Clear Creek Canyon "Grand Canyon" of the Foothills
Citizens worked with private land owners, Jefferson County Open Space, and federal Bureau of Land Management from 1986 to 2002 to preserve the "last remaining scenic corridor" on Denver’s doorstep. In 1988, the Colorado General Assembly declared Clear Creek Canyon a "world-class scenic land form of magnificent grandeur and irreplaceable economic, educational, cultural, biological, and open space that must be preserved as historic heritage." By 2002, more than 6,000 acres of this last, undeveloped "wilderness on Denver’s doorstep" is preserved for hikers, fishermen, bird watchers, photographers, picnickers, gold panners, hang gliders, rock climbers, botanists, biologists, kayakers and rafters enjoy the extraordinary natural history.
Adolph Coors Company
13th & Ford, 303-277-2337 www.Coors.com
Adolph Kuhrs (1847-1929) arrived in the United States as a penniless "stowaway" in 1868. He changed his surname and worked his way west arriving in Denver in 1872. Adolph entered into a partnership with saloon proprietor John Staderman, who funded a small brewery operation. Within ten months, Coors bought Staderman’s interest in the firm.
In 1873, he worked six days a week and scouted every Sunday for a possible brewery locations. He was attracted to Golden’s railroad access, water supply, optimistic community spirit, two newspapers, good schools and prosperous industrial businesses. Coors entered into a partnership with Jacob Schueler, who funded the purchase of a vacated tannery just outside Golden city limits.
By 1880, Coors was sole owner of the Golden Brewery and a bottling business. He established Coors Porcelain in 1910 and expanded it to meet an urgent World War I need that was dominated by Germany. He adapted to Prohibition by developing a nonalcoholic "cereal beverage," malted milk. The popularity of this unfermented beer helped replace saloons with ice cream soda fountains across the country.
Today, Coors Brewing is America’s third largest and the world’s eighth largest producer of beer. Coors has been in the tourism business since 1874. Today’s 90-minute tour through the malting, brewing and packaging processes and sampling the products in the hospitality lounge is free of charge.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
1617 Cole Blvd, 303-275-3000 www.NREL.gov
NREL is the nation’s leading center for new technology research to benefit the environment and the economy. The 327-acre South Table Mountain campus is utilized for 50 areas of scientific investigation, including solar energy, photovoltaics, thermal testing, alternative fuel development, wind and thermochemical projects.
The U.S. Department of Energy initial Solar Energy Research Institute was built in 1977 and expanded to National Renewable Energy Laboratory in 1991. NREL’s mission is to develop renewable sources and technologies for energy as an alternative to finite fossil fuel sources, which account for 95% of all air pollution and $50 billion in U.S. health care costs annually. Sunlight falling on the U.S. in one day contains more than twice the energy we consume in an entire year. North Dakota has enough wind to supply 35% of the total U.S. electricity demand.
The goal is to ensure that these technologies are efficient, reliable and affordable for private industry to produce. Research partners include 70 universities, 250 private companies, 25 state energy offices and 80 non-profit organizations. NREL works with utility companies, state regulatory agencies, the World Bank and international trade groups to enable renewable energy technologies to reach the marketplace as quickly as possible. It is managed by Midwest Research Institute, Battelle Memorial Institute and Bechtel National, Inc.
The NREL Visitor’s Center offers interactive displays, educational videos and an exhibition hall. It is open to the public weekdays from 8 am to 5 pm. Public tours of research facilities by request. NREL participates in community events.
Colorado Railroad Museum
17155 West 44th Avenue 303-279-4591 www.CRRM.org
The railroads and telegraph lines that began to drive the American Industrial Revolution in 1840 arrived in Golden in 1870. By 1872, narrow gauge lines into the mountains brought mined ores to Golden smelters. The line to Georgetown in 1877 drove a boom in tourism. By 1890, eight railroad companies utilized the Golden Roundhouse for repairs and 23 trains passed through town daily. Commuter trolleys from Denver to Golden began 1891. Electric commuter service began in 1904.
When motor vehicles replaced trains in the 1950s, rail enthusiasts led by Rob Richardson and Cornelius Hauck began planning the museum. By 1964, they had collected enough invaluable Colorado railroad equipment, artifacts and documents to establish a non-profit foundation. Contributions supported building a replica of an 1880 depot to house exhibits. Tracks were laid for 60 historic narrow and standard gauge locomotives and cars on 12 acres. A roundhouse replica was completed in 2000.
