Pick-Your-Passion Itineraries / COME TO LIFE PEEK AT THE PAST: HISTORIC DISTRICTS Colorado’s historic districts are windows into some of the state’s most enchanting, legend-filled towns. Uncover fantastic Colorado lore with these walkable historic districts in just a few of the state’s heritage areas. @dconvertini SOUTH CENTRAL: 151 MILES The United States’ highest incorporated city, Leadville sits at 10,152 feet and boasts a 70-square-block National Historic Landmark District and a 20-square-mile preserved mining district. Take the historic walking tour and see 50 buildings dating back to 1870. Salida is a popular rafting and mountain-biking community sitting near the headwaters of the Arkansas River and is home to Colorado’s largest historic district. Take a walking tour of downtown Salida and visit detailed brick Victorian buildings. Crested Butte ’s entire downtown is a registered National Historic District. Wander Elk Avenue and stop into the brightly colored, restored, mining-era buildings turned boutique shops; settle in at a cozy pub to sample some of the state’s finest brews; and visit the Crest-ed Butte Mountain Heritage Museum. @Charles Mühle Denver 70 LEADVILLE CRESTED BUTTE Buena Vista NORTH CENTRAL: 111 MILES CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: GEORGETOWN, FLICKR/DCONVERTINI; SALIDA, FLICKR/CHARLES MÜHLE; SILVERTON, CLASSIC VISIONS PHOTOGRAPHY. Laden with silver deposits, the Georgetown and Silver Plume area quickly became known for its ability to make people wealthy during Colo-rado’s mining heyday. Today, the area is still rich with one thing: history. Stroll Victorian George-town’s main street, hop on the Georgetown Loop Railroad and tour the preserved 1800s Hotel De Paris Museum and Hamill House Museum. The Downtown Denver Historic District encom-passes 43 architec-turally or historically significant buildings. A walk among the ware-house and mercantile buildings showcases the present-day shopping and dining quarter’s late-19th-century roots. Ride a trolley to the lively Fort Collins Historic District — said to have inspired Disneyland’s Main Street USA. Old Town’s pedes-trian mall is filled with independently owned bookstores, galleries, eat-eries and shops housed in 23 buildings that are part of national and local designated historic districts. You’re also just a short drive from Greeley and Loveland , both of which have walkable downtown areas great for grabbing a beer and some lunch. SALIDA Gunnison 50 Montrose 50 Denver SOUTHWEST: 208 MILES Ouray SILVERTON Durango ’s attractive mix of Old West and Southwest flourishes in the downtown registered National Historic District. Visit the LAKE CITY district’s restaurants, brewpubs, art galleries, shops and boutique hotels, including the landmark Strater Hotel, where Louis L’Amour wrote the Sackett series. Silverton was in the heart of one of the richest silver-mining regions of Colorado when it was founded in 1871. Today, many travelers arrive via the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad to tour the town’s mines and heritage center and gaze at Victorian-era delights like the Grand Imperial Hotel. FORT COLLINS Denver 550 25 160 DENVER SILVER PLUME GEORGETOWN 70 More than 200 Victorian-era houses and cabins, churches, shops and public buildings in Lake City give testament to the tiny town’s role in settling the American West. Stop by the Lake City Museum to pick up a walking tour that will plunge you deep into this mountain town’s history. DURANGO SEE MORE AT COLORADO.COM/HISTORICDISTRICTS. COLORADO.COM / 79
Colorado Official State Vacation Guide 2020: Page 79
