Estes Park History & Museums: Stanley Museum in Estes Park Colorado

Estes Park Colorado
> History Museums
> Stanley Museum

Stanley Museum

The Stanley Museum in Estes Park, Colorado offers fascinating displays about automotive history, guided “ghost” tours of the Stanley Hotel and information about the oldest tourist town in the state. Read More

  • Visit the Stanley Museum in Estes Park, Colorado when you are in the area
  • Find amazing exhibits commemorating the man who brought tourism to life in the region
  • Learn the story of the Stanley Steam Car
  • Admission to Stanley Museum is free
  • The museum is open all year

Overview

The Stanley Museum tells the story of the famous tourist town of Estes Park, going back to the days before Rocky Mountain National Park was even officially opened. Visitors get to view up close a vintage Model R Stanley Roadster from 1909 and gain some knowledge about the renowned Stanley Steam Car. The story of the Stanley Hotel that is presented is another reason to visit this museum and learn of the interesting history of this “haunted” hotel.

Location/Directions

The Stanley Museum can be found within the Lower Stanley Village area of Estes Park. The address is 517 Big Thompson Avenue, Estes Park, Colorado and the phone number is 970-577-1903.

Hours/Seasons

The museum is open from June to September on Tuesday through Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm, from October to May on Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 3 pm and on Sundays by appointment.

Cost

Admission to the museum is free, but donations are suggested.

More Info

F.O. Stanley is one of the forefathers of Estes Park, and was Stanley Hotel’s original owner and designed the building himself. This brought tourism to life in the area. He achieved numerous other community improvements, and he and his brother were inventors, holding the first patent on the airbrush. All these examples are on display at Stanley Museum. The museum was first located within the hotel and later moved to Stanley Village. Since then, more programs have been added and virtual ghost story tours are a popular attraction.