The Bradford Washburn American Mountaineering Museum in Golden, Colo., won’t open its doors to the public until February 16, 2008 (though the gift shop opened a few days ago). In the meantime you can visit the museum’s blog to watch the progress as museum workers build features like a giant styrofoam and concrete crevasse.

Other features will include a Mt. Everest model and exhibits on global climate change, mountain safety and science, and sacred summits and mountain cultures.

The museum not only will honor the accomplishments of its namesake, but aims to inspire and educate visitors about mountaineering, how and why mountaineers climb, and the mountains themselves.