Museums of Western Colorado Explore Consolidation Options

Executive director says running three museums on one budget is unsustainable, as aging facilities drive need for change.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 7:07pm

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The Museums of Western Colorado, which operates the Dinosaur Journey Museum in Fruita and the Museum of the West and Cross Orchards Historic Site in Grand Junction, is considering consolidating its three flagship locations into a single multidisciplinary museum under one roof. The move is driven by budget constraints and the aging condition of the existing museum buildings.

Why it matters

The Museums of Western Colorado have been a cornerstone of the region's cultural landscape for 60 years, preserving the history and stories of the Western Slope. Consolidating the museums could help ensure the long-term sustainability of these important institutions, but would also represent a significant change to how the community experiences and engages with its local heritage.

The details

Museums of Western Colorado Executive Director Shenna Hayden says the organization is "running three different museums on one museum's budget," making the current model unsustainable. Options being considered include retrofitting the existing museum campuses or building a brand new facility to house all three museums under one roof. No final decisions have been made, as the organization is seeking extensive community feedback before determining the best path forward.

  • The Museums of Western Colorado have been operating for 60 years.
  • The organization is currently in the early planning stages, with no timeline set for a final decision.

The players

Shenna Hayden

Executive Director of the Museums of Western Colorado.

Kathy Hall

Board Member of the Museums of Western Colorado.

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What they’re saying

“We are running three different museums on one museum's budget. Yet there is a thread that pulls all of these organizations together. We can be a multidisciplinary museum under one roof.”

— Shenna Hayden, Executive Director

“The most important thing is the input that we get from all the people that love this community and love our museums. So that input from all of our community is incredibly important for our decision making.”

— Kathy Hall, Board Member

What’s next

The Museums of Western Colorado will continue gathering community feedback as they evaluate options for consolidating their three flagship locations.

The takeaway

Faced with aging facilities and budget constraints, the Museums of Western Colorado are exploring a major restructuring that could see their three museums combined into a single multidisciplinary institution. This shift would aim to ensure the long-term sustainability of these important cultural assets, but would also represent a significant change in how the community experiences its local history and heritage.