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

Early History of Clear Creek

Photographed by Charles T. Harrell, July 4, 2011

1. Early History of Clear Creek Marker

Inscription. For thousands of years native peoples have lived, hunted, and battled along this creek. The earliest western nation to claim the creek was France when it created the New World Province called Louisiana in 1682. In 1765 the French ceded the province to Spain. In 1800 France, under Napoleon’s rule, regained Louisiana, and in 1803 sold it to the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase.

This creek had two names before it became Clear Creek. Its first known name was Cannon Ball Creek—so named by Frenchmen. In 1820 the American military exploration team led by Stephen H. Long noted it was named Cannon Ball Creek “from the size and form of the stones in its bed.” The creek’s second name came in 1832 when Louis Vasquez, a fur trader, built a fort upstream of the creek’s mouth. The creek then was called Vasquez Fork or Vasquez River. Louis Vasquez, for whom Vasquez Street in Golden is named, trapped and traded with natives and mountaineers along the river until around 1848. In 1859 gold rushers renamed the body Clear Creek reflecting the clarity of the waters.

Picture caption: Entrance of Clear Creek Canyon, circa 1870. Courtesy Denver Public Library, Western History Department.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Places • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1682.

Location.

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39° 45.412′ N, 105° 13.37′ W. Marker is in Golden, Colorado, in Jefferson County. It is on Washington Avenue. Marker is at the Washington Ave. 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: Settlement of Clear Creek Valley (here, next to this marker); Gold in Clear Creek (here, next to this marker); Farming (here, next to this marker); Tourism (here, next to this marker); Johnson and His Crew (a few steps from this marker); History of the Avenue Bridge 4 (a few steps from this marker); History of the Avenue Bridge 3 (a few steps from this marker); Settler Farm Wife’s Initiative (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Golden.

Early History of Clear Creek Marker Wide View image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Leslie Eudy, November 1, 2025

2. Early History of Clear Creek Marker Wide View

Credits. This page was last revised on November 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 17, 2011, by Charles T. Harrell of Woodford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,269 times since then and 74 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on December 17, 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.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. Wide area view of the marker and its surroundings. • Can you help?