The museum offers a rare opportunity to explore Colorado’s 130-year railroad history, including the narrow gauge Galloping Goose Cars listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Robert Richardson Library, adjacent to the museum, offers thousands of books and photographs and an archive of railroad industry documents. The nationally recognized museum is open every day of the year, except Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Jefferson County Fairgrounds
15200 West 6th Avenue (service road accessed from Indiana)
303-271-6600 www.co.jefferson.co.us
The Jefferson County Fair Association was formed in 1945 to "provide unique and functional facilities focusing on equestrian, agricultural, youth and recreational activities." Jefferson County Fair Board was established in 1953. Colorado State University’s Cooperative Extension Services moved to permanent fairgrounds established in 1959.
By 1966, construction of auditoriums and ground facilities were used for scouting banquets, gem & mineral shows, Indian pow-wows, midget car races, baseball games, dog shows and numerous equestrian clinics and events. The first Festival of the West in 1976 was organized by the JeffCo Historical Commission and Westernaires to celebrate the state’s centennial in 1976.
The Fairgrounds campus includes indoor and outdoor riding rings, a rodeo arena with covered grandstands, ball fields and a wide range of auditorium space to accommodate trade shows, banquets and meetings, weddings and picnics. It is utilized nearly every day of the year.
It provides space for a wide variety of events including fund raisers, political rallies, baseball and soccer games, 4-H Club Fair, Truck Rodeo and PTA Family Fun Run. School, city, county, state and federal government agencies use the fairgrounds for in-service training. The Fairgrounds provide safe haven for livestock and small animals during wildfires.
Colorado State University Cooperative Extension
303-271-6620 extension.co.jefferson.co.us
CSU provides unbiased, research-based information about 4-H youth development, family and consumer issues, gardening horticulture and natural resources. Cooperative Extension has been available at the JeffCo Fairgrounds since 1959. Professional conduct training for Native Plant Masters, Master Gardeners, Plant Pathology Clinic Master Gardeners and Wildlife Masters.
Westernaires
15200 West 6th Avenue 303-279-3767 www.Westernaires.org
Westernaires is the largest horse organization devoted to young people at one location in the world. The mission of the mounted precision drill organization is to nurture self-respect, responsibility and leadership of Jefferson County young people age 9-19 through horsemanship
The organization was established in 1949. A donated barn was moved to donated land adjacent tto the JeffCo Fairgrounds in 1959. "Fort Westernaire" now includes classrooms, club store, museum, indoor and outdoor arenas, stables, caretaker quarters and a massive indoor arena completed in 2002.
Members (75% girls) learn to care for horses and train in western team precision drills, specialty acts and dressage. They must be JeffCo residents committed to disciplined practice and hard work for several years. They must abide by strict rules—stay in school, no drugs or alcohol, no teen pregnancy or marriage. In the year 2002, there were 500 adult volunteers that gave 100,000 hours of teaching and supervision to 1000 youth members.
The ultimate level of achievement is the Varsity Big Red Team. Members also aspire to be selected for Cavalry Teams that have been featured in many television shows, documentaries and 30 motion pictures including "Centennial," "How the West Was Won" and "Stagecoach."
Westernaires is funded by nominal dues, honoraria for 50 performances throughout the U.S. and Canada, and the annual Horsecapades show in Autumn. The Westernaires Museum offers a tangible history of Western horsemanship and is available to the public by appointment.
Heritage Square
18301 W. Colfax Ave. 303-279-2789 www.heritagesquare.info
Originally built in 1957-59 by Disneyland’s designer, it was a replica of an 1858 Old West theme park for entertainment, recreation and retail named Magic Mountain. The ski hill was realized with a rope tow in 1960. The project was auctioned and stood dormant until it was revived as Heritage Square in 1971. Western Mobile (now Lafarge) acquired it as part of the adjacent quarry. Many archeological artifacts were discovered while developing the parking area. Heritage Square is again popular with families and tourists.
Mount Vernon Canyon — the I-70 Corridor
Click on the following: Brief History, Attractions, Neighborhoods