Gold was discovered in the mountains west of Denver in 1859. Within a few months, 10,000 prospectors crowded in the new town of Central City, known as the richest square mile on earth. Two decades later, Welsh and Cornish miners with strong music traditions built an opera house. The stone and brick building with its Juliet balcony looked like it belonged in Italy, rather than in a pioneer town. It hosted all types of entertainment including traveling shows by Buffalo Bill and P.T. Barnum. By 1900 mining had all but fizzled out. The Opera House fell into disrepair, but it was revived 3 decades later by a group of Denver music lovers. it reopened in 1932 launching the yearly tradition of Central City Opera, the second-oldest summer opera company in the U.S.
About Colorado Postcards
Colorado Postcards are snapshots of our colorful state in sound. They give brief insights into our people and places, our flora and fauna, and our past and present, from every corner of Colorado.
