Penrose Heritage Museum
Tues – Sat: 9am to 12pm; 1pm to 4pm
11 Lake Circle, Colorado Springs, CO 80906
Experience history
A collection of exhibits featuring artifacts from the lives and travels of El Pomar’s co-founders, Spencer and Julie Penrose, Penrose Heritage Museum showcases the legacy of this fascinating couple, as well as the history of the Pikes Peak region. The Museum features the Penroses’ personal collection of 30 carriages, many owned and used by the couple, as well as an immersive exhibit documenting the history and displaying the official race car and memorabilia collection of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, which Spencer started in 1916.
Welcome to the museum
Catch a glimpse of what you can expect in our collection.
The Penrose legacy includes the construction of the Pikes Peak Auto Highway (1916), Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (1916), The Broadmoor (1918), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (1926), Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College (1936), Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun (1937), and Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo (1937) – just to name a few of Colorado Springs’ most iconic attractions!
Penrose Heritage Museum exhibits 30 carriages, personal artifacts of Spencer and Julie Penrose, and 15 race cars that competed in the infamous Race to the Clouds, one of the oldest motorsport events in the U.S., second only to the Indianapolis 500.
Whether you are interested in the Penrose legacy, regional history, transportation or motorsports, Penrose Heritage Museum is a cultural institution you will not want to miss when visiting Colorado Springs.
Free
Free and convenient parking is available in The Broadmoor parking garage located next to the Museum. We can validate your parking for up to 1.5 hours.
Food and beverages are not permitted inside the Museum, with the exception of water, which you are welcome to bring.
While we encourage you to capture smartphone photos while you’re visiting, El Pomar Foundation does not allow professional or amateur photography shoots on its properties, including Penrose Heritage Museum.
Three Galleries to Explore
Three unique galleries capture the scope of this eclectic regional history museum. Explore the museum’s origins in the Carriage Gallery. Embark on a journey to the summit of Pikes Peak in the Pikes Peak Hill Climb Experience. Discover the legacy of Spencer and Julie in the Heritage Gallery where our newest exhibits share never-before-seen historic photographs, film footage, and personal artifacts of this pioneering couple.
Carriage Gallery
First known as the El Pomar Carriage Museum, the museum was created to preserve and share the Penroses’ love for this early mode of transportation. 30 carriages from around the world are immaculately preserved. Spanning the 1840s through the 1910s, these relics of the past offer a glimpse into a bygone era.
Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Experience
The exhibit space mimics the mountain itself. Traverse the gallery to see the classes of race cars that have completed in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, America’s second-oldest motorsport race and the only one with a finish line at 14,115 feet!
Heritage Gallery
Our newest gallery features never before seen artifacts, historic photographs, archival records, and film footage of Julie and Spencer Penrose. This intimate peek into the lives of the Penroses offers visitors a new look into their personalities, their lives both separately and as a couple, and their beliefs that led them to invest so deeply in community.
Penrose Heritage Museum FAQs
Get the information you need to be ready to visit
Yes! Groups do not need a reservation to visit. Reservations are only required for guided tours.
Yes! Guided tours must be scheduled at least one week prior to your visit. Please call the Museum at (719)577-7065 to scheduled your guided tour. We can accommodate groups of 25 people or less.
Food is not permitted inside of the Museum, but you are welcome to bring water. Beverages other than water are not permitted.
No. Only service animals are permitted.
Visitors to the Museum can park for free in The Broadmoor parking garage located next to the Museum. Museum staff will provide a parking validation for 1.5 hours.
Oversized vehicles exceeding 7’2” must park in the visitor parking lots at Penrose House Conference Center located at 1661 Mesa Avenue. Passengers may first be dropped off near the entrance of the Museum in the loading lane in front of Broadmoor Hall (see map below). Once parked, enter Penrose House to speak with the person at the front desk to request shuttle service to the Museum. If no one is at the front desk, or the House is closed, call the Museum at 719-577-7065 to request shuttle service. The Broadmoor shuttle picks up outside the main entrance of Penrose House and drops off in the loading lane in front of Broadmoor Hall. This process can take 15 minutes, so plan accordingly.
Parking availability at Penrose House is not guaranteed. Visitors are encouraged to call the Museum ahead of their visit to confirm parking availability.
The museum is closed on the following days: January 16, February 20, April 9, May 29, June 19, July 4, September 4, October 9, November 10, 23 & 24, December 25 & 26 and January 1, 2024.
What else does El Pomar do for Colorado?
For over 85 years, we’ve invested in initiatives, access, and opportunities that promote the success, vitality, and well-being of Colorado and its residents.
Empowering communities and nonprofits
We support the work of nonprofits and government equivalents all across Colorado with more than $25 million annually through grants and community programming.
Fellowship
Giving young leaders an opportunity to grow and learn how to lead in their communities is critical to the long-term success of organizations in Colorado. Our Fellowship for recent college graduates and young professionals is a paid, two-year program where Fellows work full-time for the Foundation and participate in a professional development curriculum.
Experience more history
Just above Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, the Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun provides an impressive panoramic view of Colorado Springs and the surrounding area. Spencer and Julie Penrose, founders of El Pomar Foundation, commissioned local architect Charles E. Thomas to design the monument.
