Background Statement
The Powerhouse is an interactive science center for all ages, located on the Animas River in Durango, Colorado. Our gallery features both permanent and traveling STEM exhibitions, creating a welcoming environment that fosters curiosity, imagination, and play.
Originally built in 1892 as one of the world's first commercial power plants, The Powerhouse brought AC-powered street lights to rural Colorado before major cities like Chicago and New York. After its closure in the 1970s, the building faced demolition but was saved by a citizen-led campaign. Renamed the Durango Discovery Museum, it reopened on February 23, 2011. Today, The Powerhouse is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places as the nation's oldest remaining AC power plant and Colorado's first Spanish Mission-style building.