History Buff's Royal Gorge: Museums, Architecture & Mining Heritage

Morning: Royal Gorge Regional Museum

Duration: 1-1.5 hours

Start at the History Center to understand the region's story. Archives, photographs, and exhibits trace Fremont County from prehistoric times through the present. Free guided tours available.

612 Royal Gorge Blvd

Dinosaur Depot Museum

Duration: 1-1.5 hours

The Canon City area was a major site during the 1800s 'Bone Wars.' See fossils from local discoveries and learn about the paleontological significance of the region.

330 Royal Gorge Blvd

Lunch at Historic Owl Cigar Store

Duration: 1 hour

Dine in a building that's been a Canon City landmark since 1903. The Santilli family has owned it since 1943—history you can taste.

626 Main St

Museum of Colorado Prisons

Duration: 1.5-2 hours

Housed in a former women's prison, this unique museum explores Colorado's penal history. Original cells, artifacts, and stories of famous inmates create an unforgettable experience.

201 N 1st St

Historic Main Street Walking Tour

Duration: 1-2 hours

Canon City boasts Colorado's longest historic Main Street with 81 buildings in the National Historic District. Victorian architecture, the restored Hotel St. Cloud, and original storefronts tell the town's story.

Main Street District

Skyline Drive & Dinosaur Tracks

Duration: 1 hour

Drive the historic road built by prison labor in the early 1900s. Stop to see 100-million-year-old dinosaur tracks embedded in the rock.

Day 2 Option: Gold Belt Tour to Cripple Creek

Duration: Half-day to full-day

Extend your history exploration with a scenic drive to the gold mining districts. Visit Victor ghost town and the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine for underground tours.