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Visitors & Information Center

Welcome to golden.

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Golden Visitors & Information Center

Howdy Folks!  Welcome to Golden, Colorado.  Whether you work, live or just visiting Golden, the Golden Visitors & Information Center should be your #1 stop!

The Golden Visitors & Information Center has a plethora of information to suit your needs.  We have info on all things Golden…such as info about businesses, restaurants, hotels, and what to see and do.  We are also jam-packed with the same info outside of Golden and throughout Colorado.

So stop on by and check us out!

Get Your Golden Ticket Here

The Golden Ticket program encourages people to shop and dine in Golden with a chance to save up to 20% off purchases or even win $500! It is scratched in front of the participating merchant at the time of the sale and surrendered at that time.

Plan Your Trip

Get all the info you need to plan your next trip.

Help support this great community resource.

Event Space

Book our two event spaces for your next gathering.

Help our visitors find what they need.

Learn about Goldens Rich History

Located in the heart of downtown Golden, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Golden Visitors & Information Center (GVIC) offers local advice on attractions, restaurants, and things to do during your visit to Golden. Our front office volunteers are very knowledgeable and want nothing more than to help you enjoy the area.  The lobby of the GVIC is stuffed full of brochures, maps, publications and helpful information about not only local attractions, but also those throughout Colorado.  We also have a small gift shop with Golden-themed memorabilia and apparel.

Stories from Locals

We are sourcing great local stories from our community. If you have a story you’d like to tell click the button below to fill out a form and share your story. 

Book a Meeting Space

Host your next event with us!

We Offer Great Spaces for Your Next Meeting

Conference room | creekside patio, find other great resources.

Our great partners can help you find anything else you are looking for in your next trip.

Help Us Grow

Like any great community resource we need your support to continue to grow!

Plan Your Trip Today

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Providing Support and Resources to Residents and Visitors

• 1010 Washington Avenue
• [email protected]
• (303) 279-2282
• M-Sat 10AM - 4PM
• Sun - Closed

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Your donations help the Golden Visitors & Information Center continue our mission to the Golden Community.

Howdy, Folks !

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Welcome to Golden, Colorado !

What to do?   Where to go?   How to get there?   What's to eat?   Where can we stay?   What makes Golden special?   All the answers are smack in the middle of Golden, at the Golden Visitors Center. Whether you're on your bike, in a kayak, riding light rail or driving your car, when you arrive in Golden head for the center of town , and spend a few minutes at the Golden Visitors Center to plan your day.

Park in the free lot, and let the volunteers tell you what will be going on while you're in town and point you toward downtown businesses, the American Mountaineering Center , Clear Creek RV Park , Clear Creek History Park , picnic areas and parks, bicycle trails and other attractions within easy walking distance from the visitors center. You can also pick up directions to museums, restaurants, shops and lodging, along with various coupons and brochures to enrich your visit.

Tourist attractions, including MillerCoors Brewery tours , Buffalo Bill's Museum and Grave and the Colorado Railroad Museum , among others, attract an estimated 2.5 million visitors to the Golden area each year.

The Golden Parks and Recreation Department has produced a video that will give you a flavor of the things to do in Golden.   Click here to watch the video.

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Walking Tour

Home » Learn & Do » Walking Tour

Golden, Colorado, Historical Points Walking Tour

1.5 miles; approximately 35-50 minutes.

Wind your way through Golden’s history by checking out our 16-point walking tour, starting at the Golden Visitors Center, at 1010 Washington Ave, Golden, CO 80401 . Navigate using your smartphone and the customized Google map below.

Click the photographs to connect with the Museum’s Online Collection and learn more about selected stops through images, artifacts, and more.

Looking for the detailed 24-page Tour of Historic Golden booklet published in 2011? Download the PDF here .

1. Boston Company

2. Goosetown

Goosetown is Golden’s historic German district, having come into its own during the 1870s as immigrant railroad workers settled around the main works of the Colorado Central Railroad on its north side. The area is roughly bounded by Ford Street, Clear Creek, the eastern city limits, and Highway 58.

