Ouray County Historical Museum
The Museum is housed in the original St. Joseph's Miners' Hospital that was built in 1886 and finished in 1887. In its early days it was operated by the Sisters of Mercy, all of whom came to Ouray from Durango, Colorado and Omaha, Nebraska.
It was a hospital until 1964. In 1971 the Ouray County Historical Society began exhibiting in the building. In 1976 the historical society purchased the building for a museum. There are three floors containing 38 exhibits in twenty-seven rooms. Smaller displays are located in hall cases, alcoves and the original hospital dumb waiters.
Ouray Alchemist Museum
Prepare to be wowed and possibly shocked on your visit to Ouray Alchemy, Colorado’s largest pharmacy museum. From exceptionally restored fixtures gathered from historic Colorado mining towns, to artifacts dating back to the 16th Century and even 350 BC, the collection of items assembled in this amazing museum is astounding.
Whether your interest is the science of alchemy or the history of sometimes shocking and obscure practices of medicine in our history, you are sure to be captured and intrigued by the one-of-a-kind tour offered at Ouray Alchemy.
All tours are guided, and generally by the museum’s own owner, curator and apothecary, Curtis Haggar on a daily basis at 10:00am and 1:00pm. If this does not work for you, you can request a specific day and time by calling 970 325-4003. Dr. Curtis is both knowledgeable and passionate about sharing his collection. Plan for at least an hour and maybe two to enjoy this tour. You don’t need a prescription to take it but you’ll be amazed at what you see and learn. And it might be just what the doctor ordered.
