Golden Colorado – Rocky Mountains and Buffalo Bill

Golden Colorado is at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, near Denver. It is home to the Colorado School of Mines, the Coors Brewery, and the Buffalo Bill grave and museum. Golden is a small but very scenic town nestled next to Clear Creek with views of Table Mountain and Lookout Mountain. It’s a college town, but also a Coors company town, and a hub for outdoors sports and mountaineering. The downtown is very walkable with charming 19^th century buildings. There are lots of shops, places to eat, and things to do in Golden!

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I love the history of Buffalo Bill, his Wild West show, and especially Annie Oakley, the famous markswoman. So I spent most of my time at the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave on Lookout Mountain above Golden. Lookout Mountain is part of the Denver Mountain Parks system. Buffalo Bill visited Denver many times and stayed in Denver near the end of his life. He asked to be buried at Lookout Mountain and his grave became a tourist destination at the beginning of the 20^th century. Johnny Baker, a marksman in the Wild West show and a foster son to Buffalo Bill began the museum as a home for many artifacts from Buffalo Bill’s career.

The museum has exhibits about William F. Cody’s life including his time in the Pony Express and as a US Army scout. The history of the Wild West Show (1883-1915) is also exhibited through well-done displays and artifacts. Annie Oakley and Chief Sitting Bull are honored. http://www.buffalobill.org/

You can look up the dates the Wild West show performed in towns all over the country (this database is also online.) I enjoyed trying to guess if my family saw the show in Pocatello or San Francisco.

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Clear Creek runs through the town of Golden and I enjoy eating with a view of the creek. The Golden Hotel overlooks the creek and its Bridgewater Grill has a lovely patio. The menu is American and includes sandwiches and salads. Very delicious! http://www.thegoldenhotel.com/bridgewater-grill/

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Prussian immigrant Adolph Coors began the Coors brewery in Golden in 1873, with a partner. Coors is the largest single brewery in the world.

Golden Colorado Map

Next time we visit I’d like to see the Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum, Colorado Railroad museum, and the Astor House.

Resource Links

• http://visitgolden.com/
  • Visit Golden
• https://www.millercoors.com/breweries/coors-brewing-company/tours
  • Coors Brewery tours
• http://www.goldenhistory.org/
  • Golden History Museums include history center, Clear Creek homestead park, and Astor House

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