“Historic site in Fairplay, CO”
The year was 1859. Gold was discovered in South Park and the rush was on! Hordes of gold-seekers spilled into the Park, and within a few short months the mountains were dotted with mining camps sporting names like Tarryall, Leavick, Eureka and Buckskin Joe. These camps grew to become boom towns, thriving communities on the edge of the frontier. Gradually the mining dried up and the people moved on, leaving their towns and camps to the elements, until all that remained were decaying ghost towns. South Park City is a remarkable restoration of these early towns, preserving the history of our nation's frontier while it educates and entertains the present. Located in Fairplay, Colorado, the museum is an accurate representation of a mining town between 1860 and 1900. Thirty-four authentic buildings filled with over 60,000 artifacts portray most of the economic and social aspects of boomtown life. Seven of the buildings are on their original sites; the others have been moved from abandoned camps and ghost towns in South Park, a 900 square mile basin surrounded by Colorado's majestic Rocky Mountains. The restored buildings contain period room settings and exhibits illustrating the professions, trades and industries that contributed to life in a nineteenth century Colorado mining town.
So much more than we expected! To spend time and explore everything budget 2-3 hours. You can run through it in about an hour if you don’t spend a lot of time in each of the 43 sites. We especially enjoyed the general store, saloon, and drug store complete with thousands of apothecary bottles and an old soda jerk machine! Went with my husband and two kids aged 10 and 6. They loved ringing the school bell and the train bell!
We love this museum...truly a diamond in the rough. Well worth the price of admission. Our kids also enjoy it. The weather was awesome. This best old West museum we've been to.
This was a great place to stop and stretch our legs. It was truly like going back in time seeing how the people lived in all facets of town life. The dentist office gave us the creeps! Stop if you can!
My family enjoyed this museum. My husband and I definitely wanted to spend more time looking at all the details, but unfortunately that's hard to do with a three year old and five year old. It was a great place for them to visit though because they have so much stuff for them to touch and really get involved in! We'll have to return when they're older so we can spend more time there.
Loved this stop! Such a cute tiny town. Local shops with one of a kind items!! Definitely stop here!!
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