Symphony Concert, Sunday Swing, and Reaching Black Hawk

*Golden Eye Candy – Frank Hanou – Mines Football – enlarge* The School of Mines football team won yesterday’s game against the Shepherd Rams, so they’ll advancing to the NCAA Division II National Championship. Learn more….

What’s Happening in Golden Today?

9:30-11:30AM Full Walking Tour @ Dinosaur Ridge (except 12/25)
10AM-3PM Brunch at the Rose @ Buffalo Rose

12-5PM Holiday Art Market @ Foothills Art Center
The annual Holiday Art Market (HART) at Foothills Art Center in Golden, CO is a premier holiday venue for fabulous fine art and craft made in Colorado. Visitors are immersed in a unique holiday marketplace featuring an array of handmade gifts for everyone on their holiday gift giving list. Over 100 Colorado artists offer ceramics, fiber, glass, jewelry, paintings, woodworking, photography and much more. Plus, your purchases of these one-of-a-kind treasure helps support both local artists and Foothills Art Center! Admission and activities are free (donations accepted). 303-279-3922. Visit www.foothillsartcenter.org.

1PM Wild West Short Tour

1-3PM Golden Hayrides @ The Golden Mill
The Golden Hayride will be hosting complimentary Hayrides with Santa.
Make sure to get a hot apple cider or hot chocolate to warm up before the ride.

1-4PM Wild West Pub Crawl
2PM A Christmas Story @ Miners Alley Playhouse
3-4PM Wordplay Writing Workshop @ Golden Library

4PM Sunday Swing with the Flatirons Jazz Orchestra @ Buffalo Rose

Live Music

11AM-2PM Kevin Austin @ Buffalo Rose (Sky Bar Stage)

3-5PM Holiday Concert with the JSO @ Green Center
Academic Festival Overture — one of Brahms’ most prized and performed works. With a nod to German folk songs and tunes sung at bars, the composer himself conducted the 1881 premiere. Hansel & Gretel started as a Christmas puppet show by Humperdinck’s sister, who dialed in a sibling favor. She asked her brother to write a few songs for the adaptation and the music is now a beloved holiday classic. Fantasia on Greensleeves, an exquisite four-minute orchestral miniature that has far eclipsed the song it was inspired by, which was a traditional melody during the days of the Tudors. Christine Gaudreau – Conductor Information and tickets

3-6PM Shaun Nicklin Trio @ Over Yonder

4-7PM Johnny O @ Buffalo Rose (Sky Bar Stage)
4-5:30PM Music in the Saddle @ Windy Saddle

5-8PM Keith Hicks @ Golden Mill
8PM Karaoke @ Ace Hi Tavern

Golden History Moment

*Excerpt from a photograph of Black Hawk – Denver Public Library Western History Collection – click to enlarge*

150 Years Ago
The December 11, 1872 Colorado Transcript announced that the Colorado Central Railroad had reached Black Hawk. That was a great day for the Golden-based railroad. The Colorado Central had been completed from Denver to Golden in September of 1870. It was convenient for Golden businesses and residents to have an easy way to get to and from the larger metropolis, but the real objective for the Colorado Central was to reach the rich mining towns in the mountains.

This connection to Black Hawk enabled Golden to sell our goods to that city and to carry their ore to smelters in Golden and Denver. It was a boon to Golden’s economy and growing industrial base.

*Westward growth of the Colorado Central Railroad – click to enlarge*

The plan was to proceed with all speed to extend the road to Central City, Idaho Springs, Georgetown, and other mining towns. The Panic of 1873 significantly slowed the CCRR’s expansion, but they were finally able to build to Idaho Springs and Georgetown in 1877 and Central City in 1878.

Colorado Central Railroad - Golden Colorado

Thanks to Dan Abbott for his book, Colorado Central Railroad. Thanks also to the Golden History Museum for providing the online cache of historic Transcripts and to the Golden Transcript for documenting our history since 1866.