Many of the mining towns were left deserted after the boom and have become modern day ghost towns. According to an article by Western Mining History, “The first decade of the boom was largely concentrated along the South Platte River at the base of the mountains, the canyon of Clear Creek in the mountains west of Golden, and South Park. As prospectors flooded the region in search of quick riches, the rapid population growth led to the creation of the Colorado Territory in 1861 and to the U.S. state of Colorado in 1876.”
Today Colorado mine tours are one of the many fun and historical things to do while visiting the state. Many towns have converted old mines into museums. However, plenty more mines have been left to ruin and you will often encounter their shells while hiking on the trails throughout the region. Mine tours can be found everywhere from Ouray, to Denver, to Breckenridge and over to Aspen. Many mine tours include fun additions like trying to pan for gold, as well.
To learn about Colorado mining history in full, following the Colorado Gold Trail is a good option with plenty of fun and historical attractions along the way. Towns on the trail include Boulder, Black Hawk, Central City, Idaho Springs, Breckenridge, Fairplay, Alma, Como and Leadville. Leadville is also home to the National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum.
Don't miss out on gold mine tours Colorado wide!
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Colorado was still considered Kansas territory when the Colorado gold rush emerged in 1859. Its presence was short, lasting only through the early 1860s. But it is still considered one of the largest gold rushes in history and brought many settlers to the area. The prospectors brought the first major population influx to the region, forming Denver and Boulder, as well as Idaho Springs and Central City, all of which still exist today.MORE >>
Mine Tours
