Colorado

Rocky Mountain high. Rugged snow-capped peaks, many over 14,000 feet above sea level is what has called people to this area for centuries. From 1 A.D. to almost 1300 A.D. prehistoric Native Americans lived in the southwestern part of the state now called Mesa Verde. Sometime around 1276 A.D. a severe drought settled in and the inhabitants were forced to leave over a period of years. It wouldn't be until 1888 that a couple of cowboys would stumble on the ruins of the Cliff Palace. Today visitors can walk the narrow trails and observe how these people lived in caves that seem to have no way in or out as they are perched on the sides of the red sandstone cliffs.

It wasn't until the mid 1500's that Spanish explorers would cross this rugged land in search of the golden Seven Cities of Cebolla. Other expeditions would follow over the next hundred years, but most were passing through to the north or west and few stayed for any length of time. By the 1800's fur-traders, trappers and explorers were finding the rich mountains a way to make a living and provide valuable furs to Eastern city dwellers. However, the first permanent settlement wasn't established until 1851 in San Luis in the southern part of the territory.

In 1858 small gold deposits were found near the confluence of Cherry Creek and the South Platte River. This would be just the beginning of the gold rush and the "Pikes Peak or Bust" slogan. Gold would be found in many of the cold, rushing mountain streams in the following years and the Colorado Territory was making history. Gold camps sprang up throughout the mountains and the Indians fighting against the invasion of their land would rage on for years. It wouldn't be until 1876 that Colorado would be admitted to the nation, but during this time not only had gold been discovered but silver and coal as well. Many of these old towns are still booming with the tourist trade and it's a great look into the history of the state to walk through the original buildings and even some of the mines.

Denver became a hub of activity for the miners and businessmen cashing in on the influx of adventurers looking to strike it rich one way or another. Newspapers and telephone lines were letting the outside world know that Colorado was the place to be. By 1900 gold production had reached its peak. Gold camps were turning into cities, laws were being passed, railroads and highways through the mountain passes were built. The state had more than it's share of political upheavals, murders and scandals with so much fast growth and ambitious residents. The "Unsinkable Molly Brown" lived in Denver. She got her name from being one of the few survivors of the Titanic tragedy.

Today, visitors will have a wide range of not only historical sites to explore, but be able to enjoy the fantastic ski slopes, mountain water adventures, camping, hiking, boating, and spectacular vistas from the Great Sand Dunes to the overlooks on the foothills above Denver where you can see the city at night. There are narrow guage train trips through the mountains from one mining city to the next. There are ghost towns to explore. There are highways over snow covered mountains that will take your breath away as you look across miles and miles of unspoiled land.

For those interested in something a little more up-to-date there are two old gold mining towns that have been turned into gambling Meccas. Here visitors can choose from literally hundreds of casinos, hotels and restaurants all equipped with slot machines, card games and dice. Central City is only a short Drive from Denver and Cripple Creek is a scenic two to three hour drive through the mountains south of Denver.

Denver also offers theaters, fine art museums, historical museums, a great zoo, amusement parks, top of the line shopping areas, wonderful food form every corner of the world and the opportunity to do all this a 'mile high'. Denver sits exactly 5280 feet above sea level.

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