Things to do / Travel Guide
Address:6901 Wadsworth Blvd.
Arvada, Colorado
The Arvada Center, Colorado, is one of the top-10 cultural destinations in the Denver metropolitan area and features performing arts, visual arts, hands-on education programs, and historical museum exhibits. Since 1976, the center has boasted two floors of gallery space and 12 to 15 exhibitions a year, with an emphasis on all aspects of contemporary art. The permanent exhibits focus on the historical and cultural heritage of Arvada, Colorado.
The highlight of the Arvada Center is the oldest building in Arvada, a 144 year old Haines log cabin, containing the original furnishings used by the pioneering Haines family, with no electricity, indoor plumbing, everything we take for granted today. The log cabin holds about 2500 items of farm equipment, tools, household materials, furniture, clothing, personal effects, books, documents, and decorative arts.
The center's Historical Museum can be visited by appointment. If you have a group, museum tours and accompanying participatory plays can be booked.
The Arvada Center Sculpture Garden featuring fifteen pieces by twelve artists is not to be missed.
In addition to presenting adult and children's live theater, the Arvada Center provides arts education for children throughout the region. The Family Arts Days are a great, affordable way to treat your family to an afternoon of arts experiences. Each Family Arts Day includes tickets to a family performance along with a backstage tour, gallery or museum tour, and/or a special, hands-on workshop. Kids must be five years or older and accompanied by an adult.
The center's gift shop features items by Colorado artists including jewelry, ceramics, abstract paintings, silk and woven garments, textiles, and more. You'll also find children's puppets, art sets, stuffed animals, books, and other toys.
You can find the museum just 2.5 miles north of the I-70 Wadsworth exit, 20 minutes from downtown Denver.