Breckenridge history, a ski town with a historic past 360. During the 1860s as the placers ran out and the civil war raged, breckenridges population began to dwindle. The hearthstone was the home of christ and ida kaiser. Come in to learn how we went from a gold mine frontier town to a white gold destination. As part of its educational mission, the society sells books written by its members. Breckenridge is the largest historic district in colorado. Summit county mining history runs deep after prospectors first struck. Step inside a miners cabin, see and feel original hydraulic mining equipment and learn to pan for gold. Founded in 1877 country boy mine is one of the oldest and most famous mines located in summit county. Connect with breckenridge, colorado history part 1.
Explore the award winning official guide to breckenridge, colorado. Also a history of colorado prospecting and plenty of other helpful information to help plan your trip. Endless trails allow you to enjoy the abundant sunshine and spectacular scenery. The town also has many parttime residents, as many people have vacation homes in the area.
Bookstore welcome to summit countys online bookstore for history. He is a founding board member of the breckenridge heritage alliance, a past board member of the summit historical society, frequent tour guide, and coauthor of windows to the past, a book on the history of. Mining was far and away the most significant industry in nineteenth and early twentiethcentury colorado and has remained important since that time. Breckenridge history, a ski town with a historic past book breck. In the late 1930s, breckenridge was just a small mountain mining town and not the big ski town it is today.
Central colorado find yourself in colorado springs at pikes peak. The gold mining town, as it was back then, was home to several businesses including barber shops, watch. Get local advice on events and activities, search for lodging, book vacation packages and so much more. Today, downtown breckenridge boasts one of colorado s largest historical districts with approximately 250 buildings listed in the national register of historic places. The country boy mine tour is a great walk through breckenridges mining past. The winter of 1898 was one for the very new history books in breckenridge, colorado. The town of breckenridge, colorado was founded in 1859 by a small group of gold prospectors and general george e. Timeline of breckenridge history breckenridge, colorado. At our free museums you can visit historic buildings and get to know our founders.
Mines, mining and miners denver public library history. The year was 1859, two years before colorado became a territory and. Breckenridge, co mining, mines, mine owners and mine. By 1859 the pikes peak gold rush was on, and discovery of gold in the breckenridge area brought miners and fortune seekers to the blue river diggings. Colorado mining history in 1849 and 1850, several parties of gold seekers bound for the california gold rush panned small amounts of gold from various streams in the south platte river valley at the foot of the rocky mountains in then western kansas territory, now northeast colorado. It was spencer who proposed the name breckinridge, after the vice president at the time, in hopes of getting a post office.
Shop our bookstore and indulge in summit countys colorful history. Once home to gold mining, breckenridges history dates back to the 1850s. Indulge in a classy dinner at the hearthstone restaurant in breckenridge. The historic district is about 12 square blocks and there are 171 buildings with points of historic interest. Today, downtown breckenridge boasts one of colorados largest historical. The colorado gold rush, also known as the pikes peak gold rush, occurred in the late 1850s.
The pikes peak gold rush brought unprecedented numbers of people into the region and that in turn led to powerful social, economic, and political changes that brought about the creation of colorado territory in 1861, culminating in the. Today, one of our expert guides will take you back in time to breckenridges early mining days. With that said, there are a handful of interesting, free museums. Breckenridge gold mine tours breckenridge, colorado. Way before breckenridge was a ski resort, it was a town. Alpenrose press summit county colorados hiking and. So many promising mining towns are just a footnote in history today. I have been investigating mining sites, ghost towns and the like around breckenridge since 1989. Helen then published the willow bender in 1950, which dealt with family and mining strikes in colorado. Colorado historyblasted beloved breckenridgegold mining. Join an expert guide and listen to tales of breckenridges past. Along with a fun and historical mine tour in breckenridge s only real open mine, you can also experience life as it was in the late 1800s. In breckenridge, helen was employed as a social worker.
