The Longmont Museum is a center for culture in Northern Colorado where people of all ages explore history, experience art, and discover new ideas through dynamic programs, exhibitions, and events.

Vision

The Longmont Museum aspires to be our community’s home to share collective experiences and diverse stories.

History

In 1940, the first exhibits opened to the public in the carriage house at the Callahan House. The Museum outgrew that space, and, in 1954, moved to the basement of the Memorial Building in Roosevelt Park.

The Museum became more officially structured with the incorporation of the Longmont Museum, Inc., on Oct. 4, 1961.

In 1970, the Museum changed from a private, nonprofit organization to a department of the City of Longmont. Shortly after that, the Museum moved again, this time to a converted Sorenson garage at 3rd and Kimbark. The new space opened its doors on Sept. 13, 1970. In 1973, the garage was torn down and the Museum moved to a converted City warehouse and garage at 375 Kimbark Street.

In November 1999, Longmont voters approved $5 million in a bond issue to build a new museum. The bond issue was approved by over 77 percent of voters. The Longmont Museum was further enhanced by a $1 million gift from the Bill and Lila Stewart family. Now located at 400 Quail Road, just east of Main Street in south Longmont, the Longmont Museum invites visitors to come and see our regularly changing exhibits, experience our education programs, and enjoy the views from our Longs Peak Room tower.

In 2015, the Museum opened the Stewart Auditorium, an 11,000 square foot expansion made possible by a $4.5 million capital campaign. The expansion included the 250-seat Stewart auditorium and Cone-Shortall stage, the glass-walled Swan Atrium, and the Kaiser Permanente Education Center, which greatly expanded the Museum’s classroom space.

In 2023, the Museum once again launched a new capital campaign, this time to fund a comprehensive expansion, including a complete renovation of the outdoor courtyard, adding a dedicated children’s gallery, and doubling the size of the existing gallery space, among other enhancements. The nearly $10 million campaign was completed in 2026.