A Quick History of Idaho Springs
by Beth Simmons
Tales of the golden era of mining and tourism abound in Idaho Springs, a National Historic District cradled between the mountains in central Clear Creek County, Colorado. Gold and mineral hot springs provided the foundation for the growth of this quaint mountain town that has often been referred to as the "Buckle of Colorado's Mineral Belt."
- Published
- 2004
- ISBN
- 1-932738-08-8
- Pages
- 86
- Category
- History
- Place
- Idaho Springs
- Publisher
- Western Reflections Pub. Co.
- Listed at
- $15.05
Publication details from Open Library. The price shown is the last one on record and is historic, not a current offer.
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About this book
A Quick History of Idaho Springs is a short, illustrated history of the town in central Clear Creek County, Colorado. Beth Simmons begins with the golden era of mining and tourism, and the description says gold and mineral hot springs gave the town its foundation. It calls Idaho Springs a National Historic District and notes the nickname "Buckle of Colorado's Mineral Belt."
Goodreads and our catalogue agree that the book runs 86 pages and was first published in 2004. Goodreads says it draws on historical photographs and reports and follows the 1859 gold rush that began in this part of Clear Creek County. The catalogue subjects are history and pictorial works, which fits that use of photographs.
For background that does not come from the book, Wikipedia records that George A. Jackson found placer gold where Chicago Creek meets Clear Creek on January 5, 1859, drawn to the area by steam from hot springs. The site was first called Jackson's Diggings, and the town was incorporated on November 15, 1885.
Who it is for
The book suits anyone who wants a short, photograph-led introduction to Idaho Springs. It is a pictorial history of 86 pages, quick to read, and it sits in our history category. Visitors to Clear Creek County and readers of Colorado mining history are the natural audience, since the town's past is tied to the 1859 gold rush and to the hot springs that gave it a second life as a tourist stop.
Ways to use this book
Spending a day in town
Read the county page first so the creek junction means something when you stand there. Then stop at the society's museum and visitor center and ask what to see on foot.
Matching photographs to places
The book is pictorial, so a walk down the main street with the book open can turn into a game of finding where old views were taken. Bring a notebook for what has changed.
Choosing a companion book
Our /library/ History category has other Colorado mining towns. Reading two side by side shows how each town's story started with a different strike.
Go deeper
Idaho Springs, where George Jackson found gold in 1859, has a local historical society and a county tourism page that tell the story of the district. They are good companions to a short town history.
Historical Society of Idaho Springs
The society's website says its museum and visitor center lets you get information about the town, shop for crafts and souvenirs, and tour the museum. This page loads in a browser but not always in automated checks.
Visit Clear Creek, Mining the Past
The county tourism bureau's page says Clear Creek joined the gold story in January 1859 when George A. Jackson found gold where Chicago Creek meets Clear Creek, and it points to the Colorado Gold Trail.
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