North America’s first and only Leonardo da Vinci Museum is opening in Pueblo, Colorado later this fall.
The museum will feature interactive exhibitions and life-sized replicas based on da Vinci’s drawings and sketches. It’s approach will center on Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM) as an educational guide to problem solving.
The former Professional Bull Riders Center near the Historic Arkansas Riverwalk will become the new home of the Leonardo da Vinci Museum of North America, accompanied by an outdoor cafe. Plans for the new institution were granted final approval by the Colorado Economic Development Commission.
“This approval allows us to move forward with our plans to create an interactive and educational experience that celebrates the genius of Leonardo da Vinci,” Joe Arrigo, the board chair of the Southern Colorado Science Center, told the Colorado Springs Gazette. “We believe this museum will be a transformative addition to the Pueblo community in the areas of STEAM education and a significant draw for visitors from across North America.”
An influential part of finalizing the decision was a ten-year exclusivity memorandum of understanding with the Italian craftsman’s organization Artisans of Florence, which oversees the operation of da Vinci museums across Italy, France, South Korea, Australia, and Brazil. The memorandum ensures that Pueblo will be the only permanent da Vinci museum of its kind in the United States.
The “Da Vinci Machines and Robotics” event, which showcased a collection of more than 60 machines and reconstructed art pieces based on the master’s work, was previously held at Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center in Pueblo in 2022.
There will be fundraising campaigns expected to start in the coming days to help with renovations.
