GOLDEN WALKING TOUR

THE BEST WAY to see historic downtown Golden is on foot. Founded on June 16, 1859, during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush, the mining camp was originally named Golden City, ironically not because of the shiny metal found in Clear Creek but in honor of an early settler, Thomas L. Golden. Golden City served as the capital of Colorado Territory from 1860 to 1867. It is the birthplace of Coors Beer and Jolly Rancher candy, and the final resting spot of Buffalo Bill Cody. Today, the downtown area is filled with colorful murals, statues, covered verandas, outdoor cafés, one-of-a-kind shops, recreation outfitters and galleries. Here are some historic and fun places to visit.

1 Golden Visitors & Information Center

This is your headquarters for maps to local hiking trails in nearby Jefferson County Parks, as well as information on dining, shopping, recreation, craft breweries, distilleries, theater, art and live entertainment. The center occupies a scenic location on the Clear Creek Trail, just north of the bridge on Washington Avenue.

2 Bradford Washburn American Mountaineering Museum

America’s only museum dedicated to mountaineering has a diorama of the different routes up Mount Everest and the actual clothes worn by the first Americans to summit the world’s highest peak. There is information about Colorado’s 14ers, climbing and the famous World War II troops, the 10th Mountain Division, who trained in Colorado.

3 Vanover Park

In 1859, a tavern owner named Edgar Vanover became inebriated and began shooting at people. A mob of angry citizens chased him and without benefit of a trial, lynched him from a tall cottonwood that stood at the southeast corner of Ford Street and Clear Creek. Today, it’s a peaceful spot with lovely views of Castle Rock.

4 Coors Brewery

In 1873, a German immigrant named Adolph Coors discovered two dozen natural springs at the base of South Table Mountain and opened a small brewery, producing a Czech Pilsner recipe beer. Today, it has grown to become the largest single-site brewery in the world! You can tour Coors and discover how beer is made while visiting a huge room filled with gigantic copper kettles. Everyone loves the packaging department, where thousands of cans and bottles whiz by before being stuffed into six-packs.

5 Welcome Arch

One of the most photographed spots in Colorado was created in 1948 when a steel frame structure was built 58-feet high over Washington Avenue emblazoned with the words, “Howdy Folks, Welcome to Golden.” The sentiment still remains. Watch the traffic, but make sure to take your photo under this historic Colorado icon. A good spot is from the buffalo statue, which marks the approximate place where outlaw “Heartless” Edward Franklin was shot in a shootout between Denver detectives and the notorious Musgrove Gang.

6 Jolly Rancher

Dorothy and Bill Harmsen opened their first ice cream store at 1113 Washington Ave. in June 1949. They called it the “Jolly Rancher” to evoke a fun, Western hospitality. When sales slumped in winter months, the Harmsens began making hard candies in fruit flavors and one of America’s favorite sweets was born. Jolly Rancher is now owned by Hershey, but the “mother ship” was right here in Golden.

7 Loveland Cottage

Constructed in 1859, this cottage at 717 12th Street is the oldest building in Golden. Owner William Loveland helped start the Colorado School of Mines. Both Loveland Pass and the town of Loveland, Colorado, are named after this early Golden resident.

8 Colorado Territory’s First Capitol

William Loveland built this saloon in 1863 and offered it for free to serve as the first Capitol building of the Colorado Territory. In 1867, a possibly “heavily bribed” meeting was held here and voted to move the capital to Denver. Today, it’s the wonderful Old Capitol Grill, still offering a full bar and barbeque.

9 The Armory Building

Built in 1913, this is one of the most unusual buildings in Golden, constructed entirely from river rock pulled from Clear Creek (which at the time was known as “Cannonball Creek” because of its large, round, river boulders).

10 Foothills Art Center

This National Historic Register building opened amidst pines and aspens as the First Presbyterian Church of Golden in 1872. In 1968, a group of artists and business leaders bought and remodeled the buildings as an art center that today features exhibits by both local Colorado artists and national and international touring art shows.

11 Astor House

The two-story building was originally constructed in 1867 of locally quarried sandstone and served as a hotel during the Gold Rush days. It is the oldest surviving former hotel in Colorado, and one of the state’s oldest stone buildings. Saved from demolition by a group of local citizens, it is currently being remodeled and will be reopen in 2023 as an expansion of the Foothills Art Center.

12

12th Street Historic District

Compared to some of the rowdier parts of town, this was Golden’s genteel neighborhood and is today filled with some of the best examples of Victorian and Italianate architecture in the town. Don’t miss visiting Golden City Brewery, one of the first craft breweries in Colorado. The brewers live in the house, the beer garden is their backyard and you purchase beers through the old carriage house window.

13

Colorado School of Mines

This 7,000+ student university started in 1874 and is one of the top engineering and mining science schools in the nation. On campus is the free Mines Museum of Earth Science filled with rare rocks, minerals, fossils and other fascinating Earth Science-related objects. The gigantic “M” overlooking the campus on Zion Mountain was started in 1908 and is the fourth mountain monogram in the U.S. Traditionally, new students bring a 10-pound rock from their hometown and climb the mountain to add it to the pile. After graduating, they climb the mountain and take one down.

14 Golden History Park

The park is filled with historic buildings from the Pearce Ranch, originally located in Golden Gate Canyon, 15 miles away. Self-guided tours visit the farmhouse, barn, garden and school. Bring some quarters and feed exotic chickens in the historic chicken coop. During special events, there is a working blacksmith shop.

15 Golden History Museum

Established in 1938, the free and fun museum is home to more than 15,000 artifacts telling the story of Golden’s history with rare items from Coors Brewery, Jolly Rancher candy and early mining and pioneering days.

16 Clear Creek Trail

The paved trail along Clear Creek is part of the ambitious Peaks to Plains Trail that will one day stretch 65 miles from Loveland Pass and the Eisenhower Tunnel all the way east to Denver. Currently, the trail goes from downtown Golden 1.75 miles west up into Clear Creek Canyon, and east all the way to Denver. A new three-mile segment west into the canyon broke ground in 2022 and will open in 2025. •