In 1868 Edwin Carter journeyed to Breckenridge Colorado hoping to find a fortune on gold! Upon arriving to find the local environment and wildlife devastated by the mining industry, Carter had a change of heart. Abandoning his gold mining dream, he learned taxidermy and began collecting animal specimens from the area. He used these specimens to open a museum in his home, with the intent of educating as many as possible to the delicate balance between man and his environment.

Carter pursued his passion for 25 years. When he died in 1900, his collection contained examples of over 3,000 Colorado wildlife specimens. That collection eventually became the nucleus of the Denver Museum of Nature and Science exhibits. This Breckenridge Museum, still in Edwin Carter’s home, honors his life with interactive exhibits, hands-on displays, a theatre and other fun learning opportunities for young and old!  If you’re visiting the Breckenridge Colorado area, make a visit to the award winning Edwin Carter Museum part of your plans!

The Edwin Carter Museum is open year round, Tuesday – Sunday from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm. Museum entrance is free of charge, however, a $ 5.00 donation is suggested and appreciated!

Directions to the Edwin Carter Museum

The Edwin Carter Museum is partially supported by the Breckenridge Heritage Alliance, a non-profit organization dedicated to sharing and preserving Breckenridge history. To help support this endeavor visit: http://www.breckheritage.com/pages/donations. To extend your support, become a member and receive a special thank you gift, invitations to special events and programs, 10% discount on all merchandise, annual reports, newsletters and other member updates.