The origin of the name “Goosetown” is thought to have been inspired either by the nearby large flock of geese Adolph Coors kept, or the cackling of the female inhabitants of the locality. Goosetown was home to a rowdy set of blue-collar German families, as well as a scattering of other immigrants including persons from Sweden, Poland and England. Goosetown, being near the freight depot, had a number of hotels, including the Burgess House, Omaha House, Pennsylvania House, and the German House which had earlier served as Germania Hall.

At the corner of 10th and Vasquez Streets once stood Goosetown Tavern, Colorado’s oldest continuously operating bar. In 1998, the bar was demolished, but not before some of its interior was saved by John Hickenlooper, Colorado’s brewer-turned-Governor, who installed them in a new Goosetown Tavern in the Congress Park district of Denver.

3. Burgess House

4. Vanover Hanging

Golden—and much of Colorado—in the 1850s and 60s was a booming and frequently lawless place. In the absence of an established police, local townspeople occasionally resorted to frontier vigilantism to settle disputes and serve justice.

In 1859, a young tavern owner named Edgar Vanover, who had earned a reputation as an ill-tempered drunk, began making personal threats to a number of townspeople. According to one newspaper account, an inebriated Vanover began shooting wildly, pointing his weapon at people, and making himself a general menace. A mob of angered people chased after Vanover, who fled to a nearby cabin. The mob openly debated how to handle the threatening young man and debated whether to deport him from town or hang him. Concerned that an evicted Vanover would only return for retribution, the mob took the extralegal option of condemning the man to death without so much as an indictment or trial. Vanover was brought to a beef gallows that stood at the southeast corner of Ford Street and Clear Creek and was summarily hanged.

In 1990, the City of Golden dedicated a park named for the subject of this gruesome act.

5. Coors Brewery

In 1873, German immigrants Jacob Schueler and Adolph Coors opened a small brewery at the base of South Table Mountain in Golden. They began producing beer following a Czech Pilsner recipe which Coors had obtained through his experiences as a brewer. Their enterprise, which began in an abandoned tannery, has grown to become the largest single-site brewery on the planet.

Coors and Golden have been synonymous for more than a century. The iconic Castle Rock formation atop South Table Mountain was used on the company logo from the earliest times. The company was one of only a handful of breweries nationally to outlast Prohibition and did so by turning to the production of malted milk, which Coors supplied to the Mars Candy Company.

Before it reached the scale it is today, the Coors Brewery was a social space for Goldenites. A lovely park and reservoir on the Ford Street side was a favorite spot for local families to stroll, picnic, and rowboat.

6. Greeley’s Crossing

Horace Greeley, the famed author and publisher of the New York Tribune who famously popularized the saying “Go West, young man, and grow up with the country” himself visited Colorado in 1859. Intent on thoroughly exploring the Pikes Peak gold region, Greeley came to Golden to see the supply town that sprang up along Clear Creek.

A toll bridge crossing the stream was still under construction, so Greeley decided to ford the creek, swollen with spring runoff. Capt. Edward Berthoud, a founder of Golden and Greeley’s companion during his exploration, wrote of the crossing:

“Horace Greeley, mounted on a mule, dressed in a rough garb of a traveler, with his old white hat firmly pressed on his head, rode up to the bank of Clear Creek, where now stands Capt. Berthoud’s barn. In view of this, he had sallied out; and now before him roared a vicious, impetuous mountain torrent, that must be passed. Fearless he plunged in, mule and all, and right manfully he did buffet the angry waves; but the waves prevailed; mule, rider and old white hat stood not on the order of their going, but danced merrily down to swell the turbid Platte. Horror struck at the accident, and the whole population rode or rant to the rescue. The mule first landed, and Charity or the Good Samaritan, in the shape of a sturdy miner with a boat-hook soon rescued the now half-drowned author, and by the seat of his unmentionables, dragged him safely to shore.”

