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 Established in 1966 as the San Miguel County Historical Society, the Telluride Historical Museum provides an educational experience while preserving its region’s history. The museum has operated for more than 40 years within one of Telluride’s first public buildings, the 1896 historic landmark Telluride Old Miner’s Hospital Building.
The hospital closed in 1964 and the San Miguel Historical Society reopened the building two years later as a museum. In 1994, the Museum was devastated to learn the building’s exterior masonry was on the verge of collapse. In 1995, a five-foot section of the exterior masonry fell away and the Museum was immediately closed to the public. In an overwhelming demonstration of local support, the Town of Telluride voters elected to fund 80% of stabilization costs to restore the old building.
 After completing its $2,000,000; seven year restoration, the Telluride Historical Museum is proud to welcome visitors to our facility at 201 West Gregory Avenue. During the closure, the board and staff created a blueprint for redefining the exhibits in each of the rooms in order to provide a truly educational experience that encourages visitors and locals to learn more about Telluride’s history. The Museum serves as a cultural and historical anchor for the town, providing a sense of community in the face of the town’s unprecedented growth and change. Ten thematic rooms, a gallery which rotates exhibits and a Museum store all showcases Telluride’s dramatic history. The eclectic collection is being displayed in contextual, dramatic settings – telling stories in three dimensions with theatrical groupings of displays and hands on, interactive features.
Exhibits include many exciting hands on and interactive displays, as well as a replica of the Tomboy Bride Cabin. Many new exhibits were installed in the fall of 2005 and further interpret topics such as Origins, Mining Camp to Community, and Telluride Reborn.
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