Golden in Jefferson County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Native Americans on Clear Creek

Photographed by Charles T. Harrell, July 4, 2011

1. Native Americans on Clear Creek Marker

Inscription. For many years, the Ute Indians lived in the mountains west of the mouth of Clear Creek Canyon, hunting and trading with area travelers. The Arapaho, refugees from the Great Lakes region, and the Cheyenne arrived in the area during the mid-18th Century, as European settlement displaced them from their ancestral homes. The new arrivals lived on the plains and often clashed with the Utes. There was an inter-tribal battle in 1839 in today’s Coors Valley. In that battle, as reported by mountain man “Buckskin Jack” Fletcher, Arapaho Chief Little Raven, with the aid of Buckskin Jack, used North Table Mountain to spy on and defeat his Ute enemies. In the early 1840s, Chief Black Kettle and his Cheyenne party escaped to that mountaintop and waved their blankets at the Utes in defiance, much to the disgust of Ute Chief Colorow.

According to a legend told by Chief Colorow, a deadly and defining battle ensued at the entrance to Clear Creek Canyon during the 1840s. There was a huge loss of life on both sides. According to the legend, the Golden valley was avoided for more than a decade by those who had fought in that battle. It was not until the gold rush that legend allows for their return. This legend is at least partially confirmed by evidence including remains discovered by gold rushers.

The Utes camped in the Golden valley as late as the early 1870s, lodging both at present-day “Colorow Point” on Lookout Mountain and in town. They bartered with the downtown merchants and held wrestling contests with Golden residents for prizes. Chief Friday, of the Arapaho, camped in Downtown Golden as late as 1867 at present-day 1114 Washington Avenue. He was often seen doting on his beloved little granddaughter Tel-le-qua. However, Chief Friday made every effort to avoid meeting Chief Colorow in Golden.

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Today, many Native Americans from a variety of tribes come to the Golden valley in harmony, often to celebrate the rich traditions of their past.

Caption: Lithographic reproduction of a portrait of Chief Colorow, White River Band, Native Americans Northern Utes, circa 1862. Courtesy Denver Public Library, Western History Collection

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Wars, US Indian. A significant historical year for this entry is 1839.

Location. 39° 45.403′ N, 105° 13.349′ W. Marker is in Golden, Colorado, in Jefferson County. It is on Washington Avenue Bridge, on the right when traveling north. 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

Native Americans on Clear Creek Marker Wide view image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Leslie Eudy, November 4, 2025

2. Native Americans on Clear Creek Marker Wide view

walking distance of this marker: The White Ash Mine Disaster (here, next to this marker); Transportation (here, next to this marker); Irrigation and Farming (a few steps from this marker); Golden City (a few steps from this marker); Bridge Load Ordinance Background (a few steps from this marker); Gold (a few steps from this marker); Golden and Clear Creek (a few steps from this marker); History of the Avenue Bridge (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Golden.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 27, 2011, by Charles T. Harrell of Woodford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,988 times since then and 77 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 27, 2011, by Charles T. Harrell of Woodford, Virginia. 2. submitted on November 6, 2025, by Leslie Eudy of Golden, Colorado. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.