7. Welcome Arch

In 1948, Holland asked his friend, Paul Reeves—a Coors ad man who had recently designed the company’s first aluminum can label in 1948—to come up with a concept for the arch. Reeves designed a modern, steel framework structure that arced 58 feet over Washington Avenue, lit with neon, and emblazoned with the words “Howdy Folks! Welcome to Golden.” At a cost of $7,500 the arch was dedicated on March 24, 1949.

During a renovation in 1979, the last word in the tagline “Where the West Remains” was changed to “Lives,” feeling that the former sounded unpleasantly similar to mortal remains. Now a local landmark, the Welcome Arch is arguably the most photographed spot in Golden.

8. Jolly Rancher

Dorothy and Bill Harmsen opened their first ice cream store at 1113 Washington Avenue in June 1949. Called Jolly Rancher , the name was intended to evoke a fun, Western hospitality. Jolly Rancher ice cream and confections were a terrific hit, but sales slumped during the cold winter months. So, the Harmsens turned their attention to making hard candies in fruit flavors. One of their “hottest” lines were the ever popular cinnamon Fire Stix.

Jolly Rancher expanded rapidly and opened franchised stores in multiple locations, including Nebraska and Wyoming. In 1951, candy production was moved to the Sugar Bar Ranch factory in Wheat Ridge. That plant, at 5060 Ward Road, closed for good in 2002 and was finally demolished in 2005 to make way for new residential development.

The parent company changed several times. In 1966, Jolly Rancher merged with Beatrice Foods Company of Chicago. Leaf Brands purchased Beatrice Foods in 1983, which was subsequently bought by Hershey Foods Corporation on Dec. 30, 1996. As of 2022, Jolly Rancher is manufactured in Quebec, Canada, and remains one of America’s most iconic candies.

9. Loveland Cottage

William Loveland, often called the “Prince of Pioneers” in his day, was one of the most important settlers of Golden and the State of Colorado. Loveland arrived in Golden in 1859 during the Pikes Peak gold rush. When the Colorado Territory was established in 1861, Loveland was one of the biggest promoters of making Golden its capital, which happened the following year.

Loveland was a forward-thinking entrepreneur and civic leader. He was a founder of the Colorado Central Railroad, trustee of the Colorado School of Mines, mayor of Golden, and Lieutenant Governor of Colorado, among many other notable achievements.

Constructed in 1859, Loveland’s Cottage that stands at 717 12th Street is Golden’s oldest building.

10. Old Capitol

As part of William Loveland’s plan to lure the territorial capital to Golden, he offered the Legislature free use of his property. In 1864, the Legislature met in Loveland’s original wooden mercantile on the east side of Washington Avenue. Upon completion of improvements to his new brick storefront at 1122 Washington Avenue, the Legislature moved to the second floor of Loveland’s Mercantile in 1866.

The battle to choose a permanent home for the capital pitted wealthy Denver businessmen who wanted a convenient, civilized seat of power in Denver against rural agrarian and mining communities opposed to handing more power to the big city. On December 9, 1867, the legislature met in Loveland’s building and heatedly debated where to place the capital. A vote was taken and the decision to relocate the capital to Denver was decided by a single elector. Goldenites were aghast and alleged bribes bought the deciding vote.

11. Foss Drug

Built in 1913, The Armory Building is one of the most identifiable buildings in Golden. Constructed entirely from river rock drawn from Clear Creek, the Armory is believed to be the largest cobblestone building west of the Mississippi. The Armory was designed by Golden architect James Gow and was built to house Company A Engineers of the Colorado National Guard and the Colorado School of Mines ROTC Unit. During the 1917/1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic that swept the country after WWI, the Armory was temporarily converted into an emergency hospital for the Red Cross.

13. Astor House

During the gold and silver rush years, boarding houses like Astor House provided a temporary home for thousands of treasure seekers who flooded Colorado seeking their fortunes. Astor House was built in 1867 from locally quarried sandstone. It was enlarged in 1893 and featured a large dining room, a modern kitchen, some of the first indoor plumbing, and thirteen rooms that housed guests and the landlord. During most of the 20th century, Astor House was home to hundreds of School of Mines students. Having fallen into a state of serious disrepair, it was slated to be demolished in 1970. A group of concerned people rallied to preserve the building, and in 1972 was purchased and saved by a public vote.

