April 2022 New Facade – Follow our Progress
Museum receives grant from City of Montrose
Montrose, CO – Changes are underway at the Museum of the Mountain West with new construction taking place to add a period “western” façade to the Museum’s main building. With the financial assistance of the City of Montrose Façade Improvement Matching Grant Program awarded by the Development and Revitalization Team (DART), the Museum will split the costs of construction. Work is being done by Sukle Construction L.L.C.
The façade construction is Phase I of a three-phase expansion. Phase II is already in progress, enlarging the Museum’s gift shop in the main building to create a welcoming visual space and grow gift shop revenue to support the Museum’s operations. The expanded gift shop will provide more retail space featuring merchandise, antiques, and the work of local artists and artisans. Phase III is forecasted in the future for enhancement to the Museum grounds.
Since opening in 2005, annual visitor attendance has increased from 748 visitors that first year to 7,000 last year. Based on already-high number of visitors so far this year, anticipated visitation for 2021 will exceed 2020. MMW continues to be a “gem” in the Uncompahgre Valley, robustly promoted on VisitMontrose.com for Museum tours and activities. With top ratings on Trip Advisor, MMW welcomes visitors from all over the United States and countries around the world to experience the living history of the “Old West.”