Whatever the reason, Central City launched its first opera season in 1861 and throughout the decade presented a host of vaudeville and minstrel shows. Some of this is attributed to the diversity of its miners, whose countries of origin included Russia, Wales, France, Germany, and Italy.
Aptly, Gregory Gulch was nicknamed, “the richest square mile on earth.”įrom the very beginning, Central City and its slightly smaller sister, Black Hawk, were a little more sophisticated than the average mining town.
By the time it was through, the area yielded $125 million in precious metals. Central City became the urban center for all the action, and between 18, the gulch produced $9 million in gold ore. These cities saw their first real activity during an 1859 gold strike that, at the time, overshadowed activities in Denver. The area also has an unexpected penchant for music, supporting its own opera house and a yearly jazz festival.
