2009 was a year long celebration of the 150th anniversary of this little mining town!! One of the first mountain towns on I-70 westbound from Denver, Idaho Springs was established at the beginning of the gold rush back in 1859. The Heritage Museum tells the story of how it all began and the characters that molded this mining town. George Andrew Jackson was the first man to pan for gold in what’s now known as Idaho Springs. The Missouri man was staying in a camp near Golden, Colorado and went hunting. What he brought back was far more valuable than a deer, and when people starting hearing of the gold nuggets that were taken from the mountain streams close by, the Pike’s Peak gold rush was on.  The Heritage Museum exhibits chronicle the story from January 7, 1859 through the gold rush into the mid 1900′s.

More Idaho Springs Town Facts

The Underhill Museum is the home of mining engineer Dr. James Underhill and his wife Lucy, and is located in downtown Idaho Springs. Dr. Underhill was a professor of geology and mining at Colorado School of Mines in Golden for 27 years. One of his projects was the Edgar Experimental Mine in Idaho Springs. The name of the town is actually taken from an Arapaho Indian word “Edauhoe” which means “gem of the mountains”. You can be a part of the history and adventure in this mining town, enjoy walking tours, mine tours at the Argo Gold Mine, and you can even pan for real gold!  Idaho Springs is also home to many famous attractions such as the “Healing Waters” Indian Hot Springs and Tommyknocker Brewery and Pub, in addition to BeauJo’s Pizza which draws folks from all around to enjoy the Colorado mountain pie! When the hot springs was first promoted as a tourist destination in 1863, many famous people came to visit. Over the years, celebrities included Frank and Jesse James, Walt Whitman, Sarah Burnhardt, Horace Tabor, the Vanderbilts, and the Roosevelts. What is now the Elks Lodge 607 was the location in 1873 where US President Grant posed for a photo on a tour of the west that took him through Idaho Springs and Colorado. Another historic site is the Carnegie Library built by prize fighter Sidney Varney and Silas Knowles in 1904. A local brick mason, Varney gained notoriety fighting against boxing legend Jack Dempsey, also a Colorado resident.

Idaho Springs may have had small beginnings, but has grown to almost 2,000 residents and is now the largest town in Clear Creek County. Recreational opportunities abound here, and if you enjoy white water rafting as a fun way to spend a hot summer day with your friends or family, Highside Adventure Tours is there to help you.  Enjoying a picnic on the banks of Clear Creek is a relaxing time, and the shopping and sightseeing will fill a day or more. There are many pubs, restaurants and shops that are inviting and the local atmosphere is wonderful. It’s also a very quick trip from Denver Metro to visit.

Idaho Springs Local Attractions

Argo Gold Mine – “Your tour begins In Argotown where an experienced guide will inform you of the history of the tunnel, the mine and the mill Then give a live demonstration of the crushing, milling and rock drilling. You will then be transported up to The Double Eagle gold mine which is the same level as the top of the mill. After touring the mine you walk down through the mill, reading and observing the equipment, tools and relics used by the miners at the turn of the century. ”

Heritage Museum – Built in 1991, the museum tells the story of the Gold Rush, the history of the area, and has artifacts from the mining days and the Indian heritage of what is known as Idaho Springs, Colorado.

Underhill Museum – See what life in the early 1900′s was like in Idaho Springs. Dr. James Underhill was the first person in Colorado to earn his doctorate in geology and was a professor at Colorado School of Mines, in addition to writing many books on mining and surveying. See what  living in a small mining town would have been like at the turn of the last century.

Indian Hot Springs – “Pamper yourself with a therapeutic and relaxing treatment. Enjoy a massage or just relax in our hot springs mineral waters, which have been rated as one of the top ten mineral hot springs in the world. Book a unique and unforgettable spa experience today. The Indian Hot Springs is located in Idaho Springs, Colorado. 32 miles west of Denver via 1-70, to Idaho Springs, exit.”

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