Nonprofit
Museum Docent & Tour Guide
Details
Description
Bring Colorado’s mining and industrial history to life.
Museum Docents lead visitors through the Western Museum of Mining & Industry, connecting people with the stories, machinery, geology, and innovations that shaped Colorado and the American West. This is an active, engaging role for people who enjoy learning, sharing knowledge, and creating memorable visitor experiences.
What you will do
- Welcome tour groups and guide them through the museum’s exhibits.
- Share accurate and engaging information about mining, geology, machinery, industrial heritage, and regional history.
- Answer visitor questions and encourage participation throughout the tour.
- Operate and demonstrate historic machinery, including steam engines, drills, an air compressor, a hoist, and a water pump.
- Follow museum procedures and all equipment-safety requirements.
- Adjust tours for different audiences, including families, school groups, and large groups.
- Assist with tours when additional support is needed.
Docent opportunities
Regular Docents commit to one scheduled tour per week.
Substitute Docents serve when a regular docent is unavailable and may assist with large-group and school tours.
Who we are looking for
- Adults age 18 or older who can pass a background check.
- Dependable people who are comfortable speaking to groups and answering questions.
- Volunteers who can walk or stand for an approximately one-hour tour.
- People who are willing to learn museum content and safely operate demonstration machinery.
Knowledge of mining, geology, machinery, museums, or regional history is helpful but not required.
Training
All new docents must complete museum training and shadow experienced docents before leading tours independently. Equipment training will be provided.
Volunteer benefits
- Free individual museum admission, including visits when you are not volunteering.
- 10% discount in the museum gift shop.
- Opportunities to build connections and become part of the museum community.
- Networking with museum staff, volunteers, visitors, and community partners.
- Volunteer appreciation and recognition opportunities.
- Documentation of completed volunteer service hours.
- Letters of recommendation based on volunteer service.
- Opportunities to train for additional museum volunteer roles.
Schedule
Tours are offered Monday through Saturday at 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM. Each tour lasts approximately one hour. Regular Docents must commit to at least one tour shift per week. Substitute Docents provide coverage based on their availability.
To learn more, contact the Western Museum of Mining & Industry at volunteer@wmmi.org or submit your interest through Idealist.
Location
The Western Museum of Mining & Industry
Directions
The Western Museum of Mining & Industry preserves and interprets the rich mining history of Colorado and the American West. Open since 1970, the museum connects visitors with the people, technology, and industries that helped shape the region.
Located on a 27-acre campus in Colorado Springs, WMMI features a 12,200-square-foot exhibit hall, working historic machinery, a model mining drift, gold-panning stations, historic buildings, educational programs, guided tours, and community events. Through interactive experiences and preservation, WMMI brings Western mining and industrial history to life for visitors of all ages.
Please fill out this form
Submit your interest through Idealist. Museum staff will contact you with the volunteer application and information about current shift openings, training, and next steps. Screening questions and background-check information are included in the museum’s volunteer application.
