Gilpin History Museum — Attraction in Central City

We were driving through Central City and my girlfriend saw the Teller House (Hotel) and freaked out, saying she has always wanted to see that. We parked and walked over to it, and there was a sign on the door that said it was closed but check across the street at the historical society for tours. So we walked over there and found our way to the office and there was a young man seated at the desk near the door. He explained our options for tours of the Teller House Hotel, the Central City Opera House, and the Thomas House. My girlfriend was about to lose her mind, wanting to do all of them @ approx. 45 minutes per tour (about 2.5 hours total). I groaned and said I didn't come here to walk around touring old buildings I don't care about, but she was in full-on "P-L-E-A-S-E" mode with the cute puppy dog eyes. I said fine, let's do it. The guide walked us up the hill to the Thomas House first and I must say I was starting to be grateful that I had said yes. I'm a sucker for old antique bottles, tins, and advertisements and hadn't realized that I was about to step into a home full of them. The house in general reminded me of my great-grandmother's house in rural West Virginia when I was a little boy-- she admittedly had a habit of "clinging to the past" and her house was old school even way back then. The tour guide was lively and full of information. After this, we went to the opera house which was a welcome respite from the heat. The ceilings in this place are gorgeous. I noticed a name engraved on a seat: "Lillian Gish". I had just read about Lillian Gish not two days before arriving on this tour... the First Lady of American Cinema. She was the first big name to perform at with Central City Opera in a production called "Camille". For $100 (at the time), a person could have their name permanently engraved on a seat in the opera house. Walking around, it's a veritable who's-who of state politicians and well-known wealthy individuals. So this was neat to see. We then finished up at the Teller House hotel. This was also interesting, and I took a gorgeous photo of a bronze statue here. We also saw the "famous" painting on the barroom floor (I had never heard of it, but my girlfriend was talking about it before we even went to get the tour). The tour guide was great, we got an entirely private tour of all three locations for $15 for me and $15 for my girlfriend and it didn't seem like 2.5 hours at all. If you have any interest in history, I'd...

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - TAKE A TOUR! There may be no better value than the very personal tours available through the Gilpin Historical Society. What a treat it was to experience the town this way!

I wandered into the office this afternoon, wanting to see what kind of history I could find amidst the imposing modern casinos. Emma was sitting at the front desk and offered a number of different tours, each just $10. I chose to accompany her for a personal exploration of the Central City Opera House and Teller House. These buildings have been well-preserved, and you really get a taste for what life must've been like here at the turn of the century. Emma knew so much about these buildings and the surrounding area - friendly, funny and really seemed to enjoy talking about the past.

Later, I also toured the Gilpin History Museum and enjoy a conversation with Chuck, who was working there. I was really surprised by the extensive exhibits and artifacts from every facet of this flourishing society.

Well done, Emma and Chuck. Thank you for giving me such a great introduction to the Richest Square Mile on Earth!

(And of course... ALWAYS tip your...

Tucked away from Central City's main Street, the Gilpin History Museum offers a well curated look into local history. The museum covers everyday life in Colorado mountain mining towns. The Nautilus mountain submarine offers a unique exhibit and a fun look into the past.

If you're looking for a kid-friendly experience or just a change of pace from the local casinos, the Gilbert History Museum...