Golden, Colorado
City of Golden Page
Sunset over Golden (photo and image by Dave Wilson, used by permission)
The former World Headquarters of Gibson Consulting, Golden, Colorado, was settled in 1858 and became the first territorial capital of Colorado from 1862 to 1867. You can have lunch in the old territorial capitol building, at the Capitol Grill at the corner of 12th and Washington Streets. Although Golden was a focus for roads leading into the goldfields of Central City, it was not named for the precious metal, but for Thomas Golden, an early prospector.
With a population of about 13,000, Golden maintains a small-town atmosphere even though it is just 12 miles west of Denver. The Coors Brewery is one of the major tourist attractions of Colorado. Free 30-minute tours are given daily except Sundays and holidays; call 303-277-BEER for more information. Other attractions in downtown Golden include the world-famous Foothills Art Center, with both permanent and temporary exhibits. The Twelfth Street Historic District can be visited by a walking tour of streets lined with 19th Century homes, including the Astor House Hotel and Museum, housed in the oldest native stone structure in the state. The old Armory, one block west of Washington and 13th Streets, is the largest cobblestone building in the United States.
Buffalo Bill's Grave and Museum (9-5, seven days a week, except Nov. 1- April 30, 9-4, closed Mondays and Christmas; 303-526-0747) are located on Lookout Mountain just west of Golden, near the Jefferson County Nature Center and Boettcher Mansion. East of town, near I-70 and West Colfax, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory conducts research on solar energy in support of the Department of Energy's missions. The Colorado Railroad Museum (north off Hwy 58 at McIntyre exit) is open all year (except Thanksgiving and Christmas; 303-279-4591 or 1-800-365-6263) and has 12 acres of outside displays as well as 50,000 artifacts and photos in the museum building. The building also houses one of Colorado's largest HO Model Railroad exhibits.
Heritage Square, a Victorian Shopping Village, is located south of town, just north of the Golden/Morrison exit from I-70. The World Footbag Association has its headquarters in Golden, and sponsors a championship annually in August. Colorado Mountain Club headquarters is here as well, and the Colorado Scientific Society meets in the Mountain Club building (Washington at 11th Street).
One of the premier colleges of mining in the world, the Colorado School of Mines, was established in Golden in 1874, two years before Colorado became a state. With about 2,500 students from all over the world, CSM offers both undergraduate and advanced education. The Geology Museum on campus is open to the public, and the Library's annual book sale (February) is a means of recycling geoscience books from diverse sources. The National Earthquake Center of the US Geological Survey is also on the CSM campus. For more CSM information, call 303-273-3800, or visit their WWW site.
The Golden DAR Pioneer Museum (downtown, 303-278-7151), Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum (downtown, 303-277-0377), Dinosaur Ridge, Bandimere Speedway (south of town near Morrison), Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater (south of town toward Morrison), and Jefferson County Fairgrounds (east of town, off 6th Ave. Freeway) are some of the other local attractions.
Geology of Jefferson Co. Open Spaces
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