When Christopher Taylor moved to Boulder to begin his new role as executive director of the Museum of Boulder in 2024, he quickly picked up on an unwritten local rule: no self-respecting Boulderite shops at the big-box stores because everything you need (and much, much more) can be found at McGuckin Hardware.
Before his first visit to the iconic hardware store, he was tipped off: “Plan to be there longer than you think; you’ll find things you didn’t know you needed.”
“I did just that and fell in love,” Taylor says. “I can’t believe how many green vests came up and helped me.”
That visit also sparked an idea. The story of McGuckin (2525 Arapahoe Ave.) is so embedded in Boulder’s DNA—what if the store got its own exhibit?
Now, just in time for McGuckin’s 70th anniversary, the legendary store—and those ever-helpful green vests—is the focus of a new exhibit at the Museum of Boulder (2205 Broadway, Boulder). “The McGuckin Way: 70 Years as Boulder’s Favorite Everything Store,” an only-in-Boulder retrospective celebrating the store’s legacy, runs now through Sept. 27.
“It’s a beloved institution that has been the heart of the Boulder community since 1955,” Taylor says. The exhibit isn’t just about a store, he says, but a local institution “built on values that continue to resonate with generations of Boulderites.”
The exhibit is a community-led one. Curated by the McGuckin Hardware team with creative direction led by Nicolette Widiger from the store’s marketing team, the installation is filled with memorabilia that tells the story of the store’s rich history. Visitors will see everything from vintage green vests to old ads, newspaper clippings and artifacts that span generations.
McGuckin’s story began in 1955, when founder Llewellyn Commodore “Bill” McGuckin opened the store with just four employees and four departments. His three-part philosophy—personalized service, deep selection and first-hand knowledge—set the tone for everything that followed. Those core values helped the store survive (and thrive) while national chains came and went.
In 1960, Dave Hight, joined as a partner and later carried on Bill’s vision after his passing in 1966, expanding McGuckin into the local landmark it is today. Though the store changed addresses over the years, it always remained within a block of its original location.
Today, McGuckin remains family-owned, with 250 employees working across 18 departments . The store spans 60,000 square feet, with more than 200,000 items in-stock. From garden tools to pet supplies, lamp repair to blade sharpening, bolts to birdhouses—you name it, they’ve got it. You might even leave with something you didn’t know you needed (as promised).
Even longtime loyalists might be surprised by what the exhibit reveals. Did you know McGuckin once opened a second store in East Boulder near Frasier Meadows? The smaller outpost didn’t make much money—it was more of a “community service” effort to offer accessibility across town. It closed in 1985, and in true Boulder fashion, the remaining inventory was moved back to the main location in a convertible, one load at a time.
To celebrate the exhibit’s launch, an opening reception will be held Monday, July 14. Museum of Boulder members are invited for an exclusive preview at 5:30 p.m., with the general public welcome at 6 p.m. Admission is free for Museum members. Guests can enjoy light bites and drinks while mingling with fellow fans and sharing their favorite McGuckin memories. Get tickets to the opening reception here.
