Town of Georgetown | Georgetown, CO

303-569-2555 | visit our website

Founded in 1860, Georgetown grew to become one of the most important early mining settlements in the state.  Although gold brought the initial rush of settlers, it was silver that made the fortune of many Georgetown residents.  They built homes, churches, schools and commercial blocks using a range of late nineteenth-century architectural styles, from Greek Revival to Italianate and Second Empire.  The construction boom ended sharply after the silver crash of 1893. 

In the following decades, Georgetown remained a sleepy mountain town, its silver mining legacy quietly aging and deteriorating. In the 1950s, the Colorado Chapter of the National Society of Colonial Dames purchased the old Hotel de Paris and began restoring this 1870s landmark as a museum. The local preservation movement gained momentum in the 1960s, when a group of citizens organized one of Colorado's first local historic preservation groups, Historic Georgetown, Inc. In 1966, Georgetown and neighboring Silver Plume were designated a National Historic Landmark District, the highest level of recognition provided to historic places by the National Park Service. A preservation ordinance was passed to protect the historic character of the community and several key properties were acquired and restored, including the Hamill House Museum. In 1984, the Colorado Historical Society rebuilt the Georgetown Loop Railroad, a 4.7 mile narrow-gauge line which connects Georgetown to nearby Silver Plume.

Today, Georgetown offers world class attractions, Georgetown Loop Historic Railroad, Hamill House, Hotel de Paris Museum and Guanella Pass just to name a few, as well as incredible recreational opportunities - hiking, fishing, mountain biking and horseback riding. Enjoy great shopping and restaurants on 6th Street in the National Historic Landmark District and elsewhere in town. Since its beginning, Georgetown has attracted those who have sought something very special. First it was the magic of gold and silver ore, now it's the beauty and ambiance of this picturesque town surrounded by the Rocky Mountains. Whether your visit is for the day or the week, the knowledgeable staff at the Georgetown Gateway Visitors Center and the Downtown Visitors Center will be delighted to help you.

Georgetown, once known as "Silver Queen of the Rockies", forged a permanent place in Colorado history. From a tiny mining camp in 1859 to a bustling center of commerce in the 1870's, today our fascinating past is waiting to be explored!

From the Continental Divide at Loveland Ski Area to Empire Junction, Georgetown is an outdoor enthusiast's playground. Bring your gear and throw your cares to the wind, we have fun activities for the whole family!

Enjoy a scenic drive along the 23-mile Guanella Pass Scenic and Historic Byway. Pack your hiking shoes and mountain bikes! You can take a fascinating ride on the Georgetown Loop Historic Railroad! Shopping is always an adventure in our Victorian-style historic town! You'll find plenty of fishing on Georgetown Lake all year round. Enjoy a memorable Independence Day with our 4th of July parade or shop our Christmas Market held the first two full weekends in December!

Tour the amazing museums of our historic town including the Hamill House, the Hotel de Paris, and the 1907 Georgetown Energy Museum, Colorado's oldest operating hydro plant where pelton water wheels still produce electricity for the area. Ski at nearby Loveland Ski Area boasting an average snowfall each season in excess of 400 inches! So, come and visit historic Georgetown -- we have something for everyone!

FUN FACTS TO KNOW AND TELL
1) One of the best preserved collections of Victorian buildings in the Rocky Mountain West.
2) The Georgetown Loop is an engineering feat. To overcome the steep grade between Georgetown and Silver Plume, VP Chief Engineer Jacob Blickensderfer devised a system of curves and bridges to reduce the grade from 6% to 3%.

OTHER PLACES TO VISIT
1) Georgetown Loop Historic Railroad
2) Hamill House
3) Hotel de Paris Museum
4) Georgetown Energy Museum
5) Georgetown Gateway Visitors Center

BEST TIMES TO VISIT
Year round

RELATED WEBSITES
http://clearcreekcounty.org/

BYWAYS
Guanella Pass Scenic and Historic Byway

GEORGETOWN, COLORADO UPCOMING EVENTS