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The city of Golden is located at the mouth of Clear Creek Canyon, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, just 13 miles west of Denver. With more than 300 days of sunshine each year, Golden is a great place to visit or live during any season. Founded during the gold rush of 1859, Golden is one of Colorado's oldest communities and served as the Capital of Colorado Territory from 1862 to 1867. Separated from the suburbs of metropolitan Denver, Golden retains its small town character and remains the seat of Jefferson County. Historic buildings and homes have been preserved and blend with new construction throughout the downtown area.

The Golden Chamber of Commerce serves as an information resource center for greater Golden. When visiting Golden, stop by the Victorian style Visitor Center adjacent to Clear Creek, at 10th and Washington Ave., to pick up brochures and maps for local attractions, walking tours, businesses, and special events. Washington Avenue is the "Main Street" of downtown Golden's business district and is home to restaurants, galleries, and other shops and attractions. Construction of the Howdy Folks Arch, Golden's often photographed landmark (pictured above), was initiated by the Chamber of Commerce in 1949.
Golden was selected as the site of the Territorial School of Mines in 1870. Originally located southeast of Golden, the School was moved to its present location when a windstorm blew down the first classroom building before construction was completed. Thanks for visiting CSM's web page about our community. Be sure to visit the official home page of the city of Golden, Colorado, as well as our web site at the Colorado School of Mines.