Stretching from Settler's Park in the west to Emma Gomez Martinez Park in the east along the Boulder Canyon Drive, the Downtown district serves as one of the most prime locations in Boulder. With multiple stores and dining options, this place is full of life and options for shoppers. The district is also used to host the Boulder Creek Festival on an annual basis.
Gold Hill has a rich history that is indeed filled with golden moments. This former miners settlement is perched on top of a mountain and is unlike modern tourist destinations. Stepping into the town will transport you back to the late 19th-century as everything here looks just the same as it was during its hey days. Touted to be the first site to strike gold in Colorado which was earlier the unincorporated Nebraska Territory, Gold Hill was a prominent mining camp during the Colorado Gold Rush. Over the years, the population has dwindled, however the small community of this town keeps its history intact and is proud of its lineage. Some of the places worth visiting are the Gold Hill Museum, Gold Hill School, The Gold Hill Inn and the Colorado Mountain Ranch.
Will Arnett, an ostentatious gold prospector from the east, built this shining example of Gothic architecture in 1877. The ornate cast iron fence alone cost Arnett USD2000 to ship from Pennsylvania. At the time, the posh home and extravagant fence cost more than three times as much as the average home did in Boulder. During the early 1990s Historic Boulder purchased the estate. It is open to the public year round, and tours during the summer are offered. A gift shop is also on-site.
