Entry No. 12 — the Boulder file — filed under: roadside attraction
Dougherty Museum
Founded in 1977 by Ray G. Dougherty, a Boulder County farmer who simply refused to stop collecting, this roadside compound on a working property south of Longmont is a floor-to-ceiling fever dream of mid-century Americana. More than 30 prewar brass-era automobiles — spanning 1904 to 1929, many in running order — share space with steam-powered vehicles, antique tractors and threshers, Civil War–era weapons, and a remarkable trove of player pianos, phonographs, and wax cylinders. The Dougherty family has kept the doors open since Ray's death in 1988, adding layers of ephemera across multiple outbuildings that feel less like a curated institution and more like the world's most organized hoard.
The story
Ray G. Dougherty didn't set out to build a formal museum; the Boulder County turkey farmer simply refused to stop buying old machinery. His obsession began in 1927 when he bought a 1900-era reed organ as a high school senior, followed by a 1913 Ford Model T in 1940. Over the next several decades, Dougherty scoured the surrounding countryside, rescuing displaced steam tractors, player pianos, and prewar cars from local farms and stashing them in his brooder houses and barn sheds whenever the turkeys weren't using them.
By 1977, the sheer volume of metal required its own roof, so the family erected a 29,000-square-foot steel compound on their working land along Highway 287. Inside, prewar brass-era automobiles sit parked bumper-to-bumper alongside agricultural threshers and Edison cylinder phonographs. The crown jewel of the floor is a 1902 Mobile Steamer once owned by Boulder pioneer Andrew J. Macky—widely cited as one of the very first automobiles in Boulder County—displayed next to Stanley Steamers, a 1924 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, and Civil War–era weaponry. Dougherty insisted on buying equipment in its original condition, meaning much of the collection still wears its century-old paint and factory parts.
When Dougherty passed away in 1988, his family took over operations and kept the doors open on summer weekends without giving in to modern museum gloss. There are no interactive touchscreens or sleek glass partitions here; instead, it feels like the world's most hyper-organized farm hoard, where the smell of gear oil lingers and nearly every vehicle on the floor can still be fired up and driven.
What it's like
From Highway 287, the metal outbuildings look quiet enough that you might think you're pulling into a private barn, but step inside on a Saturday and you'll find a wide, uncrowded show floor. There are no hovering guards or velvet ropes—family volunteers will happily walk up and wind an 1890s player piano or drop a needle on an Edison wax cylinder right in front of you. The vibe is unpretentious and slow-paced. The main catch is the narrow window of entry: the doors are only unlocked on Saturdays from June through August (plus the late-August Farm Show weekend), and hours can fluctuate based on family availability. Call ahead to confirm they're open, pay your cash entry fee at the desk, and bring a cooler to picnic in the surrounding farm fields once you've had your fill of brass-era chrome.
The move: Spend a Saturday morning wandering outbuilding to outbuilding, letting the family volunteer-guides wind up the player pianos and fire up the old phonographs. Pack a cooler and find a shady spot on the property afterward — the surrounding farm fields make for a surprisingly serene picnic backdrop.
📍 Before you go Open Saturdays only, June through August, roughly 10am–4pm; the final weekend of August expands to Friday–Sunday 10am–5pm for the Annual Farm Show. Admission runs about $10 for adults, $6 for kids 6–12, free under 6. Private tours are available year-round weather permitting — call 720-947-9573 to book. The museum is seasonally closed September through May and was listed as temporarily closed on Yelp as recently as December 2025, so call ahead before making the drive.
- 📍 Longmont
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 8306 N 107th St (Hwy 287), Longmont, CO 80504
Hours: Added 2026-06-11 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Tower of Compassion (Kanemoto Peace Tower) — Trade early 20th-century farm machinery for a quiet walk past a five-story Japanese pagoda tucked into a neighborhood park just under two miles away.
- Quarters Bar + Arcade — Head into downtown Longmont to swap century-old mechanical player pianos for modern arcade cabinets and a self-serve beer wall.
- The Art of Cheese at Dolly Mama's Farmstead — Lean further into Boulder County's agricultural side with a hands-on goat cheese workshop at a nearby working farmstead.
- Shelby American Collection — Contrast Ray Dougherty's brass-era steam cars with high-performance 1960s Cobras and GT40s over in Boulder.
Good to know
When is the museum open?
Public hours run Saturdays only from June through August, roughly 10am to 4pm. The schedule expands to Friday through Sunday for the Annual Farm Show on the final weekend of August. Private tours can also be booked weather-permitting during the off-season by calling 720-947-9573.
How much is admission?
Admission is about $10 for adults, $6 for children ages 6 to 12, and free for kids under 6.
Are the cars and machines still operational?
Yes. Most of the 30-plus prewar automobiles, steam engines, and mechanical instruments are maintained in running or playable condition using original components rather than modern reproductions.
What unique items are in the collection?
Highlights include a 1902 Mobile Steamer owned by Boulder pioneer Andrew J. Macky, several Stanley Steamers, a 1924 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, Civil War weapons, antique threshers, player pianos, and early Edison wax cylinder phonographs.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Atlas Obscura · Tripadvisor · Official site · Yelp · longmontleader.com
last checked: 2026-06-11