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Inside the Weekly Register-Call print shop: a Chicago Taylor press, a Diamond paper cutter and belt-driven line shafts under bare bulbs

Central City, Colorado

More than justthe face...

Tour the Teller House and its infamous Face on the Barroom Floor, the Opera House, the Thomas House, St. James Church and the Weekly Register-Call Print Shop. All tours begin at Washington Hall.

Plan your visitUpcoming events

This season at the sites

The Gilpin History Museum is closed for the season. Off-season access is available by appointment or through our tour office. The Tour Office is open Tuesday-Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for tours of the Thomas House, Teller House, Opera House, St. James Church and the Weekly Register-Call Print Shop.

303-582-5283Plan your visit

This season October through Memorial Day Weekend

Gilpin History Museum

Hours
By appointment or through the Tour Office for groups of 2 or more.
Cost
Adults $10, children 12 and under free

Thomas House

Hours
Tues-Sun 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cost
Adults $10, children 12 and under free

Washington Hall

Hours
Tues-Sun, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cost
Adults, $10 per person per building, children 12 and under free.

Upcoming events

All events

Three historic sites

The Gilpin History Museum, a two-story stone schoolhouse with arched windows, flags and an open banner

Gilpin History Museum

Built 1869–70 · 228 E. First High St.

Central City’s 1869–70 schoolhouse, home to the Mountain Submarine and the Mining Room.

Legend holds that in 1861 alone, Central City recorded 217 fist fights, 97 revolver fights, 11 Bowie knife fights and one dog fight, but Central City was not the Wild West of legend.

From the History of Central CityRead Central City’s history

Since 1859

Explore Gilpin County history
  1. 1859

    John Gregory discovers lode gold in the gulch between what would become Black Hawk and Central City.

  2. 1862

    Washington Hall, the county courthouse and jail, is built of hand-hewn square logs.

  3. 1867

    The Thomas House, a Greek Revival frame house, is built on Eureka Street.

  4. 1870

    The first classes are held in Central City’s new two-story school.

  5. 1898

    Rufus Owen and a few friends take his submarine up to Missouri Lake.

  6. 1971

    The Gilpin History Museum opens in the old school building.

The Weekly Register-Call composing room: Linotype machines, type cases and composing tables under hanging lights

Looking for a Gilpin County ancestor?

Our museum holds census indexes, naturalization and school census records, cemetery and newspaper indexes, the Teller House guest register index and name files for Gilpin County.

We’re happy to check what we have for any names that people might be researching.

Research help

We’d be history without you.

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