The Money Museum – A Quick Stop When Visiting Denver
Short on time when visiting Denver but still want to see something cool? The Money Museum at the Denver Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City is the perfect stop. Rob is a coin collector, so we decided to drop in and see what it was like. The museum is small so it was a quick, but enjoyable stop.
You have to show your ID and go through a security checkpoint before being allowed to enter. There were 13 of us and we had some bags and a stroller, but it went very quickly.
They have an app you can download that gives a short self-guided tour. You can choose from the adult version or the kid’s version.
The kids liked that there were some hands-on exhibits that were fun and entertaining. There was a table where you could make rubbings and design your own currency. It was a nice large area and there was plenty of room for everyone.
One wall had a display of various U.S. currency over the years dating back to 1775. There was a real $100,000 bill which is the largest bill ever made in U.S. history. It was only used by Federal Reserve Banks.
There was a room off to the side that was showing a short video about the Fed and the history of the Denver branch.
One of the favorite exhibits was the touchscreen where you can design your own money with your picture on it. There’s not an option to print it, but you can email it to yourself.
The best part was getting to pick up a bag of shredded money on your way out the door as a free souvenir. The bag is filled with currency that is unfit for circulation. Each bag has approximately $165 worth of shredded bills inside.
The Money Museum was a great first stop for our afternoon in Denver. You can read about Day 1 of our trip and our visit to Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater and Casa Bonita, as well as Day 2 and our stops at Garden of the Gods, Manitou Cliff Dwelling Museum, Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, and Magic Town. We started Day 3 in Colorado Springs at the Western Museum of Mining and Industry before heading to Denver for the afternoon.
31 Comments
Cindy
This looks like a great place to visit. We went to a similar place in Washington DC. The money gifts are so awesome. We got a Christmas ornament made out of shredded money.
Sara W
That would be a cool ornament. I’ve started collecting ornaments from our travels.
Leeanne
I love the rubbing station, so cool. We visited the mint in Philadelphia and they also have a wall of old coins too that was super interesting.
Sara W
Going to the mint is one of the things we really want to do. We couldn’t go on the Denver mint tour because my daughter wasn’t old enough.
Pam
What a fun place to visit! I love these smaller museums that are a fun break in the day – or for days when you don’t have a lot of extra time.
Stacey Billingsley
I want to go here the next time we’re in Denver. It’s been about ten years, and my youngest would love it. I hope we can take a trip soon!
Eva Keller
How cool! I didn’t know this was a thing you could do. We recently passed through Denver but everything was closed for covid-19 so we didn’t get to do anything, but I hope we make it back to the area because there’s a lot we wanted to do.
Sara W
You should definitely plan another trip. There is so much to see and do in Colorado.
Lisa Manderino
This looks like a great place for kids!
Candy
This looks like a lot of fun! I love the little bag of shredded money.
Chantelle
This looks fun! I see these posts and miss my boys being little!
Missy
This is a place I would enjoy visiting. It would be great to see the $100,000.
kmf
I would love this so much! Thanks for the inspiration!
Hera
Shredded money? What a fun gift, is the $100k available to gift too, lol!
Sara W
Wouldn’t that be nice?!?
Cindy
Fun museum! I love the take home souvenir! What a unique keepsake.
Sara W
We had to make sure my 3 year old didn’t open hers. We didn’t want it getting all over the rental van.
Amanda
My son is a coin collector and would love this. I remember going to the US Mint as a kid and having so much fun. I also got a bag of the shredded money. I need to take my girls!
Sara W
We hope to make it back to the Denver mint someday. Hadassah wasn’t old enough for the tour this time around.
heather J jandrue
Wow, such a neat experience! We tried to get into the one on DC, but it requires reservations in advance. The kids look like they had a blast.
Sara W
We’d like to go back to Denver and tour the mint, but Hadassah wasn’t old enough this time around.
Emily
What a cool place! it looks like you all had a great time there.
Sara W
We really enjoyed it.
Hayley
This looks like a really great place to visit. I wish there was something like this close to me.
Sara W
It was a fun little stop.
Sarah
So cool! I lived in Denver and never knew this existed!
Sara W
It’s a small little place, but very neat.
Ngozi
This looks like so much fun. Children would (and most probably do) love it!
Sara W
Yes, definitely. Anything hands-on is great for kids.
Mamie
We love to visit learning places with our fellas.
Sara W
Same here. Why not learn and travel at the same time?