14. 12th Street Historic District

In contrast to the rowdier immigrant neighborhoods like Goosetown on the north side of Clear Creek, 12th Street on the south side of the creek was Golden’s genteel neighborhood. Featuring some of the best examples of Victorian and Italianate architecture in the City, 12th Street was home to some of the City’s prominent businessmen, civic leaders, and educators.

The home at 1018 12th Street was built by George West, one of Golden’s earliest founders. West was a member of the Boston Company and most notably the publisher of the Colorado Transcript , Colorado’s second oldest continuously published newspaper. The brick Italianate house at 920 12th Street was the home of Dr. James Kelly, a physician and territorial legislator. Today, the home is best known as the Golden City Brewery—one of State’s first microbreweries founded by Charlie and Janine Sturdavant in 1993.

15. Golden History Park

The History Park is home to many of the original buildings from the historic Pearce Ranch in Golden Gate Canyon (about fifteen miles away as the crow flies). The Pearce and Reynolds Families were Cornish immigrants who settled in the hills west of Golden in the 1870s to mine, ranch and farm.

When a housing development threatened the ranch buildings in the early 1990s, the community rallied to save this piece of Golden’s history. Beginning in 1994, the buildings were moved to this piece of land in Golden, log by log, where they were lovingly reconstructed over the course of four years. The parkland was once a neglected salvage yard that was painstakingly cleaned and reclaimed. Today, Golden History Park is one of the most popular and scenic gathering spots in Golden.

16. Golden History Museum

The Golden History Museum is a warm, welcoming, and vibrant public space for uncovering and sharing our past. The exhibits at Golden History Museum include versatile programming spaces, a hands-on gallery for families with young children, and dynamic displays that highlight the City’s collection of 15,000 historic objects. Discover your own favorite artifacts in-person and then continue your learning journey at home or in your local coffee shop using our  extensive online collection .

Back to the Starting Point

Want to learn more about Golden’s rich history? Besides the last stops at Golden History Museum & Park, you can also visit the Colorado Railroad Museum, Buffalo Bill’s Grave, or many others. Get more information from Visit Golden .

Learn & Do

• Building Colorado: Communities
• Building Colorado: Cities
• Ute Knowledge: STEM Kit
• Teacher Resources
• Field Trips
• After School
• School Breaks
• Programs and Events
• Discover Magazine
• Native American Ethnography

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• Golden Ticket
• Good to be Golden

The Golden Ticket program encourages people to shop and dine in Golden with a chance to save up to 20% off purchases or even win $500! It is scratched in front of the participating merchant at the time of the sale and surrendered at that time. More information about Golden and a list of participating Golden Ticket merchants can be found on VisitGolden.com .

How do businesses join the Golden Ticket Program?

Interested merchants contact Visit Golden to discuss this popular program. When they agree to join they are given a “Your Golden Ticket Accepted Here” sign for their window. A special Golden Ticket icon is added to their merchant profile on the website and they are included on Golden Ticket promotional materials and social media posts. Please contact Visit Golden at [email protected] with any questions.

Who pays out the $500 winners?

The $500 winner is directed to take their winning ticket to the Golden Visitor Center . Golden Visitor Center volunteers will take the winner’s contact information and submit it to Visit Golden for payment. Then the winner will receive a check in the mail.

Where are Golden Tickets distributed?

Golden Tickets are distributed by the Coors Brewery tour guides at the completion of their bus tour back to the main visitors’ parking lot. Golden Tickets are also available at the Golden Visitors Center and some community events.

How many cash prize winners have there been?

In 2017 there were 79 $10 winners and four $500 winners!

What does it say on the ticket?

