The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is embarking on one of the most ambitious transformations of a permanent exhibition in its history – a $30 million effort to reimagine the current Coors Gems & Minerals Hall.

Now that the Hall has closed as of April 15, we are beginning an extraordinary renovation that will expand the footprint of the exhibition by 50%, resulting in a multi-sensory experience inspired by our community’s desire to feel transported to immersive underground cave and mine environments. Visitors will explore minerals in their natural forms and uncover the essential role they play in our everyday lives through the big idea that “My World is Made of Minerals.”

Originally opened to the public in 1982, the Coors Hall of Gems and Minerals remains one of the Museum’s top three most-loved permanent exhibitions. This renovation is a rare opportunity to honor that legacy while igniting a fresh spark of wonder, learning, and connection for generations to come. The new Dea Family Gems & Minerals Hall is planned to reopen in 2027.

Ring the bells, hoist the banners and break out the champagne – it’s time to celebrate! Thanks to you, our dedicated community, the Museum has just achieved the most ambitious exhibit fundraising campaign in its history.

We have officially surpassed our $30 million goal and are nearing the $32 million mark for the Dea Family Gems & Minerals Hall, including a $1 million challenge-match to close out the campaign.

This extraordinary milestone represents something far more meaningful and enduring than dollars and cents. It signifies the coalescing of a community around an investment in our shared future.

The result will be a signature experience on the cutting edge of exhibition design that will spark curiosity, awe and wonder for all and inspire the next generation of explorers, innovators, dreamers and builders.

Thanks to the community’s outpouring of generosity and the momentum it has generated, we are in a position to pursue additional opportunities to secure the future of the hall. In an effort to further strengthen the long-term impact of the project, we are seeking funding for enhancements to the experience, expanded educational programming and endowment support.

• Experience enhancements – providing resources for future exhibition enhancements, unique guest experiences, conservation efforts and ongoing improvements.
• Expanded educational programming – expanding both onsite and offsite educational experiences, teacher resources and classroom materials.
• Endowment support – creating a permanent source of funding that will sustain the exhibition, fuel future enhancements and expand educational opportunities for generations to come, sparking wonder, curiosity and discovery along the way.

Thank you again for believing in the Museum’s mission and vision. You are the driving force behind everything we do, and we celebrate and honor your contributions. Here’s to you!

As part of the Gems & Minerals Capital Campaign, we are profoundly grateful to the generous donors whose transformational gifts of $250,000 and above are catalyzing the reimagination of one of our most iconic exhibitions. Their support is helping to create a vibrant, immersive experience that will captivate and inspire visitors for generations to come.

Thank you for sharing our vision and making this bold transformation possible. With heartfelt appreciation, we recognize the following donors:

• Cathy & Peter Dea
• The Anschutz Foundation
• The Koelbel Family Foundation
• Dave Liniger
• Don Law & Family
• Kristin & Blair Richardson Family
• Royal Gold, Inc.
• Richard & Kathy Ambrose
• Rollie R. Kelley Family Foundation
• The Schlessman Foundation
• Mark Sexton
• The World Gold Council 

The generosity of our Visionary Supporters has laid the foundation for this bold transformation, helping to bring the reimagined Gems & Minerals Hall to life. Yet, there is still important work ahead.

Gems and minerals have long been a cornerstone of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, symbolizing exploration, discovery, and artistic beauty while preserving Colorado’s rich geological heritage. Over the decades, the Museum has continually evolved, enhancing the visitor experience and reimagining how Earth’s natural treasures are shared with the public.

Encounter awe-inspiring, immersive environments that transport guests underground to the caves and mines of the Rocky Mountain region and beyond. Fluctuations in temperature, changes in light creating dynamic ambience, distant rumbling echoing across chasms, and the sensation of a 3,000-foot descent into a modern mine will stimulate the senses, creating an unforgettable experience for all who enter.

Experience hands-on, dynamic, cutting-edge technologies that will activate the senses and inspire curiosity. Reveal geological conditions hidden miles underground, discover mesmerizing microscopic minerals, learn how your favorite mineral transforms into jewelry, unearth mineral deposits on an interactive map of the Rocky Mountains, and find the minerals needed to support your body, construct your home, and make your electronics.

Discover the Museum’s spectacular collections of world-class gems and minerals, including new specimens never before seen on public display. Keep your eyes peeled throughout the exhibition for showstoppers like the Alma King, Campion Gold, Diane’s Pocket, and the Dali Topaz. Interact with large-scale, uncut, touchable minerals and become immersed in a stunning spectrum of fluorescent minerals.