1861

Mining Begins in the Ward District

What to know:

Mining activity began in 1861 following the discovery of gold and silver in the mountains west of Boulder. This area is part of the Front Range (or Colorado) Mineral Belt, a linear zone of mineral-rich rock that is coincident with the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains. Miners flocked to the area by the thousands, bringing families and establishing communities including Ward, Nederland, and Jamestown. Significant development, manipulation of the land, and impacts to streams and creeks were associated with this activity.

This photo shows the Front Range Mineral Belt in relation to Denver and local features (e.g. Boulder Creek, St. Vrain). The mineral belt involves a series of intrusions of magma that came up and through the existing land/rock. This helped raise the elevation of the area further forming the Rocky Mountains. Faults and sheer zones also formed (as shown on this figure), and erosional forces removed material and shaped drainages and peaks of the region. Source: USGS Preliminary Precambrian basement map of Colorado.

Front Range Mineral Belt in relation to Denver and local features (e.g. Boulder Creek, St. Vrain). The mineral belt involves a series of magma intrusions that came up through the existing land/rock, contributing to formation of the drainages and peaks of the region. Source: USGS Preliminary Precambrian basement map of Colorado.

Photographs of Common Mining Structures and Landforms

Historic view of the town of Ward, Boulder County, Colorado. Photo shows the C & N Hotel, buildings, and mine buildings with tailings. Circa 1900. Source: Denver Public Library Special Collections, X-21255

Town of Ward

Golden Age Mill, ore processing machinery for nearby gold and silver mines, in Boulder County, Colorado. Photo shows a waterwheel, gears, a cam shaft, crushers, a flume, and a stream. Circa 1860-1880). Source: Denver Public Library Special Collections, X-60740.

Golden Age Mill

View of the first Slide mill on the south side of Left Hand Canyon, Boulder County, Colorado. Slide mill is perched on the side of a steep hill with a large tailings pile above it and to the side. In the 1930s, the sixty foot timber wall of the mine’s tailings pond collapsed, dumping tons of material into Left Hand Creek. Circa 1890. Source: Denver Public Library Special Collections, X-61545.

Slide Mill

Miners in candles stand inside a dug out mine, Boulder County, Colorado. Circa 1890-1910. Source: Denver Public Library Special Collections, MCC-3452.

Miners Boulder, CO

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