These 7 Small Towns in The Rockies Have the Best Historic Districts
The Rocky Mountains are a popular tourist destination for their stunning natural beauty, unique history, and geographical diversity. Stretching 3,000 miles from British Columbia in western Canada to New Mexico in the Southwest United States, the Rockies is a hub for nature lovers. It offers exciting camping, hiking, skiing, and mountain climbing opportunities. Although big historic cities like Boulder in Colorado would be a priority for tourists, the Rockies have a wealth of small towns offering a window into the past for history buffs. From quaint streets adorned with Victorian-era buildings to historic art galleries and charming restaurants, these small towns in the Rockies have the best historic districts.
Estes Park, Colorado
Estes Park is a small mountain town in Colorado with 5,799 people, named after Joel Estes and his wife, who were the original settlers in 1859. It has a rich history, and its layout remains untouched to date. The town has several places on the National Historic Register, including the Stanley Hotel, the first in Estes Park, built in 1909 and featured in a popular Box Office film, The Shining. Moraine Park, McGraw Ranch, and Leiffer House are also on the Historic Register. Estes Park is a gateway to the Rocky Mountain National Park, home to 400 species of Bighorn Sheep and a popular destination year-round.
Canmore, Alberta
Canmore, with a population of 16,782, is one of the coolest small towns in the Rockies, named in honor of King Malcolm of Scotland and famous for the spectacular Canadian Rocky Mountain landscape. Often overshadowed by the more popular town of Banff, Canmore holds just as much charm and history without the crowds. Canmore is home to the picturesque Three Sisters Mountains, Ha Ling Peak, and Mount Rundle. Although it was established as a railway town in 1883, its history revolves around coal mining, and it thrived from the proceeds until 1979. The history of Canmore changed in 1988 with the arrival of the Calgary Winter Olympic Games 1988, which attracted property developers, tourists, and home buyers. It has some of the most preserved historical sites, including Centennial Park, Canmore Museum and Geoscience Centre, Miners Union Hall, NWMP Barracks, and Luxton Home.
Golden, Colorado
Nestled on the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, Golden is a former small gold rush town with a population of 19,408. The discovery of gold in Clear Creek in the 19th century attracted the early settlers, and the town became a supply source for gold miners. Farmers later discovered coal, leading to the establishment of coal mining and clay extraction industries.
Golden became the first territorial capital of Colorado in 1862, and legislators met in what is now the old Capital Grill restaurant from 1862 to 1867. The city became known as "the Lowell of the West" in the 1870s due to the increased industrial growth. Colorado Central Railroad was constructed, and the residents established four-floor mills.
In the same period, Golden was home to three institutions of higher learning, including the Colorado School of Mines, a crucial public teaching and research institution. Adolph Coors opened a brewery in an old building in 1873, currently the world's largest single brewery facility. History buffs can explore the Golden Army Building, the largest cobblestone building west of Mississippi, constructed in 1913.
Taos, New Mexico
Popularly known as the "soul of the southwest," Taos is a charming small town in the backdrop of the Sangre De Cristo Mountains. It is one of the prettiest towns in New Mexico and attracts visitors with its stunning natural beauty and rich cultural heritage. With a population of 6,631, the town is famous for Taos Pueblo, an adobe multi-storeyed home and a UNESCO World Heritage site inhabited for over 1,000 years.
Taos is home to various historical sites, including the Harwood Museum of Arts, which hosts a unique collection of Hispanic Arts. Others include the 200-year-old San Francisco De Asis Church and the Millicent Rogers Museum, established in 1956 with 7,000 artworks and objects. Taos also offers unique outdoor activities for nature lovers, including rafting at Rio Grande Gorge, hiking, and spectacular views from the 600-foot-high Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. Visitors can explore shops and galleries and listen to live music at the historic Taos Plaza.
Park City, Utah
Park City is a gorgeous resort town in Summit County, Utah, 32 miles east of Salt Lake City, with a population of 8,576 in 2023. It was initially established as a mining town with the discovery of silver and gold attracting miners who camped in the mountains. The city suffered terrible fires in 1882 and 1885, with the worst fire in 1898 destroying notable buildings on the main street, including the Grand Opera House and City Hall.
Citizens rebuilt the town in the 1920s but maintained its original picturesque Victorian-era design using adobe, stone, and brick. When the mining activities stopped, Park City residents took advantage of the town's location in the Wasatch Mountains. They utilized resources in recreational activities such as skiing and snowmobiling. The idea led to the establishment of the Treasure Mountain Ski Resort in 1963, now the Park City Mountain Resort.
Over the years, City Deer Valley and Canyon Resort were established. Park City is a popular destination for exciting recreation opportunities, including horseback riding, fly fishing, hiking, rafting, mountain biking, snow biking, skiing, and snowboarding. History lovers can catch a glimpse of Park City's mining days at the Park City Museum, with a few exhibitions highlighting the 1898 Great Fire.
Buffalo, Wyoming
Buffalo is a small historical town in the foothills of the Big Horn Mountains in Wyoming, with a population of 4,667 in 2023. It is known for historic museums, original ranch homesteads, haunted hotels, magnificent national historic buildings, and art galleries. The town was founded in 1879 with the establishment of Fort McKinney at the base of Bighorn Mountains to protect travelers along the Bozeman Trail.
With time, it became a popular stopover for travelers. However, there was a conflict between farmers and cattlemen, leading to the Johnson County Cattle War and the subsequent disbandment of Fort McKinney Fort. Today, Buffalo hosts over a dozen historic buildings, including the haunted Occidental Hotel with embossed ceilings in the lobby and antique chairs. History buffs can visit the Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum, which hosts over 40,000 artifacts, including documents, photographs, firearms, clothes, and wagons.
Crested Butte, Colorado
Fondly referred to as "the getaway to the Elk Mountains," Crested Butte is a historical town in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado with a population of 1,711 in 2023. Although Crested Butte is a historic mining town, it was initially inhabited by the Ute Indians. However, when the Spanish began colonizing New Mexico in the 16th century, the influx of European miners led to diseases and conflicts that forcefully displaced the original inhabitants. Crested Butte was a supply source for the surrounding silver mining communities in 1878 and was incorporated in 1880.
Skiing was a popular means of winter transportation in the 1890s and later became a recreational sport with the establishment of Crested Butte Mountain Resort. To date, it's one of Colorado's most popular ski areas. With millions of acres of public land in Gunnison Valley, the federal government established White River and Battlement Mesa Forest Reserves in 1891 and 1892, forming a crucial part of the town's history. Today, Crested Butte celebrates Cattlemen's Day to emphasize the importance of ranching in Gunnison Valley's history. Residents and visitors enjoy hiking and mountain biking in summer and skiing in winter. History lovers can learn about the Ute Indians at Crested Butte Museum.
The Rockies is a popular tourist destination offering unique outdoor recreational activities for outdoor lovers. However, it has a fair share of notable small towns providing a window into the past. So pack your bags and get ready to travel back in time with these small towns with the best historic districts in the Rockies.
