Georgetown Between Mining History and Railroads

Georgetown’s historic themes range from its Victorian streetscape to silver mining and railroads. As you plan your trip, it’s worth exploring how this history is reflected in its homes, museum exhibits, and tours. Each experience has a different focus, from 19th-century everyday life to mine tunnels and rail lines.

Victorian Streetscape and the History of Its Homes

The Georgetown-Silver Plume Historic District was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1966. Georgetown preserves a Victorian atmosphere within the Georgetown-Silver Plume Historic Mining District. Maple and oak trees line its streets; early pioneers planted them. These details add another dimension to the historic setting: alongside mining and railroad history, the development of the town’s streetscape is also one of the themes that define Georgetown.

The Hamill House was built in 1867 and expanded by silver baron William Arthur Hamill. The Hamill House Museum explores 19th-century domestic life through its architecture and furnishings, as well as Victorian plants and landscaping. The museum also considers the social and cultural history of the period. If you’re interested in the way of life behind the preserved buildings, you’ll find a different perspective here than on a train ride or a visit to a mine.

Historic Buildings and Museums

Hotel de Paris is a former French inn dating from 1875 in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Chinese workers built its English-style interior. Hotel de Paris offers guided and self-guided tours; check what’s available before your trip. Hotel de Paris Museum is located in the Georgetown–Silver Plume National Historic Landmark District and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. As a former inn, it is a historic site, not information about current hotel accommodations.

The Georgetown Energy Museum is housed in a working hydroelectric power plant built in 1900. Here, the technical structure itself is the main attraction. The Georgetown Gateway Visitor Center complements these themes with interpretive exhibits and films about the National Historic Landmark District. It also provides real-time traffic information, access to the COTrip website, and travel and local information services; these services may change.

Train Rides, Mines, and Trails

The Georgetown Loop Railroad offers a scenic round trip through Clear Creek Canyon, passing historic bridges, with commentary on Colorado’s mining and railroad history. At Devil’s Gate High Bridge, the track crosses over itself, creating the distinctive loop. The ride combines a specific route with historical commentary. Operating details may vary seasonally, so it’s a good idea to check tour availability in advance.

The Georgetown Loop Railroad also offers a guided visit to the Lebanon Silver Mine, where visitors can explore original mine tunnels. Check seasonal availability before your trip. Another mine visit is described by its underground route length: tours of the Capital Prize Gold Mine go more than 1,000 feet into the original mine tunnels. Reservations and access may vary. These details help you distinguish the mine experiences by their respective highlights.

Two different descriptions are available for outdoor trails. The Rutherford Trail is 2.1 miles long and runs from Georgetown to Silver Dale. A wide, relatively flat gravel trail loops around Georgetown Lake and is named after former Georgetown mayor Tom Bennhoff. The details on length, destinations, and trail surface provide practical guidance without suggesting that the two trails are the same.

Cultural Events and Trip Planning

The Old School was originally built in 1874 and extensively restored to preserve its historic character while allowing it to serve the community in a modern way. The annual Georgetown Plein Air Art Festival is one of the regular events in the Georgetown Arts at The Old School cultural program; dates and programming may vary. As part of an ongoing partnership with the Clear Creek Library District, The Old School is expected to continue presenting concerts and other cultural programs. Their schedules may also vary. Historic Georgetown is also listed as a feature of the Guanella Pass route. If you’d like to plan your stay around a drive, tour, or event, check the dates and availability of the relevant experience in advance.

Discover more destinations: Silver Plume, Idaho Springs.

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