Museum of the West/Smith Educational Tower

Frommer's Review

This extensive museum offers a step back into the history of the American West, with "immersive" exhibits that remove the glass between visitor and exhibit, allowing you to literally step into history. Listen to the antique siren as you inspect the 1921 LaFrance fire truck; or examine a superb collection of Southwestern pottery in an adobe villa. You can explore an 1890s schoolhouse and a 1930s post office, as well as venture inside a full-size uranium mine, where the sounds of blasting and drilling continue to echo, and even "fly" a computer-controlled 1950 Cessna and learn about Colorado aviation history. The museum also boasts one of the finest firearms collections in the region, and has a display on the life of Alferd Packer, Colorado's notorious cannibal. From the upper levels of the six-story Smith Tower you'll get impressive 360-degree views of Grand Junction and the surrounding countryside. Connect to a wealth of historical, genealogical, and natural history materials in the Loyd Files Research Library. Allow 1 1/2 to 3 hours.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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