History of Denver

Denver was born as a result of the gold fever that swept the American southwest during the mid-1800s. The state’s mineral wealth, trapped deep in the mountains of Colorado, ensured the importance and necessity of this city, thanks to its location along the eastern flank of the Rocky Mountains. Today, the impressive Rockies attract outdoor enthusiasts instead of gold prospectors and the Mile High City remains the all-important gateway to the wealth of recreation hidden in Colorado’s majestic mountains.  

The gold rush

In the summer of 1858, a handful of hopeful prospectors discovered a tiny bit of gold in Cherry Creek and a tent camp was built on the site. However, the gold deposits around Denver were nothing compared to the bonanza strikes in the nearby Rocky Mountains, and soon all mining activity shifted into the hills. The settlement evolved into the main centre for shipping and trade, primarily because it had a milder climate than the alpine mining towns it served, but also because it sat at the end of the vast, flat, Great Plains.

Boom and bust

A devastating fire in 1863, a deadly flash flood in 1864 and continual hostilities from the Native American Indians made life hard in the struggling town of Denver. But the settlement carried on and when the railroad arrived in 1870, things really began to pick up. The steady influx of silver and gold from the rich mines to the west of Denver ensured there was plenty of currency to sustain the economy.

The 1880s brought a massive silver boom to the state, as silver from Leadville and gold from Cripple Creek turned Denver into a showcase city. Victorian mansions for the newly rich silver barons sprang up all over town and Denver quickly became the most elegant city in the American West. But when the silver market collapsed in 1893, the city’s economy slowed to a crawl. In response, the city leaders diversified into livestock, agriculture and tourism. By the early 1900s, Denver had transformed itself into the main commercial and industrial centre of the Rocky Mountain region.

A modern city

In the years following WWII, Denver grew into the largest city between the Pacific Coast and the Great Plains. Colorado’s Front Range developed into a strategic centre for America’s military defences; but its modern legacy centres largely around the tourism potential in the neighbouring Rockies. Nearly every visitor to the state flies into Denver International Airport en-route to their final mountain destination.