The Leonardo da Vinci Museum of North America, located in the heart of downtown Pueblo, will officially open its doors June 12, according to a Thursday news release.

The first permanent North American museum dedicated to da Vinci’s wildly imaginative machines, the Pueblo location will join an international group of da Vinci museum hosts, including Italy, France, South Korea, Australia and Brazil.

“It’s been quite a journey, getting the museum here,” said board chair and museum president Joe Arrigo. “There is still some work to do, and we’re waiting for a few exhibits to arrive. But we made it.”

When museum officials cut the ceremonial ribbon in June, it will mark the culmination of a project four years in the making.

In 2022, Pueblo’s Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center hosted “Da Vinci Machines and Robotics,” a traveling exhibit featuring more than 60 machines and reconstructed art pieces based on da Vinci’s drawings and notebooks. The machines were built by the Artisans of Florence, a group that creates historically accurate da Vinci machine reconstructions. After the show concluded its run, Pueblo kept many of the models, distributing them to exhibits across the U.S.

When the Artisans of Florence expressed interest in having a permanent museum in North America, Arrigo approached the Chamber of Commerce with the possibility of housing it in Pueblo, he said.

“We’re right next to an interstate highway, we’re relatively close to an international airport, we’re in the middle of the country,” Arrigo explained. “I thought we were an ideal location.”

City officials agreed and launched a project to repurpose the former Professional Bull Riders Center – a 20,000-square-foot-building near the Historic Arkansas Riverwalk, into the permanent home of a museum dedicated to the works of the Renaissance-era artist, scientist, architect, engineer and botanist.

Pueblo leaders expect the museum to drive regional, national and international tourism, which would give Pueblo a welcome economic boost. A financial analysis by the Hasan School of Business at Colorado State University-Pueblo estimates the museum would generate an annual output of about $2.3 million after 5 years.

“This project represents more than a museum – it’s an investment in Pueblo’s future,” said Pueblo Mayor Heather Graham. “The Leonardo da Vinci Museum of North America is a powerful economic driver that will bring visitors from across Colorado and beyond, support our local businesses, and continue to position Pueblo as a tourism destination.”

Arrigo said he is particularly excited about the museum’s STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) Center, which will offer interactive displays, summer camps, and workshops designed to inspire young minds.

“We think the museum is going to help revitalize tourism in Pueblo, but it will also fill a need that our kids have had for a while,” he said. “Kids here are only going to school four days a week, so we’re going to have Friday programs to keep them engaged. Our kids need this museum.”

In addition to the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the grand opening will feature a week of activities, including artist demonstrations, speakers, guided tours, and other family-friendly experiences, officials said. A complete schedule of activities will be released in April.

“We believe this will be transformational for our community,” Arrigo said. “It’s a long-term investment, and investments take time to pay off. For now, we want to inspire young people to be the best they can be. If a little girl wants to grow up to be an astronaut, we want her to believe she can do that. That’s what we hope to provide, by sparking their imaginations when they’re young.”