I have a DAM membership and go almost every month. Not because I’m cultured. Because I figured out when it’s actually enjoyable.
Free days? Absolute zoo. Saturdays? Nightmare. But there are windows when you can actually see art without someone’s head in the way.
Here’s how to actually enjoy the Denver Art Museum.
The Timing Is Everything
Best Times (Almost Empty)
Wednesday mornings: 10am-noon. Ghost town. Staff outnumbers visitors.
Friday after 5pm: People are at happy hour, not museums. You win.
First Sunday opening hour: 10-11am. Everyone’s at brunch.
Random Tuesday afternoon: 2-4pm. Consistently dead.
Worst Times (Avoid at All Costs)
SCFD Free days: Just don’t. It’s a stampede.
Saturday 11am-3pm: Peak family chaos.
School field trip season: March-May weekday mornings.
First Friday nights: Sounds fun, is packed.
The Building Strategy
DAM has two buildings connected by a bridge. Everyone goes to the Hamilton Building first because it’s the fancy one.
Start in the Martin Building. Seriously.
Martin has 7 floors nobody knows about. American Indian art, Western art, European stuff. Literally empty most times.
By the time you get to Hamilton, the crowds have moved on.
Floor-by-Floor Crowd Avoidance
Hamilton Building
Level 1: Always crowded. Skip initially, come back later.
Level 2: Modern art. Hit or miss crowd-wise.
Level 3: Often has special exhibitions. Go early or late.
Level 4: Architecture views. Nobody goes here. Hidden gem.
Martin Building
Level 7: American Indian art. Start here. Usually empty.
Level 6: Western art. Cowboys and landscapes. Weirdly peaceful.
Level 5: European art. Good benches for sitting.
Level 4: Asian art. My favorite floor. Never crowded.
Level 3: Textiles. Everyone skips this. Their loss.
Level 2: Modern/Contemporary. Overflow from Hamilton.
Level 1: Entrance chaos. Move through quickly.
The Secret Spots
The Bridge
Between buildings. Has seating. Views. Nobody stops here. Perfect break spot.
Level 4 Hamilton Terrace
Outdoor area. City views. Usually locked but sometimes open. Always empty when open.
Martin Building Stairwells
The stairs have art too. And benches. And no people.
The Ponti Restaurant
Actually good food. Never crowded for late lunch (2-3pm).
Special Exhibition Strategy
Opening week: Members-only previews. Join if you go often.
First month: Hype crowds. Skip unless you love lines.
Middle period: Sweet spot. Hype died, still fresh.
Last two weeks: Procrastinator crowds. Avoid.
Best bet: Third Wednesday of any exhibition.
Kid-Specific Timing
I don’t have kids but I observe patterns:
Family programs: Saturdays 10am. Contained chaos.
After 2pm: Nap time exodus. Museum empties.
Rainy weekdays: Desperate parent influx. Avoid.
School breaks: Just stay home.
The Membership Math
$95/year for individuals. Pays for itself in 5 visits.
But the real value? Members-only hours. Early access to exhibitions. No guilt about short visits.
I go for 45 minutes sometimes. See one floor. Leave. That’s the secret to not getting museum fatigue.
How to Actually See Art
Pick one section: Don’t try to see everything.
Sit with pieces: Those benches aren’t just for resting.
Use the app: Self-guided tours when it’s crowded.
Ignore the suggested route: Go backwards. Seriously.
Return to favorites: Why I have membership.
Free Days Survival Guide
If you insist on going on SCFD free days:
- Arrive 30 minutes before opening
- Start in Martin Building Level 7
- Work down while crowds work up
- Leave by noon when it peaks
- Or come at 4pm when families leave
But honestly? Just pay the $15. Your sanity is worth it.
Seasonal Patterns
January: Dead. New Year’s resolutions don’t include museums.
March-May: School trip hell.
Summer: Tourist season but manageable.
September: Oddly perfect. Kids in school, weather nice.
December: Depends on exhibitions. Variable.
The Photography Rules
Photos allowed in permanent collection. No flash. Special exhibitions vary.
But here’s the thing – morning light through the Hamilton Building windows? Incredible.
Martin Building Level 4 has natural light that makes everything look better.
What I Actually Do
Wednesday 10:30am arrival. Coffee at Ponti first.
Start Martin Building Level 7. Work down to 4.
Bridge break. People watch.
Hamilton Building one floor. Whatever special exhibition.
Leave by 12:30. Total time: 2 hours. Perfect.
Once a month. Different floors each time. Never gets old.
The Real Secret
Everyone treats DAM like a one-time tourist thing. See everything, never return.
But it’s meant to be visited repeatedly. Small doses. Different each time.
That painting you walked past? Next visit, sit with it for 10 minutes.
That’s when the museum becomes yours, not theirs.
What’s your museum strategy? Are you a “see everything” or “small doses” person?
Related: Locals Never Go to These Denver Museums (But You Should) – for when DAM gets old.
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