Entry No. 14 — the Denver file — filed under: oddities
The Learned Lemur
Set inside a restored Victorian house on East Colfax, the Learned Lemur is Denver's longtime oddities dealership (going since 2015) — real, ethically sourced skulls, one-of-a-kind taxidermy, true antiques, and local art priced for every budget. In the back you'll find a tiny apothecary and reading room, and the shop runs a monthly artist market plus a sideshow called the Conspiracy Circus. It took Westword's Best Oddities Shop nod for a reason. This is the place to buy your date a beetle in resin instead of flowers.
The move: Wander the Victorian together hunting for the weirdest affordable curio, dare each other to buy a skull, then poke around the back apothecary/reading room — a low-pressure browse that doubles as a conversation generator.
📍 Before you go The shop sits on the East Colfax strip near the Bluebird District, in a single Victorian storefront — the apothecary and reading room are simply at the rear of the same shop, not a separate hidden door, so just walk to the back. Colfax is busy; grab metered street parking out front or duck onto a quieter residential side street a block off the avenue. Daytime browsing is easiest and most relaxed. The monthly artist market and the Conspiracy Circus sideshow are separate dated events, so check ahead if you're timing a visit around one. Real specimens are present, but it's kid- and dog-friendly and easy to wander. Pair it with a walk and a bite along the surrounding Colfax stretch.
- 📍 Capitol Hill / East Colfax
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 2220 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80206 (inside a restored Victorian house; apothecary and reading room in the back)
Hours: Open Mon and Wed–Sat ~11am–7pm, Sun ~12–6pm, closed Tuesdays (per recent listings). Monthly artist market and Conspiracy Circus sideshow are separate dated events — check Instagram @the_learned_lemur.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Atlas Obscura · Westword · Yelp · Official site
last checked: 2026-06-07