Discover the Colorado Mountain Mining Towns of Clear Creek County
Four of Colorado’s original mining camps are Idaho Springs, Empire, Georgetown, and Silver Plume. These towns are also surrounded by other known County lands such as Evergreen, Alice, Dumont, Downieville, Lawson, and Bakerville as well as many mining claims and public lands.
The towns offer a unique opportunity to explore the many real and authentic pieces of Colorado and travel back in time with snapshots of Colorado History, the gold rush and the silver boom.
Explore Our Towns
Idaho Springs
Gold, Hot Springs, and Discovery
In January of 1859, George Andrew Jackson and Tom Golden were exploring the area now known as Clear Creek County. Tom Golden went on to establish the town of Golden, Colorado. But George Jackson decided to continue exploring.
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Empire
The History of a Great Mining Town
Empire is one of Clear Creek County’s hidden gems. Located just off I-70 on US Highway 40 in a sunny star-shaped valley traversed by Clear Creek.
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Georgetown
Colorado's Silver Queen of the Rockies
In 1858, two Kentucky-born men named George and David Griffith set out west in search of gold. On August 1, 1859, George discovered gold at the base of the mountain that now bears the family name. The Griffith Mining District was formed in June 1860, and soon afterwards, the town of Georgetown was formed. What started as a humble mining camp in the Kansas Te
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Silver Plume
A Town Rich in History and Silver
To stroll down the dirt main street of Silver Plume is like taking a step back in time. When silver was discovered in the area just west of Georgetown, the silver was so abundant that it lay in feather-like formations.
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Evergreen
A Gateway to the Great Outdoors
The north-western corner of unincorporated Evergreen is a secluded mountain oasis. With stately evergreens and wide open valleys setting the stage for immaculate backdrops of the Rocky Mountains. The Kaiser Ranch, once called home to Willie Nelson, an American country music singer-songwriter, still stands surrounded by vast grassy meadows and peaceful mountain streams
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Dumont
Stop Your Stagecoach in this Town
Originally named Mill City, the name was changed to Dumont in 1880 in honor of Colonel John M. Dumont, a pioneer and influential mining man in the county. At one time, Colonel Dumont owned three mines – the Whale, Freemont, and Lincoln mines. Today, the Stanley Mine is located on the site of the old Whale Mine.
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Downieville
The Legacy of One Ranch Lives On...
John Coburn, born in Down County, Ireland on Christmas Day 1822, felt that he had a special mission for his life. Wild dreams brought him to America where he first settled in Pennsylvania. There, he met his wife, Margaret Wilfong.
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Lawson
One History, One Community, One Mountain Waterpark
The Red Elephant Mines were discovered in 1876. John Coburn came to the area from the East, settled in the area, and designed the town as a place where families could be comfortable raising children. He called it Free America, which was Lawson’s original name. When the railroad came through and the site for the depot was selected, a portion of Free America was picked.
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