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See Royal Gorge Regional Museum & History Center
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The place
About Royal Gorge Regional Museum & History Center
Royal Gorge Regional Museum & History Center is a City of Cañon City museum whose mission is to collect, preserve, and interpret the region's history. It occupies the second floor of the Municipal Building at 612 Royal Gorge Boulevard and is separate from the Royal Gorge Route Railroad.
The current public collection includes thousands of research files along with historic photographs, newspapers, city directories, cemetery records, school yearbooks, organizational archives, family albums, scrapbooks, and regional maps. A reading room makes much of that material available to researchers during open hours.
The Municipal Building was constructed in 1927 with support from local businessman Dall DeWeese, who required that its second floor remain a museum. The museum highlights a fireplace he designed with dinosaur fossils, petrified wood, minerals, and part of a stalactite.
Current city guidance lists free public admission and guided tours, Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Contact the museum directly for a guided group visit, research request, mobility details, or a holiday-hours check.
What stands out
Orient to Fremont County
Use regional exhibits and guided interpretation to place the railroad, river, industries, and communities in context.
Explore the research collection
Browse photographs, newspapers, directories, school records, maps, family files, and archival material in the Reading Room.
Read the building itself
See the 1927 Municipal Building and its fossil-, mineral-, and petrified-wood fireplace.
Connect museum and canyon
Carry the regional timeline into the Royal Gorge journey along the Arkansas River.
Pair it with the train
Why it belongs in a Royal Gorge Route Railroad trip
The museum is a short downtown trip from the Santa Fe Depot. On Wednesday-Saturday, use a morning visit before a later train, but keep the railroad's recommended one-hour pre-departure arrival. The museum and railroad have separate hours, reservations, and operations.
Before you go
Plan your visit
- HoursWednesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
- ClosedSunday-Tuesday; confirm city holiday closures
- AdmissionFree and open to the public
- ToursFree guided adult and school-group tours; contact ahead
- Reading RoomFree public research access during open hours; photocopy fees may apply
- FacilitiesCity listing identifies parking and restrooms
- Train pairingShort downtown trip from the Santa Fe Depot; preserve one-hour train arrival margin
- Access planningConfirm current mobility accommodations directly before travel
Return to the Royal Gorge train guide
Add Royal Gorge Route Railroad
Use the train guide for live departures, fares, arrival time, parking, dining, open-air access, and mobility limits.
Useful answers
Frequently asked questions
When is the museum open?
Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; confirm city holiday closures before travel.
How much is admission?
Admission is free and the museum is open to the public.
Are guided tours available?
Yes. The city lists free guided adult and school-group tours; contact the museum to arrange one.
Can I conduct historical research there?
Yes. The Reading Room and archival collections are available during open hours, with possible photocopy fees.
Is this museum part of the railroad?
No. It is operated by the City of Cañon City and has separate hours and operations.
What does the collection cover?
Fremont County and Royal Gorge regional history through photographs, documents, newspapers, maps, directories, family files, and other archives.
What facilities are listed?
The city facility page identifies parking and restrooms; confirm specific mobility needs directly.
How should I pair it with the train?
Visit before a later Wednesday-Saturday departure and retain the railroad's recommended one-hour arrival margin.
Trust and accuracy
Sources
Source checked 2026-08-24. This free guide has not yet been confirmed by the venue. Current hours, prices, services, and accessibility can change; confirm time-sensitive details directly.