Earliest known image of Downtown Golden in 1863
Road going in is today's 12th Street; bridge is original Ford Street Bridge
3 buildings in this image remain today, including Loveland Cottage as sliver at far left
Photo courtesy Denver Public Library Western History Department

The heart of the city of Golden is as old as the city itself, with a prominent and colorful past spanning nearly 150 years. It has been the center of Golden's commerce, society, entertainment, religion, support, artistry, architecture, government, and more, and continues to be the heart of Golden today. It has been seat to the governments of Golden, Jefferson County and Colorado, and home to many prominent people and birthplace of nationally acclaimed businesses. Merchants of downtown have come from all walks of life, from miners to retails to Indians and artists, natives and immigrants, from children to nonogenerians. Today downtown Golden has 21 entities over 50 years old; 11 entities over 100 years old, including ones who could boast being the state's oldest tavern and hardware store, a remarkable record of success and longevity in its commercial climate. Its historic places of today weave a rich tapestry of history that is still barely known among many, that could serve the community well into the future in many ways from promoting tourism to civic pride. This is a guide to all the older places of historic downtown Golden, all of its buildings which are at least 50 years old. Each is referred to by its most prominent name:

Guide to Historic Downtown Golden

North Side   1100 Block   1200 Block   1300 Block

East side 1100 block of Washington Avenue in the 1870s
Brick buildings on Avenue still stand today; note joining of buildings, boardwalks and original wooden awnings
Photo courtesy Ronzio Collection, Golden Landmarks Association

West side 1100 block of Washington Avenue in the 1880s during firefighters parade
Note advancement to brick storefronts and retractable fabric awnings on Washington Avenue
Photo courtesy Golden Pioneer Museum

As a whole, downtown Golden of today is a rich mecca of historic design spanning a variety of building styles, shapes, sizes and types. Unifying it all is the historic street grid downtown has always had, and the streetscaping elements that have been spreading throughout it. As a general rule downtown's design becomes younger as it goes southward, starting with the freestanding wooden buildings more like Gold Rush times on the north side, going to the Victorian storefront rows of the 1100-1200 blocks of Washington Avenue, to the modernizing buildings returning to freestanding form and continuing down Washington Avenue to 14th Street, to the larger, angular Modernist buildings of eastern downtown.

Looking south down Washington Avenue in the 1920s
Note flagpole as original centerpiece of Avenue streetscape and advent of diagonal parking, paved streets and concrete sidewalks
Photo courtesy Gardner Family Collection

Looking west up 13th Street in the 1920s
Note Quaintance Block in original location and Tramway Depot across
Photo courtesy Gardner Family Collection

Looking north down Washington Avenue in 1946
Note streetlights from 1920s streetscape project and original extended curbs of 1300 block
Photo courtesy Gardner Family Collection

Their styles span all these eras, some styles common for this area, some rare, and a couple are unique works of architecture. The noteworthy historic styles of downtown buildings that have made an impact include Greek Revival, Pueblo Revival, Second Empire, Gothic Revival, Italianate, Neoclassical, Premodernist, Mission Revival, Beaux Arts, Modernist, Streamline Moderne, and Art Deco, and other styles have been successfully used downtown as well.

Looking north from 13th and Washington in the 1880s
Note original trees in downtown streetscape
Photo courtesy Denver Public Library Western History Department

Looking north from 1200 block of Washington Avenue in 1900s
Note Linder Block presence on right and power poles originally on Avenue
Photo courtesy Denver Public Library Western History Department

North side of downtown in the 1920s
Note older storefronts with recent construction of Golden High School and Parfet Park
Photo courtesy Gardner Family Collection

Downtown's places are made largely of brick with some noteworthy wood and stone works. Golden's is the only downtown of such advanced age in Colorado to have at least one intact building made in each decade of its existence (1850s-2000s), built in 3 centuries. A number are 1-wall, 2-walled, and 3-walled structures dependent on support, while others support one or two of them. Some look plain and rustic, while others look ornate and dramatic.

West side 1100 block of Ford Street in the 1930s
Note Avenue-type row of storefronts and Golden Mill to right
Photo courtesy Rizzari Collection

Looking north from 1300 block of Washington Avenue in 1957
Note original southwestern design of today's Table Mountain Inn, new Welcome Arch centerpiece and advent of stoplights
Photo courtesy Gardner Family Collection

Looking north down Washington Avenue in the 1960s
Note how change can take place in only a decade from same angle
Photo courtesy Gardner Family Collection

Enjoy your virtual tour of historic downtown Golden! This site will be updated from time to time, so be sure to check back often!

Washington Avenue looking north in 1960
Note beginning of transition from fabric to wooden awnings and original Hesteds alongside Linder Block
Photo courtesy Gardner Family Collection