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.
