Tuesday, April 14, 2026

Question: What 19th-century naturalist is credited with collecting the founding exhibit of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science?

Answer: In 1868, prospector Edwin Carter moved to a small cabin in Breckenridge to pursue his passion for studying wildlife. Working mostly by himself, he eventually assembled what was then one of the most complete collections of Colorado fauna in existence. In 1892, Carter sold the collection to an interested group of Denver citizens, who later used it—along with an insect and mineral collection—to establish the Colorado Museum of Natural History, later renamed the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.