In 2000, the state's 113,000 public libraries held nearly 10,863,000 volumes and circulated more than 39,130,000. The largest system was the Denver Public Library with 1,882,487 volumes in 27 branches. The leading academic library is at the University of Colorado at Boulder, with over 2.8 million volumes. Total public library income came to $158,704,000 in 2000; including federal grants worth $317,408 and state grants worth $2,697,968. The libraries spent 62.4% of this income on staff, and 16.3% on the collections.
Colorado has more than 174 museums and historic sites. One of the most prominent museums in the West is the Denver Art Museum, with its large collection of American Indian, South Seas, and Oriental art. Another major art museum is the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, specializing in southwestern and western American art.
Other notable museums include the Denver Museum of Natural History, University of Colorado Museum in Boulder, Western Museum of Mining and Industry in Colorado Springs, and the Colorado Ski Museum–Ski Hall of Fame in Vail. Museums specializing in state history include the Colorado Heritage Center of the Colorado Historical Society in Denver, Ute Indian Museum in Montrose, Ft. Carson Museum of the Army in the West, Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site in La Junta, Georgetown–Silver Plume Historic District, Healy House–Dexter Cabin and Tabor Opera House Museum in Leadville, and Ft. Vasquez in Platteville.