Find Summer Fun at Colorado’s Museum of the West

Don’t let it happen again, Grand Junction. Don’t let the summer of 2026 be another summer of driving down Ute Avenue without stopping at Colorado’s Museum of the West.

There is a gold mine of Native American artifacts and pioneer-era exhibits, local history, and recurring summer events that make it worth stopping by. If you are wondering what the summer schedule looks like, we’ve got you.

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Step Inside 1,000 Years of Western Colorado History

Find Summer Fun at Colorado's Museum of the West

Read More: Hidden History Lives In These 3 Western Colorado Museums

The Museum of the West tells the story of the region through exhibits covering Indigenous cultures, pioneer settlement, ranching, mining, transportation, and life in the Grand Valley. One of my favorite collections to learn about is the room full of rifles and old handguns from the frontier. The timeline of the Grand Valley is well kept at the Museum of the West. You can explore Fremont artifacts, the Ute Tribe’s influence, and learn how Grand Junction became what it is now.

Free First Fridays and Summer Events Already on the Calendar

Grand Junction’s Museum of the West makes it easy to visit all summer long with its free First Fridays program, which allows you to explore the permanent exhibits and the Sterling T. Smith Observation Tower at no cost. Recurring events will take place this summer at all museum sites, including the Cross Orchards Farmers Markets and family fun at Dinosaur Journey.

Climb the Tower for One of Grand Junction's Best Views

Find Summer Fun at Colorado's Museum of the West

Read More: See Stunning Colorado Panoramas At The Sterling T. Smith Tower

First Fridays are a great day to climb to the top of the Sterling T. Smith tower. There's a place to sit once you climb to the top, and the view of Grand Junction is one that lots of people have never seen, and some don't even know about. It rises above the museum for a great view of the Book Cliffs, Colorado National Monument, and the downtown streets.