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All the United States Colorado Trinidad Art Cartopia Museum
Art Cartopia Museum is permanently closed.

This entry remains in the Atlas as a record of its history, but it is no longer accessible to visitors.

Art Cartopia Museum

A roadside attraction filled with an astounding array of gloriously wacky vehicles.

Trinidad, Colorado

Added By
Rodney Wood
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The outside of the museum.   rodneywood51 / Atlas Obscura User
“Aurora PorschiAlice.”   rodneywood51 / Atlas Obscura User
Cigarette butt bug   Tiffin7 / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  krystalklear87 / Atlas Obscura User
Art Cartopia Museum.   rodneywood51 / Atlas Obscura User
Art Cartopia Museum.   rodneywood51 / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
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About

While driving in Colorado, near exit 15 off of I-25, you may spot something utterly odd off the side of the road. You can’t help but gape at the giant red gorilla holding a car over its head, or the vehicle showing a large skeleton driving a jet, or the van covered in eyeballs.

Welcome to the Art Cartopia Museum. Here, sideshow banners and an incredible sculpture made of Volkswagen parts loom above curious visitors as they explore the museum’s exterior. Off to the side, you’ll find an old truck covered with old toys and figures.

Opened the door, and you’ll be met by an explosion of color and curious "stuff" everywhere as you enter a large showroom filled with an astounding array of gloriously wacky embellished vehicles. There, you’ll see a fire-breathing dragon parked next to the "Stink Bug," a VW covered with cigarette butts that had been collected as litter. To the right is an Isuzu Trooper completely covered with glass.

The guides—they're called "Splainers"—are informative, quirky, and entertaining. To add to the wildly enhanced, artfully kooky conveyances, there’s vehicle-based art on every wall and hanging from the ceiling.

Update: Sadly, this iconic museum closed in 2023.

Related Tags

Cars Roadside Attractions Collections Art

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Added By

rodneywood51

Edited By

rolfdenver, Collector of Experiences, Tiffin7, krystalklear87

  • rolfdenver
  • Collector of Experiences
  • Tiffin7
  • krystalklear87

Published

April 23, 2019

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Art Cartopia Museum
2702 Freedom Rd
Trinidad, Colorado, 81082
United States
37.192615, -104.496386
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Nearby Places

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Trinidad

Trinidad

Colorado

Places 3
Stories 1

Nearby Places

A.R. Mitchell Museum of Western Art

Trinidad, Colorado

miles away

Steam Engine 638

Trinidad, Colorado

miles away

Ludlow Massacre Site

Trinidad, Colorado

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Trinidad

Trinidad

Colorado

Places 3
Stories 1

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