Where History Lives: A Guided Tour of the Museum of Boulder's Collection

Date and Time

• Saturday, Oct 10, 2026  2pm - 4pm

Location

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Details

Tour the Museum of Boulder’s Collections Facility, see rarely viewed artifacts, and enjoy food & drink and live music from Sean McGowan.

At the Museum of Boulder, we believe that history happens right here, every single day. Our mission is to showcase inclusive community stories, preserve them carefully for the future, and inspire each of us to effect positive change in the world around us. The objects we preserve hold that history in trust for future generations to appreciate, learn from, and maybe even look at in awe.

But have you ever wondered where those objects go when they aren’t on display?

Once a year, we pull back the curtain and invite you behind the scenes for a truly special experience: a tour of the Museum of Boulder’s Collections Storage Facility in Gunbarrel. This rare opportunity takes you beyond the Museum galleries and into the space where thousands of objects documenting Boulder’s history are preserved and cared for.

This special program corresponds with our current exhibition, A Century of Collecting: Stories from Our Vault, on view at the Museum of Boulder August 22, 2026 through January 3, 2027. Celebrating 100 years of collecting, the exhibition brings more than 200 artifacts from the Museum’s collection out of storage, many on display for the first time, and explores what it takes to care for a community’s legacy.

Behind the Vault Door takes that story one step further, giving you the chance to see where the rest of the collection lives and learn firsthand how the Museum cares for more than 45,000 objects entrusted to us.

During this exclusive, guided experience, you will:

Go Behind Closed Doors: Step inside our specialized Collections Storage Facility and see where the work of preservation happens.

Discover Rare Artifacts: Get up close with an incredible and eclectic range of rarely seen objects, from historic 19th century clothing and mining tools to everyday relics like coffee grinders and children’s toys.

Learn from the Experts: Discover how a modern museum cares for a historic collection and preserves these pieces of our shared history for generations to come.

Enjoy Food & Drink: Gather with fellow history lovers and enjoy food and beverages as part of this special behind the scenes event.

Every object holds a piece of Boulder’s story. Come discover what’s behind the vault door!

Please note: This event takes place at the Museum of Boulder’s private Collections Storage Facility in Gunbarrel, not at the Museum of Boulder. The facility’s address will be provided to registered attendees upon registration.