Golden, Colorado, established in 1859 as Golden City, served as a supply center for miners and settlers in the area. In 1866, Bishop George M. Randall arrived in the territory and, seeing a need for higher education facilities in the area, began planning for a university which would include a school of mines. In 1870, he opened the Jarvis Hall Collegiate School in a building just south of the town of Golden and in 1873, the School of Mines opened under the auspices of the Episcopal Church. In 1874, School of Mines became a territorial institution and has been a state institution since 1876 when Colorado attained statehood. Courses offered to students during the early years included chemistry, metallurgy, mineralogy, mining engineering, geology, botany, math and drawing. The focus of the early academic programs was on gold and silver, and, in particular, the assaying of those minerals. As the institution grew, its mission expanded to include petroleum engineering, earth sciences, environmental engineering, materials science and applied sciences. 

The first building on the current site of the school was built in 1880 with additions completed in 1882 and 1890. The building, known as "Chemistry Hall," stood where Hill Hall is now located. The next building to be added to the campus was Engineering Hall built in 1894 which is still in use today. Other firsts include the first Board of Trustees meeting held in 1879; the first formal commencement held in 1883 for two graduates; the first international student graduated in 1889; and the first female student graduated in 1898. In 1879, there was some discussion about merging School of Mines and the State University in Boulder. Apparently, because of the specialized focus of School of Mines, it was decided that such a merger would not be appropriate. During the early years of the institution the chief administrator was the "Professor in Charge." The designation President was first used in 1880. George S. Ansell, the current CSM President, was appointed in 1984. The "M" on Mt. Zion, a prominent feature in the Golden area, was constructed in 1908 and lighted in 1932.

Early academic "departments" were "draughting," physics, metallurgy, chemistry and mining. In the 1920's, departments were formed in geology, petroleum engineering and geophysics. Petroleum refining was added in 1946. Current degree-granting departments are Chemical Engineering and Petroleum Refining, Chemistry and Geochemistry, Economics and Business, Engineering, Environmental Science and Engineering, Geology and Geological Engineering, Geophysics, Mathematical and Computer Sciences, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Mining Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, and Physics. The Division of Liberal Arts and International Studies and the Department of Physical Education and Athletics provide nontechnical educational opportunities for Mines students. Other facilities include: Parker Student Center, Arthur Lakes Library, Computing Center and the Edgar Mine.

For those interested in more detailed historical information about CSM, the following sources are recommended:

Golden the 19th Century: A Colorado Chronicle by Lorraine Wagenbach and Jo Ann Thistlewood

Mines Magazine, Volume 85, No. 5, the Commemorative Centennial Issue celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CSM Alumni Association

Mines Magazine, June 1949 , "Departmental History of the Colorado School of Mines" by Louis B. Allen

A historical series of articles by M. R. Budd, "Colorado and Its School of Mines," which appeared in various editions of the Mines Magazine during 1929 and 1930

Also, various other materials such as catalogs, yearbooks, pictures, building plans and unpublished histories by Mary Hoyt and Regis Chauvenet which are housed in the Wood Archives on the lower level of the Arthur Lakes Library at Colorado School of Mines.