| Zeit |
Ereignis |
| Sommer 1859 |
Following the great gold rush, the Griffith brothers from Kentucky (George and David), find present Central City crowded and decide to follow the south fork of Clear Creek from the gold discoveries at present Idaho Springs. Within two days, on June 17, George Griffith hits pay dirt. The news travels quickly and a small and growing settlement begins, known as "Georges Town. |
| 1864 |
Silver is found and Georgetown booms again bringing experienced miners from California and Nevada who realize previous mining attempts in the city and surrounding mountainside had been weak, leading to the formation of the Argentine Mining District. |
| 1866 |
Georgetown opens accommodations (several small hotels) for tourists. |
| 1868 |
Colorados legislature grants Georgetown, population 1,500, a town charter, establishing a governmental system and designating the town the Clear Creek county seat. |
| 1870 |
The establishment of Silver Plume is founded. |
| 10.1871 |
Representatives from Georgetown meet with officials of the Colorado Central Railroad to discuss a better way to transport the millions of dollars of ore coming out of the region. |
| 12.1872 |
The first railroad line up Clear Creek Canyon reaches Black Hawk. The construction, funded by bonds from Clear Creek and Gilpin Counties, was organized by William A.H. Loveland, a Fifty-niner and proponent of the Colorado Central railroad. |
| 1877 |
The railroad reaches Idaho Springs in June, thanks to financier Jay Gould who controlled the Union Pacific (UP) and supplied the necessary funds to complete both the route to Idaho Springs and the later route to Georgetown, completed in August 1877. The railroad makes access to Georgetown and therefore the Rocky Mountains, open for tourists. |
| 1879 |
Georgetown becomes the "Silver Queen of Colorado for only a short time that year when news of large silver strikes spread across the region from Leadville, one of the greatest strikes to date. Gould strives to have the Colorado Central be the first rail to reach Leadville. The track to reach Leadville from Georgetown is an obstacle due to narrowing of the valley west of the city and an area where the average grade is over 6 percent (too steep for most trains). UP chief engineer, Jacob Blickenderfer, creates a plan of a system of curves and bridges, reducing the average grade to 3 percent. The plan includes three hairpin turns, four bridges and a 30-degree horseshoe curve from Georgetown to Silver Plume. |
| 1881 |
The Georgetown, Breckenridge and Leadville Railroad is organized as a subsidiary of the UP. |
| 1883 |
With the track laid, work on the high bridge begins and is completed in January 1884. |
| 1884 |
The first trains arrive in Silver Plume. Another line (the Denver & Rio Grande (D&RG)) is completed into Leadville from the south and Goulds interest in pushing the Georgetown line over the mountains waned. The Georgetown, Breckenridge and Leadville Railroad line ends permanently in Silver Plume. |
| 1888-1903 |
From the 1880s and into the early 1900s the community and the Georgetown Loop become a center for tourism as tourists venture West to encounter the wild, rugged and romantic. Tourism in the West develops around railroad excursions. With seven trains a day running out of Denver at the height of its popularity, the Georgetown Loop is Colorados scenic "must see and is a deal at only $3 round-trip. Guidebooks, pamphlets and postcards help to send the images of the steep canyons and mountain peaks accessible by train across the nation. |
| 1899 |
The Colorado and Southern Railroad build a tourist center at the west end of Silver Plume. |
| 1900-1902 |
The advent of the automobile in the early 1900s brings mountain tourists to Colorado but dramatically reduces excursion train trip revenues for the railroad, and the Georgetown Loop runs two trains per day from May through September only. |
| 1906 |
An additional rail connection is completed from Silver Plume accessing the Belmont Mine with its ice crystal formations, and the peak view of the Rockies from above 14,000 feet in railroad cars with open sides. The tourist route is known as "Grays Peak Special and is billed as the highest railroad trip in North America. |
| 1907 |
A second tourist connection is completed from Silver Plume in the form of a 46-minute roundtrip tour on a gondola ride rising over 3,000 feet. The Sunrise Peak Arial contains 26 gondolas and is the areas third major attraction. |
| 1911-1912 |
Financial problems prevent the line from operating for a season and new attractions were built in a final attempt to save the dwindling tourist numbers. |
| 1920 |
The Sunrise Peak Ärial and the Grays Peak line up Mt. McClellan close. |
| 1921 |
The tracks up Mt. McClellan ("Grays Peak Special) are removed from the mountain and only one train a day runs to Silver Plume from Denver. |
| 1938 |
The last of the excursion trains runs from Denver to Silver Plume. The line from Idaho Springs to Silver Plume is abandoned and the Georgetown Loop dismantled ending a colorful era of railroad history. |
| 1940-1945 |
The demand for manpower on the battlefields and in supply production during World War II prompts the final closing of Georgetowns gold and silver mines, compounding railroad losses. |
| 1941 |
The final miles of track from Golden to Idaho Springs are closed. |
| 1959 |
The centennial celebration of the discovery of gold in Georgetown and the Georgetown Loop Historic Park is formed under the leadership of James Grafton Rogers, chair of the Colorado Historical Societys board of directors. Almost 100 acres of mining claims and mills are donated, including the Lebanon-Everett mines. The Society begins a program of land acquisition and lease with plans to eventually reconstruct the entire length of the Georgetown Loop. |
| 1969 |
Work begins on opening the Lebanon mine tunnel and the tunnel is cleared its full length and wired for lighting. Excavation outside uncovers the sites of four mine buildings apparent in historic photographs including a blacksmith shop, miners change room, mine managers office and tool shed. |
| 1973 |
Construction of the rail line begins after Union Pacific Railroad donates the track and ties for the reconstruction of the Georgetown Loop. Rolling stock is gathered and bridges set in place. |
| 1975 |
The first operating season of the new Georgetown Loop operates on a small portion of completed track. |
| 1977 |
The line slowly lengthens into Silver Plume and tracks reach the upper end of Devils Gate. |
| 1978 |
The historic buildings at the Lebanon mine are reconstructed and open to the public and tourists. The Lebanon Mill is also stabilized and rebuilt for the opening by the Colorado Historical Society through its work with historians, archaeologists and a preservation architect. |
| 1982 |
A $1 million grant from the Boettcher Foundation, in honor of E. Warren Willard, a former partner of Boettcher & Company and a member of the CHSs board of directors, finances the final segment of the railroad's reconstruction, the Devil's Gate highbridge. |
| 01.08.1984 |
The Devil's Gate high bridge is dedicated by Governor Richard D. Lamm and the reconstruction of the Georgetown Loop is complete and open for visitors along the entire route. |
| 1985 |
The historic Silver Plume Depot is restored to its original appearance. |
| 19.08.1985 |
The Historical Society turns its attention to increasing visitor facilities and historical interpretation along the route. In August 1985, the Morrison Valley Center and the Morrison Theater, including boarding and ticketing areas, visitor facilities, parking and a slide show theater are dedicated. |
