First Gold Found Plaque - Denver, CO
Posted by: 
Outspoken1
N 39° 47.234 W 105° 03.548
13S E 494937 N 4404143
Plaque commerating First Gold found in Colorado north of location
Waymark Code: WM11AD
Location: Colorado, United States
Date Posted: 12/12/2006
Views: 234
Colorado's early settlement was driven by mining, not farming. This event is now a two-part commeration. The original plaque is found at Inspiration Park (parking at N39° 47.193, W105° 03.431). The text of the plaque is:
One Mile North of this Point
GOLD WAS DISCOVERED
on June 22, 1850 by a party of
California-bound Cherokees.
The discovery was made by Louis
Ralston whose name was given the
creek (a branch of Clear Creek).
Reports of the find brought the
prospecting parties of 1858 whose
discoveries caused the Pikes Peak
Gold Rush of 1859 which resulted
in the permanent settlement of
Colorado.
Now, if you take a short trip to Gold Strike Park (N39° 47.822, W105° 03.432), you will find newly added information about the Ralston Party and Gold Find. Walk to N39° 47.844, W105° 03.323 and you will be in the vicinity of the original gold find.
Group or Groups Responsible for Placement:
First Gold Plaque - Colorado State Historical Society, Mrs. J.N. Hall Foundation and the City and County of Denver.
Gold Strike Park - City of Arvada, Jefferson County Open Space and Great Outdoors Colorado
County or City: Denver
Date Dedicated: First Gold Plaque 1941
Check here for Web link(s) for additional information: [Web Link]
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Visit Instructions:
In your log, please say if you learned something new or if you were able to take any extra time to explore the area once you stopped at the historic marker waymark. If possible, please post a photo of you at the marker OR your GPS at the marker location OR some other creative way to prove you visited. If you know of any additional links not already mentioned about this bit of Colorado history, go ahead and include that in your log!