Georgetown, CO: Come for the Train, and stay for the Downtown Experience!

---

Georgetown – A Brief History

Gold Mining era

The area was first settled in 1859 during the Pike’s Peak Gold Rush. George and David Griffith were members of a mining party which decided to separate from the others in the Central City and Idaho Springs areas. They found gold in Clear Creek (near the present-day site of the Alpine Inn). However, after 1861, new gold strikes around Georgetown were few and far between.

Silver Mining era

Silver was not discovered until 1864. John Henry Bowman (1850–1900) who played various roles in the early mining days moved to Georgetown, Colorado, in 1885. He and his wife, Lavinia (1848–1901) built what later became known as the Bowman/White House in Georgetown (a historical site today).

The town experienced its greatest growth and prosperity during the Colorado silver boom of the 1880s when it rivaled Leadville to the west as the mining capital of Colorado. The town population exceeded 10,000, and a movement arose briefly among local citizens to move the state capital there from Denver. However, the town went into decline after the collapse of the silver boom in 1893.

Georgetown is the only Colorado town that still operates under a charter from 1868

On January 28, 1868, the Territorial Legislature passed a law incorporating the Town of Georgetown. A few months later it wrested the county seat from nearby Idaho Springs, which is a larger community today. The historic courthouse dates from this year. Georgetown is the only Colorado municipality that still operates under a charter from the Territory of Colorado which includes a Police Judge as Mayor and a Board of Selectmen instead of a Town Council. 

The Railroad comes to town

The building of the narrow gauge Colorado Central Railroad up the canyon from the nearby town of Golden in the 1870s further increased the town’s importance. Although most of the railroad was later removed, a portion remained between the town and Silver Plume and is operated today as a tourist railroad called the Georgetown Loop. 

Renaissance: The Construction of I70 links Georgetown to the Ski Industry

In the 1950s the town began to experience a small renaissance as an “after skiing” watering hole for the thousands of skiers who passed through the town on their way down from the mountains. Small craft shops set up businesses in the once decrepit 19th century storefronts. By the late 1960s, the establishment of a museum in one of the historic hotels had made the town a popular summer tourist destination where visitors could relive the experience of walking among structures from the mining boom. Furthermore, as the front-range ski areas grow in popularity, the town makes for a good midway stop for the returning skiers coming through I-70.

---

#1. Walk through history – so many beautifully restored historic buildings!

We LOVE a historic downtown, revitalized while still keeping their historic charm. Georgetown has this vibe in a big way in their Silver Plume Historic District which is a Registered National Historic Landmark

• The Old School – Google Maps – Originally Constructed in 1874, our school house has undergone an extensive restoration, funded by the Georgetown Trust. It is an arts venue and includes workspace to host concerts, workshops and art events. See Georgetown Trust website for Details and a calendar of events.
• John Tomay Memorial Library – Google Maps
• Georgetown Town Hall – Google Maps – City hall
• J. Snetzer Merchant Tailor – Google Maps
• Georgetown – Silver Plume Historic District, Registered National Historic Landmark – Google Maps

---

#2. So many vibrant downtown shops and restaurants!

• Shoppe Internationale – Google Maps – we especially enjoyed stopping by this shop with its Scandinavian themed items, including a giant selection of Christmas decorations and gifts
• Georgetown Valley Candy Co – Google Maps – old fashioned Candy Store!
• Kneisel & Anderson – Google Maps – old fashioned Grocery Store!
• Georgetown Coffee and Tea – Google Maps – local coffee shop
• Georgetown Jerky & Emporium – Google Maps – Grocery store for all kinds of jerky
• RailRoad Art By Scotty – Google Maps – Train themed and local artwork!
• End of the Line – Google Maps – stop by and grab a Train souvenir – or an old fashioned milk shake!
• Colorado Mountain Art Gallery – Google Maps – local art!
• Mountain Mamas’ Needful Things – Google Maps – lots of fun items well displayed

---

#3. Loved our visits to the 511 Rose Restaurant and Guanella Pass Brewery

The Guanella Pass Brewery is located in downtown Georgetown with both inside and patio seating. Being a mild fall day, we sat outside and admired the fall colors while enjoying a refreshing brew before heading to the Train Station. The Brewery is named after the Scenic Byway Guanella Pass, a popular drive from Georgetown with spectacular views of Mount Evans and Mount Bierstadt.

After our Train ride, we stopped by the 511 Rose for dinner. The food was delicious, and we enjoyed live music from an “indoor porch” in their 2-story interior dining room. See their website for a fascinating origin story for both the historic building and the current owner’s efforts to create this beautiful restaurant experience!