The ticket states:  “Discount or cash prize only valid when scratched in presence of participating business. Discounts limited to items priced at or below $300. Not valid on sale items or with any other offers. Other restrictions may apply. Cash prizes can be redeemed in person at Golden Visitors Center. Odds of winning cash prize 1 in 200. Odds of winning grand prize one in 10,000.”

• Erosion Control While Landscaping Your Home
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• The Golden Informer
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• National Community Survey

 Golden was named after Thomas L. Golden, a gold prospector who arrived in Jefferson County in 1858.

Additional Resources

Infamous Chicago 'rat-hole' landmark removed due to 'damages,' reports say

A Chicago sidewalk landmark, infamously known as the “rat hole” has reportedly been removed after city officials deemed it to be damaged and said it needed to be replaced.

Crews with Chicago's Department of Transportation removed the pavement with the rat hole section along with other portions of sidewalk along Roscoe Street Wednesday, the Associated Press reported . Inspection teams determined that they needed to be replaced because of damage.

A spokesperson for the department of transportation, Erica Schroeder told AP that the section of the sidewalk containing the sidewalk is now in temporary storage as its fate is decided. Schroeder said that the sidewalk's permanent home will be a “collaborative decision between the city departments and the mayor’s office.”

What is the rat hole in Chicago?

Located in Chicago’s North Side neighborhood of Roscoe Village, the infamous "Rat Hole" is a splat mark on a sidewalk shaped like a rat that fell from the sky. The shape is made up of individual imprints of toes, claws, legs and a tail attached to a body.

The imprint has reportedly been around for a few years now, a Roscoe resident told the Washington Post in January. Cindy Nelson told the newspaper the imprint had been there since she moved to the neighborhood in 1997 with her husband. A neighbor who had been there since the early 1990s told her it was there even then.

Is the imprint from a rat?

Nelson told the Post that she believes the imprint is actually from a squirrel, not a rat. Nelson, who raised her 3 kids with her husband, across the street from the now-famous hole told the post that there was a “huge, old, beautiful” oak tree above the splat mark, which leads her to believe it was caused by an unfortunate squirrel falling from the tree onto fresh cement.

Why was the 'rat hole' removed?

While the "rat hole" was primarily removed because it was damaged, the AP reported that frenzy around it bothered the neighbors who complained that people were visiting the landmark at all hours and even leaving offerings such as coins, flowers, money, cheese, and even shots of alcohol.

After the sidewalk containing the 'rat hole' was removed, new concrete was poured in the area later on Wednesday, Schroeder told AP.

Contributing: Julia Gomez, USA TODAY

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Be Merry, Be Bright, Share Your Golden Light!

Thank you for joining us for Olde Golden Holidays 2023, stay tuned for the 2024 events.

There’s nothing more heart-warming than a small town old fashioned Holiday celebration, and no one does it better than historic Golden, CO. With quaint holiday shops and festive decorations along historic Washington Ave. and thousands of twinkling lights lining the banks of clear creek, Golden is right out of a Christmas movie. 

Golden’s beloved Candlelight Walk returned on Dec. 1 with holiday revelers strolling Washington Avenue holding candles and singing carols.   Golden’s Holiday Parade  took place on Dec. 9 with marching bands, floats, horses, Victorian carolers, elves, fire trucks, and, of course, Santa. We enjoyed a magical day in Golden meeting and mingling with family favorite holiday characters along Washington Avenue on December 16 during the  Jingle On the Avenue . 

Olde Golden Candlelight Walk - Dec. 1, 2023

Experience the beauty of the holiday season with a walk down historic Washington Ave…

Olde Golden Holiday Parade - Dec. 9, 2023

Bursting with Colorado charm and holiday spirit, Golden's holiday parade is a beloved…

Jingle on the Avenue - Dec. 16, 2023

Jingle on the Avenue - A Holiday Character Mingle! Spend a magical day in Golden…

Holiday Event Calendar

                         holiday volunteer opportunities.

Volunteers are needed at most of Goldens major holiday events. Interested in volunteering ? Sign up  HERE .