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Long gone are the Gold Rush days of Idaho Springs, Colorado, but the small town has struck another form of gold — tourism.
Overview of Idaho Springs, Colorado
Several months after George A. Jackson struck gold on January 5, 1859, prospectors flocked to the area and a permanent settlement sprung up. Originally known as Jackson’s Diggings, it was later called Sacramento City, Idahoe, Idaho, Idaho City, and finally Idaho Springs. The town was incorporated on November 15, 1885.
Long after the gold supplies were exhausted, hard rock mining continued to be the main industry of the town. Since then, tourism has taken over. Just 30 miles west of Denver, Idaho Springs and its attractive historic downtown makes for a nice day trip along with neighboring Georgetown.
Idaho Springs Visitor Center and Heritage Museum
The Idaho Springs Visitor Center and Heritage Museum, run by the Historical Society of Idaho Springs, is a great place to start exploring the town. Staff is very helpful in giving suggestions on what to do.
The informative museum gives an overview of the gold mining process and the area’s history. Admission and parking are both free (as of April 2025). We were able to leave our car there for the entire morning as we explored the town.
Miner Street
Just a few blocks west of the visitor center is the charming historic downtown along Miner Street. Almost every building has an informational plaque with a detailed history. You’ll find lots of interesting shops and restaurants along the street.
Idaho Springs City Hall
The brick building at 17th and Miner serves as City Hall. It was originally an elementary school built in Grass Valley in 1900. The building moved to its current location in 1984 and became City Hall in 1986.
Rohner Building
On the next block is the Rohner Building. The one-story building was constructed by William and Edward Normandeau in 1881 and opened in November of that year. It operated as a dry goods store and also sold boots and shoes. John Rohner, a boxer who had fought for the world heavyweight championship around 1900, was working next door at Worth’s Saloon. After being denied a 5¢ an hour raise, he stormed out of the saloon and vowed to open his own business.
In 1906, Rohner purchased the Normandeau Building next door and remodeled it, adding the elaborate façade. He opened a saloon and billiard parlor to compete with Worth, offering a “strictly first class” environment with high-end liquors, wines, and cigars, along with elegant furnishings. The building was restored in the 1970s.
Brunswick Flat
On the northeast corner of 15th and Miner is Brunswick Flat. Constructed in two phases, the west section was completed in 1880 and the east section the following year. Cornish brick masons created the frieze at the top. Peter Miess, who named the building, operated a dry goods and boot store there. A barber shop, which became a saloon in 1906, opened in the basement. Miess lived in an apartment on the second floor, where there was also a room for miners.
By 1885, the east section was occupied by Campbell & White Grocers, while the Machol Drug Store moved into the west section in 1913. That same year, the city installed a red light on top of the building. When an emergency occurred, the operator on duty would activate the light, and the city’s lone police officer on duty would report to City Hall. This system continued into the 1950s when radios became common. Brunswick Flat operated as a drug store until 1985, and the red light was restored in 1991.
Bank Block
Across the street on the southwest corner is the Bank Block, also called the Miners & Merchants Bank Building. It was either built or reconstructed in 1901 and once housed the Miners & Merchants Bank, established in 1902.
Hanchett Building
On the next block west is the Hanchett Building, constructed by Silas Hanchett (1831–1894) in 1890. Hanchett arrived in the area in 1872 and eventually became the manager of the Lamartine Mine, developing it into one of the most prosperous in the country. The building has arguably the most impressive façade on Miner Street.
Underhill Museum
The Underhill Museum, a historic home built by surveyor and engineer Dr. James Underhill (1871–1954) in 1897, is located across the street. It served as both a home and office and contains furniture and artifacts used in the early 20th century. Admission is free but donations are welcome (as of April 2023).
Underhill’s wife Lucy (1875–1969), who lived in the home until 1963, deeded the property to the Idaho Springs Library for use as a museum. She left both the home and office intact. The home has remained a museum to this day, respecting Lucy’s wish that it never become a tavern.
Carnegie Library
On the next block west is a Carnegie library completed in 1904. Industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie (1835–1919) donated 2,509 libraries worldwide between 1883 and 1929. This one was built thanks to a public grant of $10,443 on June 1, 1903.
Central Hose House
Next door is the Central Hose House. Built in 1878, it served as the town’s first fire station. Historic firefighting equipment and interpretive panels can be seen behind the plastic partition.
Narrow Gauge Railway
Heading back towards the visitor center, you can make a quick stop behind City Hall to see Engine No. 60 and Coach No. 70. These remnants of the old narrow gauge railroad running through town were used by Colorado & Southern Railway until the narrow gauge was slowly dismantled.
