution of the

urban fabric, and does not shy away from difficult moments in our shared past.

Where Should the Museum of Denver Be?

Survey respondents identified two top locations for the new Museum of Denver: Civic Center Park and Downtown. The McNichols Building in Civic Center Park bears further consideration as a potential museum site.