Golden in Jefferson County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Floods on Clear Creek
Photographed by Leslie Eudy, November 1, 2025
1. Floods on Clear Creek Marker
Clear Creeks flow is heavily influenced by the runoff of melting snow high in the mountains, as well as from major thunderstorms hitting its watershed. The creek has flooded many times with the rivers historic flood season running from June through August. Known flood years in the Golden area include: 1859, 1864, 1866, 1867, 1876, 1878 (twice), 1881 (twice), 1882, 1883 (twice), 1885, 1888, 1890 (three times), 1894, 1896, 1907, 1909, 1933, 1948, 1956, and 1965. Over the years, floods on Clear Creek have destroyed property including roads, railroads, bridges, buildings, and crops.
The flood of 1864 destroyed all bridges on the river, forcing travelers to cross on a ferry east of Golden. A rare winter flood happened in 1885, when an ice dam formed at the Ford Street Bridge in Golden and nearly destroyed it. A disastrous Clear Creek flood happened on July 3, 1890 when the river claimed three lives. The river swept away Mrs. R.R. Able, her infant daughter, and Ethel Drake while they were camping several miles west of Golden.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Disasters • Waterways & Vessels.
Location. 39° 45.403′ N, 105° 13.366′ W. Marker is in Golden, Colorado, in Jefferson
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Regionally, this marker is in Colorado’s Front Range. It is also in the American Mountain West. Globally, it is in North America, the Rocky Mountains, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Recent History of Clear Creek (here, next to this marker); Fearsome Floods (here, next to this marker); History of the Avenue Bridge (here, next to this marker); History of the Avenue Bridge 2 (here, next to this marker); History of the Avenue Bridge 3 (a few steps from this marker); Johnson and His Crew (a few steps from this marker); History of the Avenue Bridge 4 (a few steps from this marker); Settler Farm Wifes Initiative (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Golden.
Photographed by Deanna Bowe, November 1, 2025
2. Floods on Clear Creek Marker Wide View
Credits. This page was last revised on February 18, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 17, 2025, by Leslie Eudy of Golden, Colorado. This page has been viewed 127 times since then and 97 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 17, 2025, by Leslie Eudy of Golden, Colorado. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
