My first time in Colorado I considered Golden to be a part of Denver because of its proximity to Denver. When compared with Arvada, which I consider a suburb of Denver, I felt that Golden is more of a distinct town than other places in Denver and separate from the true suburbs. I also like that Golden is a small town close to beautiful mountains, but still has a connection to Denver, which is likely important for its inhabitants.
To me, Golden is a small town with its own history and is similar to so many similar-sized towns in the Czech Republic. Golden is a “gate into the Rocky Mountains” and has the impression of a typical old west town, which we can also be see in other parts of Colorado, but not so much in the Denver suburbs. The history of this town also started in 19th Century when the city was a center of gold trade and the region’s political center. It was, and still is, an entrance into the mountains. It was a place of industry for clay and porcelain bricks and also a center of education offering knowledge of these fields. Thanks to these aspects, the city grew and modernized, gained a good reputation, and the population rose. During the 20th Century, Golden also became a cultural center and a new park, library, city hall, and opera house were built. Today Golden still maintains its history and is attractive for tourists as a result.
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| Downtown Golden speaks to its history. |
Today historic downtown of Golden has still the appearance of early western towns and there is effort to maintain these old features that give the city specific and unique status different from other small towns and parts of Denver. The city celebrates its history with Buffalo Bill´s grave as a tourist destination, cowboy statues downtown, and the “Howdy Folks” sign over main street. Clear Creek brings it all together. Running through downtown, at one end of it is Lookout Mountain with Buffalo Bill's grave at the top and a giant "M" for Colorado School of Mines on it, and at the end of the town the sprawling Coors Brewery right on Clear Creek.
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| Downtown Golden. |
In addition to its history, the town now celebrates outdoor recreation. Clear Creek hosts kayakers, Lookout Mountain is a popular cycling route, and the town has the American Mountaineering Museum located downtown.
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| Lookout Mountain with its "M" at the top. |
The city has still a mix of education (Colorado School of Mines) and it is a tourist destination with the two-hour vacation motto. Coors Brewery is important for the city’s economy, both as an employer and as a tourist destination. Still, alot of people living in Golden likely drive to Denver for work, but its proximity is an advantage for residents. Golden is a small city, but not really a suburb of Denver. Maybe in the future it will be more a part of Denver as suburbs expand and population grows.
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| Coors Brewery has more than one purpose for Golden. |
