The Victor Lowell Thomas Museum is an original 1899 building that houses two floors of artifacts, books, exhibits and photographs depicting the life in Victor from its beginnings to the heyday of gold mining. The museum also displays memorabilia once owned by famous journalist, author and world traveler, Lowell Thomas.

Pan for real gold and gems open daily outside the museum and take a tour of the real, working gold mine.

The gift shop offers books, historic maps and postcards, prints, posters and gold ore rocks, as well as videos of Lowell Thomas's life.

The museum, located at the corner of 3rd St. and Victor Ave. in Victor, is housed in an 1899 brick structure that once was a hardware store, hotel and furniture store.

The Victor Museum was opened in its current location in June 1958 thanks to a group of local women who wanted to house and protect Victor's history. The building had been under disrepair since a fire in 1952 and the money to purchase the museum building was loaned to the museum association by local resident Rudy Balke. In 1981 it was renamed the Victor Lowell Thomas Museum when former resident Lowell Thomas died and part of his memorabilia was left to the museum association.

The museum is owned and operated by the Victor Improvement Association, a 501c3 non profit organized in the 1950s. The volunteer board of directors of the VIA meets monthly.

Who is Lowell Thomas?

Read About Victor's Famed World Traveler

Gem & Gold Panning Daily at the Museum During Summer Months

Try your hand at finding Cripple Creek turquoise, topaz and other gems as well as real gold. The museum hosts panning thru Labor Day and panning for real gold over Gold Rush Days the third weekend in July. This activity is made possible by a grant from the El Pomar Youth in Community Service grant. Amateurs welcome - professionals welcome to demonstrate but please leave the gold for the kids.

Itineraries - Seeing the Gold Camp and More

Day Trip

Two-Day Trip

Victor's Colorful History On Display

Victor's history is one of exploration, ranching, gold mining and railroading.

In 1890 and 1891 prospectors discovered the rich gold ore that touched off the legendary Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Rush. The ranching country on Pikes Peak's western slopes was quickly transformed as prospectors flocked to the area to seek their fortunes in gold.

With the discovery of gold, it became a priority to link the Cripple Creek and Victor Mining District to Colorado Springs, Florence and beyond. Stage roads and railroads carried construction materials, food, clothing, coal, ore and people to and from the District towns and goldfields.

Some of those historic routes now comprise the segments of a grand loop of backcountry adventure called the Gold Belt National Scenic Byway. Other historic routes offer more opportunities to explore the 1890’s connections to Colorado Springs.

A multitude of pioneers rushed to this area to get rich quick, most of them ended up poor - either leaving in search of better fortune or staying to make Victor and the area home. Some though struck it rich and built a legacy of gold mining that begs to be told.

The Victor Lowell Thomas Museum features displays on the historic gold mining days as well the miners and pioneers, some of them millionaires, who made town famous.

The Lowell Thomas Room dedicated to the famed world traveler who grew up in Victor. See personal memorabilia, photos, furniture and more.

The Dr. A.C. Denman & Lillian Titmas -  equipment of Victor's family doctor's office on display.

Antique Doll Collection - hundreds of dolls of all kinds, toys and photos.

Victorian Rooms filled with original furniture and household items from the turn-of-the-century.

Outdoor Mining Display filled with relics of the 1890's mines - a tour guide book is available that describes the equipment.

Mining Display in our main gallery includes drills, a real 1-ton ore car, mining lamps and a miner's cabin.

Historic photos and the Cripple Creek/Victor Centennial Quilt are also on display.

Victor Lowell Thomas Museum

Third & Victor Ave., POB 238

Victor, CO 80860

719-689-5509

Email Us  museum@victorcolorado.com