This small intimate community is nestled in some of the most rugged and towering peaks of the rockies. Breckenridge history, a ski town with a historic past. For the ski resort above the town, see breckenridge ski resort. Breckenridge becomes colorados first major resort to allow snowboarding. Early in its 100year history, the county boy mine was known for gold and silver production and later earned national fame by producing large amounts of highgrade.
For an index of all the places discussed in the book, go here. Mary ellen gilliland is the author of 11 books and more than 200 magazine and newspaper articles. It once snowed for 79 days straight in this colorado town. Hollister presents an expansive history and summary of the area and those who came to mine it. Hydraulic mining in and around breckenridge, colorado.
Breckenridge, ranked by ski magazine as the eighth best ski resort in the united states in 20102011, is a worldclass colorado ski destination featuring four mountains on 2,358 acres of terrain. Lamour came to colorado in 1926 and found a job in mining for awhile. Breckenridge twoday, yearround history and miningfocused. Detailed histories of each site make this book a must for successful exploring. Gold mining in colorado, a state of the united states, has been an industry since 1858. Even includes a list of other books you might also enjoy. During the late 19th century, gold fever roared through colorado like wildfire, and mining camps and towns were literally born overnight. Mark fiester 1973 stated first edition breckenridge s history from gold booms to skiing and mountain recreation booms. Breckenridge becomes colorado s first major resort to allow snowboarding. Hague is a retired mining engineer whose fascination with history accelerated over twenty years ago when he first came to breckenridge. Finally, lets toast louis lamour, who wrote over 100 novels and 200 short stories. A gold rush history of summit county, colorado, 25th anniversary edition.
He says its a testament to a time in colorados history where the ends justified. City of influence by brian levine, a quick history. I conduct some tours and hold powerpoint presentations on breckenridge history in the summers in breckenridge and nearby frisco. The book was set in the colorado rockies, which was known for its rough terrain. From gold mines to bawdy saloons, victorian ladies to lingering spirits we have a tour for everyone. While cripple creek, colorado is not a ghost town, it was one of the most important mining camps in colorado. History colorado offers engaging professional development opportunities throughout the year that blend content and pedagogy and provide classroomready resources. Swan city held miners through the high points in mining history in 1914 and saw dredging become a truly viable source of income. Farncomb hill, french gulch, breckenridge mining district. Mark fiester 1973 stated first edition breckenridges history from gold booms to skiing and mountain recreation booms measures 11 34 x 8 34 348 pages. Alpenrose press summit county colorados hiking and history. Response from coloradogoldrush, manager at country boy mine responded mar 15, 2020 thanks for coming to see us we love showing people the fantastic scenery and mining history that there is in breckenridge, and we really appreciate it when you take the time to let other people know how beautiful this part of the world is. It also played a key role in the establishment of the state of colorado explorer zebulon pike heard a report of gold in south park, presentday park county, colorado, in 1807. Placer mining, the process of mining for gold in the stream and river beds, was the.
Mining was and still is an integral part of colorados and our nationss history. Includes first and last name, county, name of mine, date of accident, and type of accident. With breckenridges 150th anniversary in 2009, it is important to reflect on the history, heritage and especially the characters that made this. Breckenridge, colorado official guide to breckenridge. The town population was 4,540 at the 2010 united states census. Breckenridge is a home rule municipality that is the county seat and the most populous municipality of summit county, colorado, united states. As part of its educational mission, the society sells books written by its. Breckenridge, co mines, mine companies, mine owners and mine information.
