Central City, eleva-tion 8042 ft., has a rich and colorful past. It became the gold capital of the world when gold was discovered in 1859. Over one-half billion dollars in precious metals was mined. It became the center for business, culture and the arts. Photo at left is of the Opera House. The day we were here, there was a matinee performance of "West Side Story" and it was a packed house. We arrived in town too late - after it had already started. The attendees told us it was magnificent. We walked into the opera house as they were leaving - it really is old! Wonder how safe it is?
People came from all over to invest and to mine: the Cornish, Irish, Italians, Germans and Welsh came with their skills of hard rock mining, masonry, business, and their love of music and the arts.
Journalist Horace Greeley (of "Go West, young man, go West" fame) came within 2 weeks after gold was discovered. George Pullman, of sleeping car fame, made his start here by lending money to business people and investors. Madame Marie Curie made her discovery of radium from the Glory Hole Mine above the city. John Stetson created his famous hat in these mining camps.
Now, Central City is all about gambling casinos and restaurants, which are housed in the old storefronts. Its neighboring town, Black Hawk, has larger and newer casinos.
