Visit the Ouray County Historical Museum and experience the incredible history of this intimate mountain community. The museum building was originally St. Joseph's Miners' Hospital, built in 1886 through contributions from mine owners and businessmen. In the building's early days the Sisters of Mercy operated the hospital with staff coming from Durango, Colorado and Omaha, Nebraska. It was a hospital until 1964. In 1971 the Ouray County Historical Society began exhibiting in the building and in 1976 purchased the building for a museum. There are three floors containing exhibits in twenty-seven rooms. Many additional displays are located in hall cases, alcoves and the original hospital dumb waiters. The Museum staff are continually updating and expanding the displays. In addition, the Museum features a Research Center containing much written information and thousands of photographs. The museum houses an impressive mineral collection, Ute Indian displays, mine exhibits, railroading and ranching exhibits, hospital operating rooms from the 1890s and the 1940s and a patient room — just for starters. Also included are Victorian era displays, historical exhibits of all kinds, photographs, and books! The museum is child-friendly with an activity finder book and exhibits for little visitors.
Special summer exhibits include the annual Quilt Show, a display of original William Henry Jackson Photos, our annual photo contest and WWI and WWII military memorabilia from Ouray residents who served in those wars. In addition we have guided tours of Ouray’s Main Street, the Cedar Hill Cemetery, and the Silverton Railroad grade on Red Mountain.
The mission of the Ouray County Historical Society (OCHS) is to preserve, protect, procure, exhibit and interpret whatever may relate to the natural, social and cultural history of Ouray County and the adjacent San Juan Mountain region of Colorado. Most of the collection spans the time period from 1875 through the World War II era. Plan to spend at least two to three hours so that you have plenty of time to browse through Ouray’s history.
The Smithsonian Institution calls it one of the best little museums in the West!
In 2006 the Museum received eight fireproof filing cabinets containing the historical notes and photographs of noted author and historian Doris Gregory. In 2002 and 2006 the Museum received a large collection of valuable minerals from John H. Marshall. These beautiful specimens are housed in four lighted mineral display cases. In 2000 the Museum received a generous gift from Ross Moore of Lake Jackson, Texas. The William Ross Moore Mining History Library of the American West is a very valuable 7,000-piece collection of material addressing the topics of mining, mineralogy and geology.
You’ll want to set aside a minimum of one hour for your visit. Many tourists and residents of Ouray spend several hours touring the Museum. In addition, if you are interested in Victorian architecture then take part in the Historical Society's Walking Tour of the beautifully restored Victorian buildings around Ouray.
The Museum also has a bookstore carrying many books on Ouray County History including the three volumes of The Ouray County Historical Society Magazine. Staff and volunteers are always on hand to answer your questions and assist you with research and bookstore sales.
The museum hosts a series of events each year that include guided walking tours and hikes, evenings of history lectures, Vintage Baseball, and many other special programs highlight the history of our wonderful town.
