Friday, April 22, 2005

CRIPPLE CREEK, COLORADO

Cripple Creek is claimed to be the world's greatest gold camp.  Ironically called Poverty Gulch at the time, gold was discovered in 1890 by Bob Womack.  While a few mines are still active today, most of the gold stuck now days is at the casinos.  Many of the stores and casinos occupy the original turn of the century buildings that have been remodeled to accomodate modern technology.

      

Walking down the mainstrip is like stepping back in time.  There are a few flashy signs but for the most part the business community has done an excellent job in retaining the historic atmosphere.

I always have so much fun walking through Cripple Creek.  One can't help but wonder what it must have been like during the town's peak.  Sometimes, and don't laugh.... I swear I can almost hear the whisper of those long ago voices, the laughter in the saloons, the faint sound of horses, and if I close my eyes and concentrate real hard I might even catch the elusive scent of... gold!

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love the architectural design on these "turn of the century" buildings.
These photos are great.
I also was impressed with the signs...I was also thinking of collecting photos of old signs.  
Thanks for sharing your world~

Anonymous said...

I love that sign with the woman...it looks like an old pendant/jewelry.  Also, the mural!  It's so interesting.  Did you happen to see the journal (can't remember the name) where the photographer says he'd like to do a whole book of photos of just old murals!  Would that be a cool project?  It would definitely make a great coffee table book!  Lisa

Anonymous said...

"Up on Cripple Creek, she sends me
If I spring a leak, she mends me
I don't have to speak, and she defends me
A drunkard's dream if I ever did see one."
-Paul

Anonymous said...

Thank you for posting Cripple Creek....we only drove to the top of the hill and looked down, was looking for a certain piece of property and had to go to a RE office there.  We'll be back though.

Marlene-PurelyPoetry

Anonymous said...

Interesting town, great photos...when I was visiting my sister in WashingtonState we went to Nevada for two days...oh my I saw Virginia City high in the mountains..so old....they have the cemetary there that they shot "BeeteJuice" in.
Your town reminds me of that one....Sandi

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