Black Hawk - Colorado Ghost Town

BLACK HAWK

NAME: Black Hawk
COUNTY: Gilpin
ROADS: 2WD
GRID: 2
CLIMATE: Cold winter with snow, cool summer
BEST TIME TO VISIT: Summer

COMMENTS: Near Central City, a lot of recent construction as new gambling halls are erected.
REMAINS: Many original buildings.

The story of Black Hawk is the story of hard rock mining and of "Baby" Doe. But first , the history of its fortunes as a mining camp. The town began to have its problems when the mineshafts went deeper into the ground. The deeper the shafts, the harder the rock. Soon, only less than half of the assay could be saved. Operations would soon be forced to shut down. That would have been the case if the Boston and Colorado Smelting Works had not built a huge smelter at Black Hawk in 1868. The Colorado and Central Railway further saved the town by track being laid through the mountains into Black Hawk. Now, to Baby Doe. In 1877, newlyweds Mr. and Mrs. William H. Doe, Jr. arrived to manage the Fourth of July mine owned by William's father. The newlywed wife was nicknamed "Baby" Doe, her real given name being Elizabeth. Things did not go well for the Does given problems at the mine and Baby Doe's extra martial activities. The town gossips had a field day and soon the town was also known as Doe. The Does finally left and the town returned to normal. Highway 160 northwest of Denver will take you to Black Hawk. Stop by and see one of the surviving ornate homes. Submitted by Henry Chenoweth. COMMENTS: The town of Black Hawk, Colorado, is, unfortunately, the wonderful tourist ghost town that it once was. It has been ruined, and is continually being ruined, by ruthless developers. It used to have a lot of historicity, but that soon will be gone too. It is said, on this website, that it is illegal for people to dig a hole, or do anything to the ghost towns, or one will be put in prison. Meanwhile, developers continue to ruin the historic value of Black Hawk, and its neighboring city, Central City, by using explosives and earthmovers to make room for new construction of gambling casinos. In the advertisements for the gaming industry, it states that this practice is good for Colorado. It states that it returns monies to Colorado for a more "beautiful" Colorado. Blowing up the mountains for money is not our way of beautifying Colorado. This practice should be illegal. Black Hawk and Central City were wonderful ghost towns to tour BEFORE they were gaming districts. It is just another money pit for the ultra wealthy to waste their money on. We are native Coloradans, and we hate to see things like this ruin our once beautiful state. Don't get us wrong. Colorado is still beautiful, but if it continues to become a playground for the rich and famous, by erecting eyesore casinos and upscale "custom" homes our Rocky Mountains, there won't be much scenery, or camping spots, for future generations to enjoy. Submitted by: Jack and Karen Bashor Blackhawk - new construction Courtesy Walt Jankowski Blackhawk - new construction Courtesy Walt Jankowski Blackhawk - new construction Courtesy Walt Jankowski Blackhawk - new construction Courtesy Walt Jankowski Mine on Hillside Courtesy Ryan Sullivan-Elkins Blackhawk Valley Courtesy Ryan Sullivan-Elkins	Black Hawk circa 1900 Courtesy U.S. Geological Survey Train Station - 8,476 ft. above Sea Level Courtesy Dolores Steele Hotel Courtesy Dolores Steele Black Hawk Courtesy Dolores Steele House Courtesy Dolores Steele Black Hawk Courtesy Dolores Steele Hardware Co. Courtesy Dolores Steele Blackhawk - new construction Courtesy Walt Jankowski Blackhawk - new construction Courtesy Walt Jankowski Blackhawk - new construction Courtesy Walt Jankowski

The story of Black Hawk is the story of hard rock mining and of "Baby" Doe. But first , the history of its fortunes as a mining camp. The town began to have its problems when the mineshafts went deeper into the ground. The deeper the shafts, the harder the rock. Soon, only less than half of the assay could be saved. Operations would soon be forced to shut down. That would have been the case if the Boston and Colorado Smelting Works had not built a huge smelter at Black Hawk in 1868. The Colorado and Central Railway further saved the town by track being laid through the mountains into Black Hawk. Now, to Baby Doe. In 1877, newlyweds Mr. and Mrs. William H. Doe, Jr. arrived to manage the Fourth of July mine owned by William's father. The newlywed wife was nicknamed "Baby" Doe, her real given name being Elizabeth. Things did not go well for the Does given problems at the mine and Baby Doe's extra martial activities. The town gossips had a field day and soon the town was also known as Doe. The Does finally left and the town returned to normal. Highway 160 northwest of Denver will take you to Black Hawk. Stop by and see one of the surviving ornate homes. Submitted by Henry Chenoweth.

COMMENTS: The town of Black Hawk, Colorado, is, unfortunately, the wonderful tourist ghost town that it once was. It has been ruined, and is continually being ruined, by ruthless developers. It used to have a lot of historicity, but that soon will be gone too. It is said, on this website, that it is illegal for people to dig a hole, or do anything to the ghost towns, or one will be put in prison. Meanwhile, developers continue to ruin the historic value of Black Hawk, and its neighboring city, Central City, by using explosives and earthmovers to make room for new construction of gambling casinos. In the advertisements for the gaming industry, it states that this practice is good for Colorado. It states that it returns monies to Colorado for a more "beautiful" Colorado. Blowing up the mountains for money is not our way of beautifying Colorado. This practice should be illegal. Black Hawk and Central City were wonderful ghost towns to tour BEFORE they were gaming districts. It is just another money pit for the ultra wealthy to waste their money on. We are native Coloradans, and we hate to see things like this ruin our once beautiful state. Don't get us wrong. Colorado is still beautiful, but if it continues to become a playground for the rich and famous, by erecting eyesore casinos and upscale "custom" homes our Rocky Mountains, there won't be much scenery, or camping spots, for future generations to enjoy. Submitted by: Jack and Karen Bashor

Blackhawk - new construction
Courtesy Walt Jankowski