John H. Gregory first discovered gold in Colorado in 1859. The narrow ravine in which he panned the free or surface gold, was hailed as “the richest square mile on earth.” Within months, as the word Gold! spread, Gregory Gulch filled with . . . — — Map (db m287421) HM
Standing the Test of Time
Founder’s Clock
Black Hawk History Gold Mining Co. Mylo Lee, Dr. Frederick H. Judd, & William L. Lee
Principals of the Black Hawk Gold Mining Company and Founders of the City of Black . . . — — Map (db m287428) HM
This church stands on one of the oldest Catholic gathering places in Colorado. In 1860, Bishop Machereuf celebrated mass in the mining region and in 1862, the parish provided an "A" frame church on this site. The cornerstone for a permanent . . . — — Map (db m306208) HM
Gilpin County, Colorado
Black Hawk History
Gold & Silver
First by ore wagon, and later by train, tons of precious rock were sent to Black Hawk for various processes designed to extract the maximum amount of gold from the quartz ores. . . . — — Map (db m287407) HM
Clear Creek Country
To the south of Clear Creek Canyon, Idaho Springs, the site of George A. Jackson’s January 1859 gold strike, a thriving gold camp, and now a National Historic District, saw its population jump to 12,000 during the 1860s. . . . — — Map (db m316356) HM
Gilpin County, Colorado
Black Hawk History
Business
Businesses flourish in the late 1800s as the population of Black Hawk peaks with a population of 2,000.
Latest by Telegraph! Black Hawk Taken, John Armor Evacuates! Martin & Robb in . . . — — Map (db m287397) HM
Gilpin County, Colorado
Black Hawk History
Transportation
Early miners reached Black Hawk by any means possible–on horseback or on foot tugging pack mules, later via supply-laden wagons and eventually by time-saving train.
“…the . . . — — Map (db m287340) HM
A few hours after Sheriff Billy Cozen's wife had given birth to their first child, he apprehended two bank robbers. Gilpin County afforded no jail yet, so Billy took the suspects home and chained them — against his wife's protest — to the bed where . . . — — Map (db m288497) HM
Gilpin County, Colorado
Black Hawk History
Public School
Prominently situated on the hillside overlooking the commercial downtown, the classically-detailed wood frame and clapboard schoolhouse proclaimed education to be highly valued in . . . — — Map (db m287336) HM
Gilpin County, Colorado
Black Hawk History
Gregory Street Crossing
The Colorado Southern Narrow Gauge Railroad (originally the Colorado Central Railroad) was vital to Black Hawk. During the late 1800’s aside from rugged wagon roads, it . . . — — Map (db m51886) HM
Gilpin County, Colorado
Black Hawk History
Take an adventure in & around this venerable, most informative lithograph:
This bird’s-eye view of Black Hawk shows Gregory Gulch at the top of the map’s center – and Chase Gulch to the right . . . — — Map (db m51885) HM
Gilpin County, Colorado
Black Hawk History
Floods
Mining activities, the construction of mills, homes and access roads, together with the tremendous use of wood for fuel deforested the surrounding hillsides and caused frequent flooding in . . . — — Map (db m287402) HM
Gilpin County, Colorado
Black Hawk History
Main Street
“A sudden turn in the road discloses a view of Black Hawk, with its charming church perched above the town, on the extremity of the headland which separates Gregory Gulch from that of . . . — — Map (db m287341) HM
Gilpin County, Colorado
Black Hawk History
Railroad Trestles
To reach Black Hawk, the railroad constructed the open framework of diagonal braces or trestles to span the region’s gulches. The steep slopes required the train to reverse . . . — — Map (db m287337) HM
Gilpin County, Colorado
Black Hawk History
Discover the City’s Raucous and Civilized Past in Our Lively History Tour.
Amaze your friends—with fun facts to know and tell—as you discover the City’s raucous and civilized past via our . . . — — Map (db m287400) HM
Gilpin County, Colorado
Black Hawk History
Fire Department
Miraculously, the town of Black Hawk was spared the devastating fires that destroyed many early mining camps.
“As we go to press (2 a.m.) a terrible fire is raging on the . . . — — Map (db m287338) HM
Homestead, ranch, stagecoach stop, post office, hotel, Jesuit retreat, museum Placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior June 9, 1988 — — Map (db m288200) HM