• Guanella Pass Brewing Company – Google Maps
• 511 ROSE – Google Maps

---

#4. Admire the Victorian-era homes in the neighborhoods adjacent to downtown…

There are some really lovely examples of 1900’s era architecture in Georgetown! Given the mining wealth in the area when they were built, there are several impressive mansions as well as smaller homes painted in unique colors. We enjoyed walking around the neighborhoods next to downtown to see the variety of homes.

• Gateway Visitor Center – Google Maps – stop by the Visitor Center to pick up a walking tour map!

---

#5… and the variety of pretty Victorian era churches!

While walking the neighborhood, we also admired a couple of particularly beautiful renovated old churches.

• First Presbyterian Church of Georgetown, Colorado – Google Maps
• Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church – Google Maps
• Grace Episcopal Church – Google Maps

---

#6. Experience the Georgetown Loop Train!

The Georgetown Loop train is one of the many authentic train ride options in Colorado and is particularly appealing due to its accessibility, interesting history and festive vibe. We enjoyed our Halloween-themed experience immensely, which also provided beer tasting in a tip-of-the-hat to Oktoberfest.

• Georgetown Loop Railroad – Google Maps – check out details on the Georgetown Loop website.

---

#7. Geek out at the Museum of Power and other historic buildings with tours and museums

• Georgetown Energy Museum – Google Maps – Located in a fully functioning and operational Hydroelectric generating plant in Georgetown, Colorado. The plant is owned and operated by Xcel Energy.
  • Tour Information – This museum is the oldest working hydroelectric plant in the US. The tour is free and self guided.
• Hotel de Paris – Louis Dupuy – beautifully restored old hotel, available for tours
  • Tour Information – 1 hour tours originate in our Museum Shop. See website for details.  
• Georgetown Firefighting Museum Alpine Hose No 2 – Google Maps – tour the iconic building featured on the town logo!
• Hamill House Museum – Google Maps – Gothic Revival home museum, wedding venue, and home of the non-profit historicgeorgetown.org
  • Tour information – tours by appointment or during an event, such as
    • Georgetown Christmas Market in Georgetown, CO
    • Duck Races | Historic Georgetown, Inc.
• Capital Prize Gold Mine Tours – Google Maps – “a unique tour experience that takes you back in time to the days of the Colorado Gold Rush”
  • Tour information – book tours online
• Next visit, we will try a Haunted Walking tour! Here’s an option: Ghost Tours |Colorado|Silver Queen Walking Tours|

Annual Events

• June: Slacker half Marathon, Relay and 4 Mile Races
• August: Georgetown to Idaho Springs Half Marathon
• September: Silver Splash & Gold Rush Duck Races – hundreds of rubber ducks race down Clear Creek River
• November: Georgetown Bighorn Sheep Festival
• December: Christmas Market – first two weekends in December!
• December: Christmas at the Hamil House
• All Year: Events sponsored by the Georgetown Loop train
• All Year: Tourism board featured events

---

Organizations that support Community in Georgetown

There is an active community supporting Georgtown as a place to live and visit. I was particularly impressed to see the many organizations focused on restoring historic old buildings, giving them new life to serve community purposes.

• Town Of Georgetown, CO – city website
  • Comprehensive Plan – a 2016 updated plan “to help guide its growth, development and preservation as an historic Colorado mountain community.” It includes location specific planning called the 3-mile plan.
  • Calendar – see real-time calendar of activities in Georgetown
• Visit Clear Creek County – Clear Creek County Tourism Bureau
  • Get The Guide – Clear Creek County Tourism Bureau – see a virtual Visitor’s Guide!
• CCEDC – Clear Creek County Economic Development Corporation
• Historic Preservation Advocacy in Georgetown, CO – we saw many references to the beautiful restoration work funded by this organization! … “a nonprofit aiming to foster a community, in which each citizen contributes to the preservation of historic structures and areas of Georgetown.”
  • Georgetown Christmas Market in Georgetown, CO – The Historic Preservation organization sponsors this amazing Christmas event
• Georgetown Trust – “we have helped bring about a slate of community programs including the Devil Moon Concert Series and Mountain Jams Free Concert Series, the Bighorn Sheep Festival, The Georgetown Trust provides valuable community and traveler resources in the form of the Gateway Visitor Center and the Workspace at the Old School, and serves as stewards to Georgetown History in the preservation of the Old School and Santiago Mill.”
  • Events — Georgetown Trust – see a list of events sponsored by the Georgetown Trust!

---

Georgetown Map