Bookstore welcome to summit countys online bookstore for. Gulches, hydraulic mining in and around breckenridge, colorado. The principal locality for vein gold is farncomb hill, whence have come the innumerable specimens of breckenridge gold. And over the past 150 years, the spirit of the town hasnt shifted much equal parts outcast, visionary, frontier and fine living. Helen was very interested in mining laws and spent time researching her novels by. Public dig sites across colorado there are a surprising number of places in colorado where you can dig for free or for a token fee. I have coauthored three books on breckenridge mining history in the past three years. Jan 03, 2018 the winter of 1898 was one for the very new history books in breckenridge, colorado. In the mountains, the books are calling and we must read. For a map of colorado showing the areas covered by each chapter, go here. Breckenridges history began with gold and silver mining, and signs of its rich mining history are all over the town. Larger scale hydraulic mining sustained the industry until the late 1870s when hardrock mining took over. Located in the current and historic mining town of idaho springs, the phoenix gold mine is a great stop whether you are headed out of breckenridge or into town from the front range, as it is conveniently placed right along i70. The places i have highlighted here are all places where you dont need to worry about federally registered mining claims or hostile private property owners.
Native gold occurs in the breckenridge district both in veins and placers. Breckenridges rich and colorful history is full of gold finds and mining, exploration and adventure, brothels, saloons, booms and busts. This is schoppes second book on colorado railroad history, and. Take a trip on our colorado gold rush tour with live actors, and learn more about mining towns in the old days. Mar 19, 2015 centuryold gold dredge still tells the story of breckenridges mining past. Its echo prompted a horde of wouldbe miners to pour over skyscraping mountain. Set at the narrow head of a valley at 7,792 feet and surrounded on three sides with,000 foot snowcapped peaks ouray has been eloquently nicknamed the switzerland of. Centuryold gold dredge still tells the story of breckenridge. This article is about the town of breckenridge, colorado.
Indexes of mining accidents occurring in colorado from 1884 to 1981. See more ideas about ghost towns, colorado and summit county. Colorado artifactual where colorados past is presently. Many of those travelling west to california would have had their first experiences in the mines of colorado. We have five historic trains to transport you back to the days of cowboys and gold mining. Founded in 1859 by a small group of prospectors, the towns gold rush brought droves of settlers seeking their fortunes. Southwest ouray has been a special destination of world travelers for more than 100 years. The history of breckernidge, co breckenridge heritage alliance. Jun 04, 2014 indexes of mining accidents occurring in colorado from 1884 to 1981. Today, downtown breckenridge boasts one of colorados largest historical districts with approximately 250 buildings listed in the national register of historic places.
With themed actors giving you a taste of 1880s life in the gold mines, a foot deep tour into one of colorado s most famous mines, panning for real gold keep what you find and lots of other fun things to do, theres plenty to keep the whole family entertained. The pikes peak gold rush brought unprecedented numbers of people into the region and that in turn led to powerful social, economic, and political changes that brought about the creation of colorado territory in 1861. Information about the district is available at the summit historical society which conducts walking tours. The town is located at the base of the tenmile range. This ones not located in breckenridge, but hard to not mention when talking about colorado s mining history. Breckenridge was primarily a placer mining district in its early years. Usmining provides information on mines, operators, and minerals mined in breckenridge, co. A seasoned researcher and punchy writer, shes one of summit county, colorados most renowned historians, with five books on the 1800s mining mecca. Currently we are working on a book on swandyke, colorado, another ghost town that was inhabited by hippies in the 1970s.
Breckenridge, colorado most endangered places, gold mining. Breckenridge historic timeline breckenridge s rich and colorful history is full of gold finds and mining, exploration and adventure, brothels, saloons, booms and busts. During the 1860s as the placers ran out and the civil war raged, breckenridge s population began to dwindle. Take a tour, learn about the history of this great little town.
Bookstore welcome to summit countys online bookstore. Centuryold gold dredge still tells the story of breckenridges mining past march 19, 2015 at 5. He provides detailed specifics to location and quantities of minerals recovered. Breckenridge, colorado 12 free things youve gotta do. Keep up with us go ahead and subscribe to receive 12 emails per month. Home to the largest historic district in colorado, breckenridges rich and colorful history is full of gold finds and mining, exploration and adventure, brothels. Voted the best thing we did in colorado country boy mine is so much more than breckenridge s only real gold mine tour. Seeking their fortunes, thousands of men arrived in the.