2023-12-08 08:46:53
Present-day Cripple Creek enchants visitors with gleaming aspen-lined trails and thrill-filled casinos. But the allure of this charming mountain town extends way back to the 19th century, when the rolling green hills and craggy peaks served as a backdrop to the last great Colorado Gold Rush. Rewind the clock to 1890, when Robert Miller Womack struck gold and staked a claim in the little-known town, setting off a decades-long frenzy to harvest as much precious metal as possible. Within two years of Womack’s first claim, 5,000 eager adventurers migrated to the area to set up camp and get in on the riches. That number doubled just three years later. The town quickly grew into an economic hub, proliferating to neighboring villages Victor, Gillett, Alban and beyond. Before long, the doors swung open at wood-structured saloons, churches, food markets, restaurants and schools in the district. Prosperity was in the air, but it required a lot of labor. Backbreaking work and dragging days made life toilsome for a Cripple Creek miner. Some days commenced before sunrise and concluded after sunset without a glimpse at daylight. Falling rocks and equipment failure were commonplace and resulted in serious injuries. Rest was rare but rolled around every Sunday when most headed to local churches. Where to Go: Want to delve into these historical sites in-person? Traverse the Vindicator Valley Trail in Victor, a well-established walking path where you can spot the remains of more than 500 mines along the 2-mile “trail of gold.” Along the way, you’ll come across blast houses, mine owners’ homes and even some old outhouses. When it was time to put down their tools and emerge from the mine, most men steered straight downtown to the bars and brothels to let off some steam. After a rousing night at the saloon, many community members staggered to the thriving red-light district, home to more than 300 ladies of the night. Where to Go: Saunter over to the Old Homestead House Museum, the most elegant brothel in town, which was a popular spot with the region’s elite. Tour the building, brimming with story-filled artifacts of the era, and tune into tales of the women who lived there and the men who frequented the establishment. You can even meet Pearl de Vere, known as the “soiled dove of Cripple Creek,” who ran the operation, famous for her keen business mind and impeccable style. In 1894, more than 150 mines operated in the area, and workmen formed a union. When the workday swelled and pay didn’t increase, the miners went on strike. This lack of labor shut the chutes to most of the mines in the area, causing pressure to build between the strikers, the owners and the military men they hired to quell the unrest. Soon, then-Colorado Governor Waite sat down with both parties and negotiated an eight-hour day with a fair wage. This settlement created some predictability for the local workers moving forward. Where to Go: Step into the dusty boots of an outlaw at the Outlaws & Lawmen Jail Museum, where you can get a glimpse at the life of prisoners and local law enforcement from this era. Feeling brave? Ask about the paranormal activity in the museum. Over the years, visitors have reported apparitions, mysteriously opening doors, cold spots and other hair-raising encounters. Then, in 1896, disaster struck. Two massive fires within one-week wreaked havoc on the area, destroying the business district and displacing nearly all the town’s residents. The community rebuilt over the following year, replacing the old wooden buildings with sturdier brick. Many of these landmarks still stand today, including the Midland Terminal Railroad Depot, the Cripple Creek District Museum and the Mansard Roof House. Where to Go: Get the complete narrative of the Cripple Creek fires, the community impact and the responding rebuild at Cripple Creek Fire Station No. 3. The museum commemorates the bravery of the region’s busy firefighters over the centuries. Despite some massive setbacks, the mines hammered away and the community persevered over the following decade. With that, wealth continued to pile up for the mine owners and elites in the area. Between 1890 and 1910, the region produced more than 1.5 million pounds of gold through the mining efforts of several companies that comprised the Cripple Creek Mining District. Over the years, the success and output of these mines began to wane. By 1920, the Colorado Springs & Cripple Creek District Railroad stopped running, signaling a halt of economic growth. Many of the once-wealthy owners lost their fortunes. There was a brief revival in the mid-1930s when low labor costs and high gold prices made mining profitable again. However, World War II brought that to a screeching halt. The federal government suspended all gold mining during the war, and many Cripple Creek mines closed for good. Where to Go: After shutting down, the Colorado Springs & Cripple Creek District Railroad was disassembled and converted into a roadway. But you can still experience Cripple Creek by trolley today. Check out the Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad, a steam engine that loops riders past gold-filled excavation sites and other exciting points of interest. A Modern-Day Gold Rush A century after the initial rush, the region saw a new boom after passing a 1990 amendment allowing casinos to break ground. Now, visitors flock to Cripple Creek to take their chance at striking gold with gaming — in much more comfortable conditions compared to the prospectors before them. Visitors can try their hand at blackjack, slots, roulette, poker and more at the fun-filled, glowing pavilions. Despite the industry transition, the town maintains its Gold Rush-era charm today. Establishments overflowing with local history line the downtown, and several tours and museums allow visitors to extract stories from the area’s prosperous and colorful past. Learn more about other Colorado mining towns and historic districts at Colorado.com/MiningTowns. OFF-PEAK VISITS Fridays through Sundays are peak travel days in many mountain towns. Plan your excursions so you spend more time soaking up alpine views.
©Colorado. View All Articles.