In 1939, the Works Progress Administration sponsored a museum in conjunction with the Jefferson County Commissioners. The museum was located on the first floor of the old North School (since razed), and was supported by over $75,000 in WPA funds. It was reportedly one of Golden's principal attractions, and many pioneer families donated items to the collection. More than 6,000 visitors were said to have visited it annually.

After the collapse of WPA funds in 1941, the museum was closed and its contents placed in the basement of the (old) Jefferson County Courthouse, which served Golden as a County Seat from 1878 until 1953, when the new Jefferson County Courthouse was completed. 

In November 1953, the Mount Lookout Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) offered to reopen and sponsor the museum. The DAR requested permission of the county to use the large, just vacated District Courtroom on the second floor of the old (1873) courthouse for this purpose. The County voted permission to the DAR and also allowed funds for heat, light, and redecoration.

DAR members worked long hours in cleaning and arranging museum items, and a Boy Scout troop from the Industrial School assisted in moving cases and articles from their basement storage space. The Kiwanis Club and other organizations sent checks to help in refurbishing, and on February 22, 1954, the Jefferson County Museum was officially opened to the public. 
Volunteer workers kept the museum open every day until 1957. At this time, Mary Hoyt Brown, the museum's director, passed away, and Mrs. Pansy Parshal Hook was hired as curator. Mrs. Hook remained in this capacity through the museum's next move, until she retired in 1983.

In 1958, Jefferson County abandoned the old courthouse and presented the museum to the City of Golden. The City agreed to house the museum in the planned new Municipal Center (which also housed the Golden Police Department and City Council Chambers), if the DAR would continue to sponsor and manage the museum. The citizens of Golden voted to support the museum by supplying the space and by paying for heat, light, and a half-time Director's salary. The new museum, now renamed the "Golden DAR Pioneer Museum," drew a large crowd at its grand opening on July 18, 1961. 

1995 and 1996 saw a number of changes in the complex of Golden municipal buildings. With the opening of the new Golden Recreation Center, further West on 10th Street, the former Golden recreation center building was available. The Golden Public Library, which had been cramped in its building next to the municipal center, moved into the old recreation center. 

The Golden Police Department and City Administrators having also outgrown their space, a major renovation and expansion project was undertaken. The Pioneer Museum benefited greatly from all this change…they were moved into the former public library building, almost doubling their space, and giving them much more desirable exposure and frontage on 10th Street. The museum's new home is in a wonderful location, between the City Municipal Building and the Public Library, and right on Clear Creek.

1997 saw another interesting change…after 36 years, the museum's name was officially changed from "The Golden DAR Pioneer Museum" to "The Golden Pioneer Museum." The Mount Lookout Chapter of the DAR is still very active in managing the museum. DAR members still donate thousands of hours of their time (and thousands of dollars in funding each year); but the name change reflects a broader appeal to the community for support and involvement. 

(Much of this history was excerpted from History of Mount Lookout Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, 1923-1983).