Edwin Carter came to Breckenridge in 1868 seeking gold and fortune, but his goals changed when he saw the devastation mining had on the environment and local wildlife. Carter became a taxidermist and collected thousands of Rocky Mountain animal specimens in his museum, which doubled as his home. Scientists from all over the world came to Breckenridge to see Carter’s collection.

Carter worked and lived in his museum for 25 years. When he passed away in 1900, Carter’s collection of almost 3,300 Colorado wildlife specimens formed the nucleus of the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. The Edwin Carter Museum reopened in May, 2009, after undergoing a major rehabilitation. The “new” museum features interactive displays and exhibits for people of all ages.