Breckenridge Colorado Attractions / An Old Mining Town and Resort

 

A View of Breckenridge, Colorado

Breckenridge Colorado, a great place to visit anytime during the year, has it's roots back in the heydays of Colorado gold mining. The first settlers came into Summit County Colorado in 1859 during the time of the Pikes Peak Gold Rush. What was a base camp for the miners would turn into the town of Breckenridge.

As the California Gold Rush demonstrated, a mining camp can turn into a town virtually overnight. One year later in 1860 a post office was established to serve more than 8,000 people. Today Breckenridge has the distinction of being Colorado's largest historic district containing more than 350 historic structures.

Breckenridge as a Mining Town / Mine Sites to Visit

The town of Breckenridge was settled to serve the miners working the placer (surface) gold deposits and today there are fun activities for the entire family taking you back to the era of the gold mines.

Photo of old Country Boy Mine

The Country Boy Mine, opened in 1887, was one of the largest and most famous gold mines in Breckenridge. Take a  mine tour into a real gold mine at this historic restored mining site. While at the mine you can also pan for gold. Directions to the Country Boy Mine from downtown Breckenridge are as follows...From the center of town head North on Main Street.Take a right onto Wellington Road (Wellington Road is 1 block north of Ski Hill Road/Lincoln Avenue).Continue on Wellington Road east for 1 mile. Wellington Road becomes French Gulch Road.Veer right onto French Gulch Road continue for 1 mile.The mine is located on the right. For more information on the Country Boy Mine see website.....http://www.countryboymine.com/ 

Winter in Breckenridge

Another Breckenridge attraction is the Lomax Mine. The mine is located near downtown Breckenridge and was an active hydraulic placer mining operation in the 1860's. Visit this old mine today and an expert guides will take you way back in time to Breckenridge's early mining days. Step inside a miner’s cabin, see original hydraulic mining equipment and learn to pan for gold. For more information on the Lomax Mine see website.....http://breckheritage.com/lomax-placer-mine-tour-and-gold-panning-site/#

The Washington Mine was one of the area’s largest underground mines in the 1880's. The underground size of the mine was more than 10,000 square feet. Visitors to the Washington Mine today will see the methods, equipment, lifestyles and hardships of the hard rock mining era in Colorado's Summit County. Your tour of the Washington Mine will take you underground for a first hand mining experience. The kid's will learn how to pan for gold and any gold they find they can keep.

Visit the Red, White and Blue Fire House Museum.The all volunteer Breckenridge Fire department was founded in 1880. Towns during the 1800's, especially those mining towns that grew fast, were largely constructed of wood. Because of this the fire demon could strike at any time. Many of the California gold country mining towns that sprang up in the early 1850's, also built mostly of wooden structures, suffered devastating fires, some more than once.

The name for the Breckenridge Colorado museum and the fire department came from the fact that the department first established three different fire fighting companies. The Fire Museum displays an original human-powered ladder cart, a restored hose cart as well as fire fighting equipment and uniforms from the first companies. The Breckenridge Fire Department over all these decades was comprised of miners, teamsters, saloon keepers, local merchants and many others who worked side by side fighting fires. The Fire Museum is open year-round with tours conducted by modern firefighters.

Breckenridge restaurant

Breckenridge Colorado Today

Breckenridge is the oldest and largest town in Colorado's famous Summit County. Breckenridge has been referred to as the perfect mountain town. It is the largest downtown historic district in the state.

Through music, film, theater, visual arts, galleries, museums, historical sites, and educational programs, Breckenridge Colorado offers a perfect Colorado mountain
experience.

You may also enjoy additional Western Trips articles on Colorado vacation destinations found on the links below...

A Visit to Historic San Luis Colorado

Visit Historic Colorado / Cripple Creek 

Killdeer Mountain Four Bears Scenic Byway / ND

Attractions in Breckenridge cover the entire year. Summers in this mountain getaway find visitors  hiking, biking,  fishing and enjoying gold mine tours plus taking in the mild weather. Winter is a time of skiing and winter sports of all kinds. Breckenridge Colorado has a large world-class mountain with 155 trails and 31 lifts including the highest one in North America. No matter the season, a trip to this friendly town makes a perfect vacation or long weekend.

(Article and photos copyright Western Trips. Old Country Boy Mine photo in public domain.)