A black and white photo of a large building with geometric features. Its exterior is dominated by pillars and its peaked roof is higher than the trees around it. There is a dirt driveway leading up to the building where a car is parked.

Upcoming Exhibition

You Should've Seen It: Pueblo's Mineral Palace

-

You Should’ve Seen It: Pueblo’s Mineral Palace follows the strange and little-known history of the Colorado Mineral Palace, which for 51 years stood as an icon of the industry and hope of the state of Colorado and city of Pueblo. Since its demolition, it has since drifted into urban legend and folklore, leaving generations of Puebloans wondering what it was, where it went, and what (if anything) remains.

A performance in the Mineral Palace Bandshell, likely by the city's municipal band. People are seated on benches across the water, watching.
Three young Indigenous women in traditional dress at the Pueblo multicultural festival.
A view of Mineral Palace Park showing flower beds, trees, and the huge Mineral Palace rising over it all.
Individuals examining the minerals in the display cases at the Mineral Palace.
The interior of the Mineral Palace, showing the size of the huge hall and the domes overhead. King Coal and the Silver Queen are on display flanking the stage.
A celebration being held inside the Mineral Palace. A large crowd fills the open atrium between the pillars. Near the center of the crowd are individuals dressed as Uncle Sam, Columbia, and Lady Liberty.
A black and white photo of a large building with geometric features. Its exterior is dominated by pillars and its peaked roof is higher than the trees around it. There is a dirt driveway leading up to the building where a car is parked.

The Palace once represented the hopes and dreams of the people of Pueblo, and how they viewed their own present and prospective future. The decay and eventual shuttering of the Palace reflected the dire economic situation of the Great Depression, as well as the reliance on federal work aid and donated labor. Hints of the Palace are still present to this day in the name of the park and nearby businesses, the enduring mystery of the Silver Queen, and the future of the historic Mineral Palace Park, which will continue to be impacted by expanding infrastructure and roadways.

Stories of the Mineral Palace and the surrounding Mineral Palace Park come alive through archival photos, Palace memorabilia, oral histories, and interpretive art.

Is there any doubt that the Colorado Mineral Palace will be the eighth wonder of the world?

Pueblo Chieftain, 1889.

Location

Tickets

Learn more about the Colorado Mineral Palace in The Colorado Magazine:

You Should Have Seen It: Colorado Mineral Palace

The Search for the Silver Queen