Group Programs
Group Programs

Golden History Museums programs are designed to engage students of any age by letting them experience the history of Golden and Colorado the hands-on way. Our three unique sites give students the chance to live, work and play the way people from Golden have been for over 150 years.

The Clear Creek History Park is a two-acre living history park which houses a one-room schoolhouse, three historic log buildings, chickens and a blacksmith shop.

The Astor House Museum is a boarding house built in 1867; it has a restored balcony, Victorian bathroom, and a working history that lasted until the 1970s when it was made in to a museum.

The Golden History Center highlights items from the City of Golden collection in order to bring Golden community history to life.

Programs range from half an hour to two hours, but you must book a minimum of one hour.

Two-hour Program

Colorado Gold Rush

As miners hurried to profit from the Rocky Mountains, Golden emerged as an important supply town. In this program students learn about mining and living in Colorado during the 19th century. A staff member will give a 5-minute orientation and be available to assist you, but this program depends on the active participation of your own group leaders as you move through the different interactive stations.

Station 1 - Pioneer Games

Play with games and toys that were commonplace during the 1800’s. Graces, hoop & stick, stilts, jump rope, and more were all the rage at home as well as on the playground.

Station 2 - Butter Making

Back in the 1800s, butter wasn’t found in a store—you had to make your own. Learn how pioneers made cream into butter. Make your own butter and taste your creation on a cracker.

Station 3 - Native People & Their Games

Pioneers often encountered Native Americans along their journey west. Take a break from your journey and learn a game played by Native American children.

Station 4 - Gold Panning and Mining

Try your hand at sluicing, panning and hard rock mining. Learn about Colorado miners and hear the legend of the Tommyknockers, who were revered and feared by miners.

Cost: $6 per person, 15 person minimum & 80 person maximum (four groups of 20 maximum per station)

One-hour programs

Astor House Museum Tour

Built in 1867, the Astor House was known by some as the finest stone hotel west of the Mississippi. Let us escort you through the kitchen, parlor and bedrooms furnished with chamber pots, beds, derby hats, and an assortment of other artifacts from the early 1900s—not to mention what’s reputed to be Golden’s first bathtub and a functional high-tank toilet.

Cost: $4 per person, 15 person maximum per guide, maximum of 30 people per hour with two guides

Clear Creek History Park Tour

Explore what community meant to a 19th century ranching family in Golden. Go inside our historic cabin and chicken coop to get a look at homestead life complete with live chickens. Come prepared to compare your classroom with our one-room schoolhouse and get to know the local blacksmith.

Cost: $4 per person, 15 person maximum per guide, maximum of 30 people per hour with two guides

Pack Your Wagon

Who traveled west and why? Prepare for a journey west in search of gold or free land. What will you take with you? Your wagon is small, so you can’t take everything. The class will split into three groups, or families, to purchase needed supplies, pack the wagon and make the long journey west.

Cost: $4.50 per person, 30 person maximum with one guide

It's Our Town

Many different people helped settle the Golden and Denver areas in the late 1800s. Learn about the diverse minorities living here more than 100 years ago and imagine yourself as one of these frontier personalities as you adorn yourself in period clothing. Now you’ve got to pull together with the rest of your group to form a community. How will you do it? Show us with a skit.

Cost: $4.50 per person, 30 person maximum with one guide

Pioneer School

Hear the clang of the school bell? It’s time for school to begin. Get ready to raise the flag, grab your slates and McGuffey’s Readers, and line up, girls and boys separately of course! After your lessons, you’ll have recess with some of your favorite pioneer games. Your school day may end with pioneer dress-up time and a group photo in front of the Guy Hill Schoolhouse.

Cost: $4.50 per person, 30 person maximum with one guide

Half-hour programs

Gold Panning and Mining

Try your hand at gold panning, hard rock mining and sluicing.

Cost: $2 per person, 15 person maximum per guide

Butter Making

Make butter and taste it too!

Cost: $2 per person, 15 person maximum per guide

Pioneer Games

Play with games and toys that were commonplace during the 1800’s. Graces, hoop & stick, stilts, jump rope, and more were all the rage at home as well as on the playground.

Cost: $2 per person, 15 person maximum per guide

General Program Information

  • 10 person minimum on all programs
  • One-hour program minimum
  • $40 minimum fee applies to each group
  • Tours and programs must be booked 2 weeks in advance
  • For groups of 30 people or more we require a $50 deposit that goes toward the overall cost of your program before we reserve the date.
  • For student groups, one adult is required for every 10 students, and two adults per 10 students are admitted free. Additional adults pay the same fee as students.
  • Program confirmation and instructions will be sent to you prior to your trip. It is important to read these materials and bring them with you on the day of your trip.
  • If weather permits, you can picnic at the Clear Creek History Park with your group. There are no indoor eating facilities.
  • Bring water, wear closed-toe shoes, and dress for our ever-changing Colorado weather. Most programs take place outside.
  • Cost ranges from $4.00 – $6.00 per participant

For additional information and reservations call 303-278-3557.

Cancellation Policy:

    • If weather causes school to have a delayed start time or if school is cancelled due to weather and the fieldtrip cannot be rescheduled for another day, the school is not responsible for any fee or program payment.
    • If a group or school cancels a program within 24 hours of the program start time or shows up more than 20 minutes late without a phone call on the day of the program full payment is due within 30 days. We will invoice you.
    • All other cancellations will forfeit the deposit or incur a $50 cancellation fee.