Denver Art Museum (DAM)

The Denver Art Museum (DAM) features a diverse array of art from the American West, particularly its enviable American Indian collection of ceramics, textiles, beaded garments, and contemporary glasswork. Other permanent collections include African, Asian, European, American, modern and contemporary, pre-Columbian, photography, Spanish Colonial, and textiles from around the world. The museum also hosts a number of traveling exhibitions.

Great for families, the museum sparks kids’ creativity with gallery games and encourages them to make their own art at the on-site family center. The museum is often a stop on private and group Denver sightseeing tours. Admission is included in the Mile High Culture Pass, which also proffers access to several other museums.

• DAM houses the largest collection of Native American artifacts in the US.

• The museum also hosts several artist-in-residence throughout the year; patrons can watch the artists work, ask questions, and interact personally with these honored guests.

• Award-winning restaurants and public parks surround DAM, and it’s just steps from the 16th Street Mall.

DAM is on 13th Avenue between Broadway and Bannock streets. Multiple parking garages are nearby, and metered street parking is also available, although scarce during certain hours. RTD buses and the light rail have stops nearby, or take the free 16th Street Mall ride, get off at Cleveland Place and then walk south through Civic Center Park to the museum.

The museum is open Monday–Thursday from 10am–5pm, and Fridays from 10am–8pm. Every first Friday of the month, hours are extended till 10pm. The museum also hosts “Untitled Final Fridays” much of the year, when local artists, writers, activists, musicians, and other creatives present a completely artist-designed program showcasing their individual talents. DAM is closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Denver Art Museum regularly hosts high-profile temporary exhibits. Over the years, the curatorial staff have secured exhibits, such as “Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs,” “Brilliant: Cartier in the 20th Century,” and “Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection.” Demand is high for these special events, and many are timed, so it’s best to secure tickets beforehand.

It takes about four hours to see the Denver Art Museum, one of the largest art museums in the mountain west. However, if you’re just checking out a few of its exhibitions, you can get through in about two hours—including a stroll around its buildings' dramatic exteriors.

It’s a good idea to reserve Denver Art Museum tickets in advance because a limited number of visitors are allowed inside. However, some Denver Art Museum (DAM) tickets are generally available for walk-ins and can be purchased at the museum’s visitor services desk. When you buy a ticket, it’s valid all day.

Paid parking is available at several lots near the Denver Art Museum. Closest to the museum is the Cultural Center Complex Garage located at Broadway and 12th Avenue, where parking costs $2 an hour. Download the PaybyPhone app or use the Level 1 elevator lobby kiosk to pay for parking. Alternatively, join a Denver Art Museum (DAM) tour that includes transportation.

Visitors 18 and under always get free admission to the Denver Art Museum, but the museum also hosts Free Day at the DAM—these are typically held once or twice a month, on a Sunday or a Tuesday. Free Days are popular, so plan to register online in advance.

Yes, the Denver Art Museum is worth visiting. It’s the city’s largest and most popular art museum, with a permanent collection that includes everything from Native American artwork to textiles and sculpture. Denver Art Museum tours may include other nearby sightseeing stops, including the Colorado State Capitol Building and Civic Center Park.

Large backpacks or purses are not allowed in the Denver Art Museum galleries. Lockers to store your bag are in each museum building, located on the lower level or first floor—that’s where you’ll find coat racks, too. While the lockers are free, they require a quarter to operate.