Entry No. 198 — the Denver file — filed under: oddities
Cronk Art & Curiosities
Cronk Art & Curiosities is an insect-conservation-through-art shop in north Colorado Springs (1710 Briargate Blvd, Space 484) run by Andrew Cronk, who has done insect taxidermy professionally since 2018. He teaches hands-on insect-pinning classes where you mount and frame a real ethically-sourced specimen, plus offbeat workshops on wildlife conservation, gardening, and witch arts and crafts. It is a true day trip from Denver but a genuinely weird one, ending with a framed insect you preserved yourself. The shop doubles as a curiosities boutique worth browsing afterward.
The story
Andrew Cronk didn't set out to run a taxidermy shop. Born in Colorado Springs in 1992, he spent his childhood fixated on bugs, planting his first pollinator garden as a seventh-grader in 2004. After years spent working at a local nursery teaching customers about butterfly habitats, he preserved his first specimens in August 2018: two male monarch butterflies that died naturally in his enclosure. That sent him down a rabbit hole of ethical specimen sourcing, entomological preservation, and mounting techniques.
In 2021, Cronk and co-founder Chris Dantzler launched Cronk Art & Curiosities to create an inclusive, queer-friendly hub where natural history meets alternative craft. Instead of the dusty, velvet-draped hoarders' dens typical of traditional oddity shops, the space is open and well-lit. Wall displays feature shadowboxes of iridescent beetles and birdwing butterflies, while glass cases house live tarantulas, crystals, and metaphysical supplies alongside framed specimens.
The real draw for a drive down from Denver is the hands-on instruction. Rather than just buying pinned bugs off a wall, you can book a seat at one of Cronk's insect-pinning classes. You're handed precision tools, pins, and a rehydrated specimen, then guided through the delicate work of manipulating wings, positioning legs, and mounting your creature inside a shadowbox frame to take home.
What it's like
Expect an airy, modern boutique rather than a gloomy basement vibe. You'll browse neat displays of framed moths, glass display domes, and live tarantulas without bumping into dark velvet curtains or dusty antiques. If you're attending a workshop, expect a sit-down session with tweezers, pins, and fragile rehydrated arthropods; wing alignment and leg positioning require steady hands and a bit of patience. Reserve your spot online weeks in advance since workshop seats fill quickly, and double-check their current location and hours before making the drive down I-25.
The move: Drive down for an insect-pinning class and each frame your own iridescent beetle or butterfly to hang side by side at home.
📍 Before you go About 70 miles south of Denver in Colorado Springs; classes are scheduled events, so check the calendar and reserve before driving down.
- 📍 Downtown Colorado Springs
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 104 N Tejon St, Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Palmer Lake Star — Stop in Palmer Lake on your drive down I-25 to view a 457-foot mountain star built by volunteers during the Great Depression.
- The Estemere — Pair your specimen-pinning workshop with a quick detour to admire the exterior of this 1887 Victorian mansion.
- Scileppi's at the Old Stone Church — On your way back north to Denver, grab dinner in Castle Rock inside an 1888 Catholic church converted into an Italian restaurant.
- Provision — Cap off your trip with a craft cocktail hidden behind a swinging bookcase on Castle Rock's historic Wilcox Street.
Good to know
Where is Cronk Art & Curiosities located?
The business operates in Colorado Springs, roughly 70 miles south of Denver. Their primary address is listed at 104 N Tejon St in downtown Colorado Springs, while store listings also reference Space 484 at 1710 Briargate Blvd (next to Vans). Always confirm the event location on their website before driving down.
Are the insect specimens ethically sourced?
Yes. All butterflies, beetles, and arthropods used in classes and shop displays are ethically sourced from sustainable butterfly farms or natural die-offs.
Do I need experience to join an insect-pinning class?
No prior taxidermy or pinning experience is required. Workshops provide all tools, specimens, frames, and step-by-step instruction for beginners.
What other events or classes does the shop host?
Beyond insect pinning, the shop hosts workshops on broom making, candle making, and crystal grids, as well as a monthly Moon Market featuring local creative vendors.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · koaa.com · Facebook
last checked: 2026-06-23