Mine Tours in Idaho Springs
The biggest attractions in Idaho Springs are the gold mine tours at the Argo Gold Mill and the Phoenix Mine. We asked the woman at the visitor center which one she recommended. She didn’t exactly come out and say it but kept hinting that Phoenix had the better tour.
Argo Gold Mill
The Argo Gold Mill operates the nearest mine tour. Its story begins in September 1893, when Samuel Newhouse had the idea to build a drainage tunnel underneath gold mines to allow for easier ore removal. Miners were spending at least ⅓ of their time hauling water out of the shafts rather than mining.
The tunnel, completed in November 1910, eventually became known as the Argo Tunnel. It’s 4.16 miles (6.69 kilometers) long and intersected nearly all the gold mines between Idaho Springs and Central City. Water drained out of the tunnel rather than needing to be pumped out. Another benefit was that miners could send ore down the tunnel to the Idaho Springs side, where it could easily be shipped to Denver by train.
When the ore wasn’t coming out as rich in gold, it needed to be processed, so the Argo Gold Mill was built in 1914. The mill, which was operated by three to five men, ran 24 hours a day and could be heard 20 miles away. At the time it was the largest milling operation in the world. Mining ceased in January 1943, after a blast in the tunnel released millions of gallons of water and killed four men.
The mill opened as a tourist attraction and mining museum in 1976 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 31, 1978. Tours run daily and reservations are recommended. They last about 75 minutes and include a 20-minute panning lesson. Prices are current as of April 2025:
- Mill and tunnel tours cost $30 for adults, $20 for kids age 5–16, $4 for kids age 1–4, and free for infants.
- Panning-only prices are $18 for guaranteed placer gold and $12 for guaranteed gemstones.
Phoenix Gold Mine
The Phoenix Gold Mine was first recorded in 1871 when a group of prospectors, including Horace Chase and George Miner, filed a lode claim. The ore proved to be low grade, and the claim changed ownership several times. Cornish miners from England dug a tunnel nearly 1,000 feet (304.8 meters) where they found ore of limited value. They continued another 1,000 feet and discovered a rich gold vein, and the mine operated until 1914.
The Phoenix Gold Mine reopened in 1936 when the price of gold increased. It temporarily closed in 1941 due to U.S. involvement in World War II, and reopened after the Gunderson family purchased it after the war. Following the advice of their mining consultant, Earl Cronk, they discovered another section of the vein just 150 feet (45.7 meters) into a new tunnel. They extracted millions of dollars worth of gold until 1960, when they ceased operations.
Al Mosch (1930–2019) purchased the mine in 1968 with the intention of extracting remaining ore from the support pillars and selling the land for development. His children, David and Cyndi, discovered a new gold vein of high-grade ore in 1974, later named the Resurrection Vein. The family opened the mine to tourism in 1988, providing additional capital for further exploration.
Tours of the Phoenix Gold Mine
Guides give an excellent tour on the gold mining process and claim to show the biggest gold vein you’ll ever see on a mining tour. Prices are current as of April 2025:
- Standard tours, which last about an hour, include panning for gold. They cost $28 for adults and $22 for kids age 3–16.
- A seasonal tour of the Centurion Mine, including a mine train ride, is $32 for adults and $28 for kids age 3–16.
- A combo for both tours is $54 for adults and $48 for kids age 3–16.
- Seasonal creekside gold panning is $18 for adults and $16 for kids age 3–16.
Admission is free for kids under 3. The mine is open daily, weather permitting, from 10am to 4pm.
Other Activities in Idaho Springs
In addition to the mines and historical sites in Idaho Springs, there are lots of outdoor activities in the area, including white water rafting, mountain biking, rock climbing, and fishing. Some places in town can help arrange these activities.
Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway
Another popular activity is a drive the 49-mile (79 kilometer) Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway on the highest paved road in North America. Formerly Mount Evans, it’s located within the Arapaho National Forest. If we had another day, we definitely would’ve made the drive up.
The road is paved all the way up to the parking area at an elevation of 14,130 feet (4,307 meters). There are opportunities for hiking, camping, picnicking, fishing, and wildlife viewing. A timed entry permit is required if you plan to stop at the Forest Service sites, Mount Goliath, or the Summit Interpretive Area. Fees are current as of April 2025:
- Passenger cars cost $15.
- A two-person motorcycle costs $6.
- A one-person motorcycle costs $3.
- Reservation fees are an additional $2.
Visitors with an interagency pass are admitted free of charge. Check on current conditions before driving up. The summit is only open from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
