By Cindy Skaggs

If you’ve ever driven past the Western Museum of Mining and Industry or the Michael Garman Museum & Gallery and thought, “I really should go there someday,” your local library has given you the perfect excuse. The Pikes Peak Library District’s Culture Pass program opens the doors to some of the region’s favorite museums and attractions, and all you need is a library card.

With the Culture Pass, PPLD cardholders can check out a no-cost pass to a wide variety of cultural institutions across the Pikes Peak region and beyond. Think of it as a ticket to explore your own community, accessing our rich history, art and science.

The process couldn’t be simpler. Visit ppld.org/culturepass, browse the available destinations, and reserve your pass much as you would reserve a book. On the day of your visit, bring your printed confirmation to the participating venue. Passes may be printed or displayed on your phone. Each location offers its own number of admissions and admission rules, but all share the goal to make arts and culture accessible to everyone.

Only El Paso County residents with a library card that starts with a “4” can check out the culture passes.

The list of participating sites reads like a local wish list. There’s the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, home to world-class exhibitions and live performances; the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum, which celebrates Olympic and Paralympic history, culture and stories plus interactive sport experiences; and the Space Foundation Discovery Center, where kids and adults alike can explore the wonders of the universe. For nature lovers, there are also passes to the 19-mile scenic route to Pikes Peak- America’s Mountain.

The Culture Pass program has been building community connections since its launch. Many library patrons discover it by accident, only to find it becomes their favorite library perk. One local teacher said she uses the passes to plan affordable weekend field trips for her family: “It’s a great way to keep the kids learning outside the classroom. They think of it as a day of fun, but I know they’re absorbing history and culture.”

That’s the beauty of the program that turns learning into a lived experience. By removing the barrier of cost, PPLD helps families, students, and lifelong learners experience the best of our region firsthand. In an age when entertainment often means screens and subscriptions, the Culture Pass encourages us to step away from the digital world and explore the real one right in our backyard.

Culture passes aren’t the only way to enjoy the Library. From 3D printers and recording studios to craft kits and book clubs, PPLD is reimagining what a public library can be. The Culture Pass is simply another chapter in that story of community connection.

So, the next time you’re wondering what to do this weekend, skip the streaming menu and check out a museum instead. The library’s got your ticket waiting.

To learn more or reserve your pass, visit ppld.org/culturepass. Your next adventure might be closer than you think, just one library card perk away.

---

Cindy Skaggs is a lover of all things literary and library. She is one of our region’s local authors, with ten published books and counting. In addition to reading and writing, she enjoys hiking the Rockies when they are not on fire.