Forney Museum of Transportation

The Forney Museum of Transportation is one of Denver's most underrated family attractions -- a warehouse museum in the RiNo district housing over 600 artifacts of transportation history, from horse-drawn carriages and steam locomotives to vintage motorcycles and antique automobiles. For kids who love anything with wheels, it is a treasure trove. For parents, it is a refreshingly intimate and uncrowded alternative to Denver's mega-museums.

The collection spans the entire history of transportation. The earliest pieces include 18th-century horse-drawn carriages and early 19th-century bicycles with enormous front wheels. The automobile collection is the museum's strength, featuring cars from every era: a 1906 Cadillac, a 1921 Stutz Bearcat, a 1930 Duesenberg, and dozens of other beautifully restored vehicles.

The star of the car collection is Amelia Earhart's personal automobile -- a 1923 Kissel Gold Bug roadster in brilliant yellow, one of only a handful of surviving Kissel cars.

The railroad section anchors the back of the museum, dominated by Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4005 -- one of the largest steam locomotives ever built. This massive engine fills the rear of the building and its sheer size astounds both kids and adults. Kids can walk around the locomotive platform and peer into the cab. Smaller rail cars, handcars, and railroad memorabilia surround the Big Boy.

Motorcycles, military vehicles, and even a few aircraft components round out the collection. The displays are organized chronologically and thematically, giving visitors a clear sense of how transportation evolved from horse-powered to steam to gasoline to electric over 200 years.

The museum's intimate scale is a feature, not a limitation. The entire collection fits in one large warehouse building, and a thorough visit takes 1-2 hours. For families with young children who wilt after three hours at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, the Forney's compact size is ideal.

Kids can see everything without getting overwhelmed, and the low crowd levels mean they can spend as much time as they want examining any particular vehicle.

The location in Denver's RiNo (River North Art District) adds value for families. RiNo is Denver's most vibrant arts neighborhood, with massive street murals covering building facades throughout the district. A post-museum walk to spot murals is a free bonus activity that older kids enjoy.

Denver Central Market, a food hall with multiple vendor stalls, is a 10-minute walk away and offers excellent family dining.

Admission is modest: $13 for adults, $5-9 for kids 3-12, free for kids under 3. The museum is open daily 10 AM to 4 PM. Free parking is available in the museum lot. No food is available on-site.