About
Founded in October 2008, the Denver Police Museum is undergoing a comprehensive strategic planning process that will guide the future direction of the Museum toward the development of a full-scale, interactive museum featuring a permanent collection on display as well as educational and community outreach programs.
An independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the Denver Police Museum is dedicated to preserving the history of the Denver Police Department, promoting deeper knowledge and understanding of what law enforcement entails, and serving as a community resource for crime prevention education.
Currently, the Museum’s Archiving and Processing Office is located in Police Headquarters where our team of volunteers works to catalog, display, and properly archive our collection. The Museum also has satellite displays in District Stations and from time-to-time at various Denver libraries. Tours may be scheduled by appointment only.
STATE OF THE MUSEUM PROGRESS
We are developing a number of initiatives focused on fulfilling our mission, including securing a location for the future Museum site. Learn More >>
ASSOCIATIONS
We are a proud member of the American Association for State and Local History and the Colorado-Wyoming Association of Museums.
FAQ
The Denver Police Museum is open daily to the public from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Mountain. Free timed-entry tickets are required for entry.
General admission to the Denver Police Museum is free; however, advance ticket reservation is required for all visitors. The Museum is closed on Federal Holidays and December 25.
The Museum is located in Denver Police Headquarters, 1331 Cherokee Street, Denver, CO.
The Museum also has satellite exhibits on display in District Stations 1, 2, and 3 and at various libraries and other organizations throughout Denver. For more information about our satellite exhibits, please contact our team at INFO@DENVERPOLICEMUSEUM.ORG.
No, the Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, established to promote our mission of social impact by building bridges between citizens and the law enforcement of Denver, creating opportunities for community understanding and engagement, strengthening the city’s relationship with the community, and educating youth to inspire community involvement, responsibility, and a future generation of law enforcement professionals.
As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, the Museum operates completely independent of government funding. The Museum receives funding from the generous support of private and corporate donations, grants, and from donations in the form of payroll deductions of City employees, both Career Services and Sworn Personnel.
To learn more about how you can support the Denver Police Museum’s mission, please click here.
Glad you asked! You can help support the mission of the Museum in many ways.
- Donations help pay for archiving materials to preserve our collection of artifacts for future generations. Click here to donate to the Museum.
- The Museum needs volunteers to assist in numerous areas. If you are interested in volunteering your time and skills, click here.
- Donate an artifact. Our collection consists of objects ranging from photos, to badges, to police vehicles. Our donors understand that the Denver Police Museum will be a resource to researchers and educators for generations to come.
- Share your story! You have a story. Here is your chance to tell at least one about your personal connection to the Denver Police Department.
The Museum’s collection is made up largely of artifacts donated by people like you, and we appreciate your desire to become involved in preserving law enforcement history. To tell a complete story of an Officer’s life requires the big as well as the small—even the day-to-day, mundane aspects of an Officer’s life are important to help promote a deeper knowledge and understanding of what law enforcement entails. Think about a display of an officer in a 1950’s Patrol Car. There is the uniform, the badges, hat, gun belt, name tag, the standard stuff you immediately think of. But what about the Daily Bulletin that would be on a clipboard? Or a “hot sheet” for stolen cars, the folder of documents required for taking reports, the ticket book, lunchbox, or flashlight? Or, consider a display of personal items that an officer might carry such as a cigarette case, prayer book, ID cards with a photo, commendatory letters. If you would like to donate an artifact to the Museum, please click here.
While the Museum cannot guarantee that any objects donated to its collection will be exhibited, the Museum allocates a significant portion of its annual budget to maintaining optimal conditions in its storage areas and galleries to ensure the long-term preservation of all collection materials.
We have a long term goal of building an interactive state-of-the-art facility with least 15,000 sq ft of display space. Click here to help us build the future Denver Police Museum!
No, the members of the board of directors receive no compensation for services provided to the Museum.