Museums + History

Clear Creek County is rich with the history of settlers who came to Colorado for the promise of gold and stayed for the peaceful mountain beauty. Visit a museum or historical site to see how our County grew from a few small mining towns to a stunning getaway destination in the Rocky Mountains, just a short drive from Denver.

There are several unique Museums and Historical sites to choose from in Clear Creek County along with  self-guided walking tour booklets available at the Visitor Centers in Idaho Springs and Georgetown.

Please contact the businesses for details, business hours and admission fees.

Some must-see stops include:

See this real 1896 schoolhouse-turned-museum that helped teach the children of mining settlers. 

271 Silver Creek Road, Alice
303-519-0444

This unique museum is located in a fully functional hydroelectric plan that has been operational since the 1900s. See exhibits and photographs featuring early household appliances. 

600 Griffith Street, Georgetown
303-569-3557

Tucked into one of Clear Creek’s original fire stations is a museum dedicated to turn-of-the-century firefighting artifacts, like hose carts and a ladder wagon. 

507 5th Street, Georgetown
303-569-2840

 This beautifully restored 1874 schoolhouse is home to the Clear Creek County historical archives, is a community workspace center, art center, and a fantastic venue for special events. 

809 Taos Street, Georgetown
303-569-0289

When the Silver Plume School closed in 1959, the Town Mayor converted it into a museum meant to give visitors a true look into the 1900s daily life. Renovated with help from the State of Colorado Historical Fund, this museum is a must-see. Seasonally, open Memorial Day through Labor Day.

315 Main Street, Silver Plume
303-569-2562

Once belonging to a wealthy mining entrepreneur, this home, built between 1867-1879, is the centerpiece of The Georgetown and Silver Plume National Historic Landmark District. It shows what the pinnacle of 19th century mining town living was like with real and recreated furnishings, plants, landscaping, and more. 

305 Argentine Street, Georgetown
303-569-2840

The Hotel de Paris Museum is considered the most unique and complete parcel of early Colorado History.  Over 5,000 objects original to the property are faithfully displayed in period rooms.  A Site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.  A member of Great American Treasures museum alliance.

409 6th Street, Georgetown
303-569-2311

Featuring mineral displays, railroad and settler history, wildlife exhibits, Native American collection including a life-size teepee, Mount Blue Sky (Formerly Mount Evans) 10th Mountain Division Interpretation, mining equipment exhibits, mine tunnel and ore cart as well as George A. Jackson’s gold discovery, and legal documents from President Grant.

2060 Miner Street, Idaho Springs
303-567-4382

See the museum dedicated to Dr. James Underhill, a Harvard graduate that surveyed many of the city plots and mines within Clear Creek, while teaching at Colorado School of Mines before earning his Doctorate in Geology there. If the Museum is closed, be sure to peek through from the alley way and see the beautiful garden in the spring/summer. 

1416 Miner Street, Idaho Springs
303-567-4709

Clear Creek County was born out of mining history. In fact, it was created as a direct result of George Andrew Jackson’s discovery of gold on January 7, 1859. Although Jackson attempted to keep the discovery a secret, it only lasted until April of 1859, when the current location of Idaho Springs was inundated with its first group of miners. 

Soon, mining districts were founded creating their laws and civil government in order to protect their claims from claim jumpers, thieves, murderers, and all other unlawful acts. On November 1, 1861 the territorial Legislature of Colorado subdivided the territory into seventeen counties and Idaho Springs was named the county seat in the legislative act of establishment. 

Colorado Governor William Gilpin appointed the first three County Commissioners to organize the civil government of Clear Creek County. In November of 1861, the Commissioners met and divided the County into seven voting precincts. The first County election resulted in elections for a sheriff, clerk and recorder, treasurer, assessor, county attorney, superintendent of schools, and a probate judge.

As more and more miners moved into the County, the prospecting went west, following Clear Creek, which runs most of the length of the County. Further west, David and George Griffith were instrumental in settling Georgetown, where they discovered rich silver veins. In 1867, the Colorado Legislature called a special election and the County seat was moved from Idaho Springs to Georgetown. Georgetown was incorporated in 1885.