About Us

The Mission of the Royal Gorge Regional Museum & History Center is to collect, preserve, and interpret the history of our region for future generations.

Black and white photo of people standing at overlook of the Royal Gorge. Photo 1918. 2020.014.130

Museum & History Center Hours:

Wednesday - Saturday
10am - 4pm

Physical Address:

612 Royal Gorge Blvd.
Cañon City, Colorado 81212

Mailing Address:

Royal Gorge Regional Museum & History Center
PO BOX 1460
Cañon City, Colorado 81215

Phone & Email:

Ph: 719-269-9036
Email: historycenter@canoncity.org

Municipal Building

The Municipal Building was built in 1927 with the help of local businessman Dall DeWeese.  He helped to acquire funding for the construction of the building with the condition that the second floor of the building would always be a museum. He also stipulated that the building be fire proof with concrete floors and sturdy walls to hold large taxidermy mounts. DeWeese even designed the fireplace on the second floor that incorporates dinosaur fossils, petrified wood, minerals, and a part of a stalactite. The first artifacts displayed in the museum were items collected and donated by Dall DeWeese.

Denver architect Eugene Groves designed the building. He also was the architect of the former Cañon City High School (currently Cañon City Middle School), the Administration Building at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, and the American Mountaineering Center in Golden, Colorado, just to name a few. The Municipal Building is listed on the National Register of Historic Properties.

Today, the Cañon City Municipal Building houses the museum's exhibit galleries, program room, and research room.

Cañon City Municipal Building - circa 1930

Black and white photo of municipal building circa 1935. Photo taken from street view.

Anson Rudd Cabin - circa 1890

Black and white photo of Anson Rudd log cabin that was built in 1861. Photo circa 1890.

Anson Rudd Cabin

Just behind the Cañon City Municipal Building sits the wood cabin of early settler Anson Rudd.  Anson and his wife Harriet arrived in Cañon City in 1859 and finished building their cabin around 1860.
A blacksmith by trade, Anson became a notable citizen serving as County Sheriff and Postmaster. He also helped establish the boundaries of Fremont County and helped to create the Fremont County School District.

Anson and Harriet had a son, Anson Jr., in 1861. The Rudds were one of only a few people who stayed in Cañon City during the Civil War. The family waited out the war until people started to settle back in the area and the town began to prosper.

The cabin is furnished with all the comforts of 1860’s pioneer life with a rope turned bed, a chamber pot, a fireplace, and a spinning wheel. Visitors are welcome to view the cabin during the summer to learn about the lives of our area’s early pioneers. Both the Rudd Cabin and the Rudd House are listed on the Colorado State Register of Historic Places.

Anson Rudd House

Built in 1881, the Anson Rudd House served as a retirement home for Anson Rudd and his wife Harriet. It was a major improvement from their cabin next door. The Rudds lived in the wood cabin for over twenty years before building this two-story stone house. The house originally had a daylight basement and a porch across the back of the house.

Anson and Harriet occupied the house until they moved to Boulder to live with their son in 1904. The house was then rented out and served as a boarding house. In 1918, the property was given to the City of Cañon City with the condition that the Rudd cabin be restored. The house became a residence of various City employees until 1974. The following year the house was remodeled to serve as a historic house museum. 

The City of Cañon City is working to rehabilitate the house to the historical period it was constructed. We hope to have it open to the public in the future. Both the Rudd Cabin and the Rudd House are listed on the Colorado State Register of Historic Places.

Anson Rudd Stone House - circa 1890

Black and white photo of Anson Rudd stone house that was built in 1881. Photo circa 1890.

Links To Other Historical Groups & Organizations


Friends of the Museum


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Museum of Colorado Prisons


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Fremont County 
Historical Society


Logo of Fremont County Historical Society. Image of map with wagon in shape of Fremont County. Opens in new window

Bureau of Land Management 
Royal Gorge Field Office


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Fremont County 
Heritage Commission


Logo of Fremont County Heritage Commission. Graphic of pioneers and mountains and river. Opens in new window

Florence Historical Archives


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