Golden in Jefferson County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Fearsome Floods
Photographed by Deanna Bowe, November 1, 2025
1. Fearsome Floods Marker
Fearsome Floods
The most fearsome flood on Clear Creek was in 1896, part of the flood that claimed 29 lives on rivers and gulches across Jefferson County. The deaths included three in Golden: Annie Laura Edwards, Andrew A. Johnson, and Anna A. Johnson on Tucker Gulch that joins the river. All of the structures hit by the flood on Clear Creek were damaged except for the Washington Avenue bridge.
In 1956 the Georgetown Dam broke, sending a flood of water which, at its crest, reached the deck of the Washington Avenue Bridge. Floods are a major reason why there are few aged trees along the banks of Clear Creek today.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Disasters. A significant historical year for this entry is 1896.
Location. 39° 45.402′ N, 105° 13.364′ W. Marker is in Golden, Colorado, in Jefferson County. It is on Washington Avenue, on the right when traveling south. Marker is on the Washington Avenue bridge. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Golden CO 80401, United States of America. Touch for directions.
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); Floods on Clear Creek (here, next to this marker); History of the Avenue Bridge (here, next to this marker); History of the Avenue Bridge 2
this page online
Photographed by Deanna Bowe, November 1, 2025
2. Fearsome Floods Marker Wide View
Credits. This page was last revised on November 18, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 17, 2025, by Leslie Eudy of Golden, Colorado. This page has been viewed 83 times since then and 53 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.
