Pueblo Attractions

Historic Pueblo runs along Union Avenue north from the Arkansas River to First Street, a distance of about 5 blocks. More than 40 buildings in the Union Avenue Historic District (www.puebloonline.com/unionave) are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Vail Hotel (217 S. Grand Ave.), headquarters of the Pueblo County Historical Society museum and library (tel. 719/543-6772; www.pueblohistory.org), with railroad memorabilia, locally made saddles, and some 8,000 books, historical maps, and photographs depicting Pueblo's history.

Union Depot, with its mosaic-tile floors and beautiful stained-glass windows, houses retail stores and offices, yet still serves rail freight lines. Walking-tour maps can be obtained at the Visitor Information Center, as well as from Union Avenue businesses.

El Pueblo History Museum
Replacing the former El Pueblo Museum (demolished in 2001), this beautiful museum, which opened during the city's 2003 Chile and Frijoles Festival, is a splendid introduction to this region. Located at the intersection of West First Street, Union Avenue, and Grand Avenue, the museum also serves as the Scenic Byways Visitor Center and as a gateway to the Arkansas Riverwalk and the historic district.

Evocative of a mid-1800s trading post, the museum's design replicates a square adobe building with a central plaza, reminiscent of Bent's Old Fort. The museum showcases the traditions of the numerous cultural and ethnic groups in the area, utilizing maps and photos plus displays specific to each era. It begins with such items as beaded garments, pouches, American-Indian baskets and stonework; then, it moves into the Spanish, French, and American exploration of the area, highlighting the fur traders and Bent's Fort. The founding of the city through farming, ranching, and the early steel and mining industries comes next, followed by early-20th-century labor issues.

The museum also explores the area's continued industrial expansion, which brought a tremendous influx of immigrants, resulting in a rich cultural mix. Other exhibits explain how outdoor activities drew visitors to the area in the 20th century, and will likely tempt visitors outside to explore the Riverwalk. Allow at least an hour and a half.

Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum
Twenty-six historic aircraft -- World War II and postwar -- are on display, as well as numerous exhibits and photographs depicting the B-24 bomber and its role in World War II. It's hard to miss the restored Boeing B-29 Superfortress, with its 141-foot wingspan, which dominates a large hangar. Also on display are a Douglas A-26 Invader, a Grumman F-9 Cougar, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (or, as the G.I.'s dubbed it, a Gooney Bird), a Boeing Stearman training plane, and a McDonnell Douglas F-101A Voodoo. There's a well-stocked souvenir shop, offering hard-to-find military and general aviation-related items. Allow 1 to 2 hours.

Pueblo Zoo
More than 350 animals (representing about 110 species) reside in this 25-acre zoo, listed on the National Register of Historic Places for several buildings and other structures (including a moat) that were constructed of native sandstone during the Depression by WPA workers. Attractions include a Northern River Otter exhibit, a tropical rainforest, and a black-footed penguin underwater exhibit. You'll find all sorts of reptiles and insects in the herpetarium; kangaroos and emus in the Australia Station; an excellent African lion exhibit; and endangered species such as cottontop tamarins, prehensile tail skinks, and maned wolves. You'll also see zebras, Malayan sun bears, and Lar gibbons. Kids in a participatory mood should flock to Pioneer Farm, where they can feed a variety of rare domesticated animals, and to the Discovery Room, which features hands-on exhibits for all ages. Stop by the Watering Hole snack bar or the Wild Things gift shop, which boasts a better-than-average selection of animal-related items, if you need a rest between exhibits. Allow 2 to 4 hours.

Rosemount Museum
This 37-room mansion, completed in 1893 for the pioneer Thatcher family, is considered one of the finest surviving examples of late-19th-century architecture and decoration in North America. The three-story, 24,000-square-foot home was constructed entirely of pink rhyolite stone. Inside you'll find handsome oak, maple, and mahogany woodwork; remarkable works of stained glass; hand-decorated ceilings; exquisite Tiffany lighting fixtures; period furniture; and 10 fireplaces. Also on the property is a restaurant, serving lunch Tuesday through Saturday from 11am to 2pm. Allow 1 to 2 hours.

Sangre de Cristo Arts & Conference Center
Pueblo's cultural hub is a three-building complex that houses a 500-seat theater, two dance studios, four art galleries (including one with a fine collection of Western art), a gift shop, and the state-of-the-art Buell Children's Museum, which covers 12,000 square feet with a wide variety of hands-on arts and science exhibits. The high-tech, multisensory "Sensations" exhibit has some 50 sensors in the floors and walls, which activate lights, sound clips, or videos. The "Artrageous Studio" provides visitors with paper, ribbon, mylar, and other wonderfully sparkly and gooey materials to use while creating their own masterpieces. The center also hosts concerts and other performing arts events, including a children's theater program (call for details). Allow 2 to 3 hours.

The Greenway & Nature Center
A major recreation and education center, this area provides access to more than 36 miles of paved biking and hiking trails along the Arkansas River and around Lake Pueblo. There's also a 150-foot fishing dock, volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, an amphitheater, nature trails, picnic areas, and a large children's playground. Boats and canoes can be put into the Arkansas River here. Bikes and recreational equipment are available for rent (call for rates). An interpretive center displays exhibits on the flora and fauna of the area, there are demonstration gardens along the river, and the Cafe del Rio serves American and Southwestern dishes. At the Raptor Center, injured eagles, owls, and other birds of prey are nursed back to health and released into the wild. The center also houses several resident birds of prey. Allow at least an hour.