Colorado Opera House Is One Of The Oldest In America

Colorado's gold rush was in full swing by 1859. The silver rush was underway by 1879. The excitement of bringing prospectors to Colorado led to the development of several mining communities that did very well for themselves

Read More: The History of Colorado's Gold Rush

Have you ever wondered how some of Colorado's oldest mining communities also became home to some of the oldest theatres and opera houses in the Centennial State? Several of these historic buildings are still standing and are places you can still visit today.

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Colorado's Symbols of Culture

Even in the days when Colorado was still a territory, it didn't take long to figure out that a community didn't last long if it was just a mining camp full of saloons. As camps turned into towns following the discovery of gold and silver, communities knew they needed to add culture and sophistication to "Main Street" if they were to be taken seriously. Some of the owners of Colorado's first theatres and opera houses made their fortune in nearby mines.

Colorado's Oldest Theatre

Colorado's oldest movie theatre is still in operation today and is believed to be one of the oldest theatres anywhere West of the Mississippi River. The Park Theatre in Estes Park opened in 1913. Despite a couple of bad fires in nearby structures over the years, the theatre remains open and is a landmark in Estes Park.

Read More: Colorado is Home To The Oldest Movie Theatre in Western America

Colorado's Oldest Opera House

The oldest opera house still standing in the state of Colorado is the Central City Opera House located in Gilpin County. The opera house was the first in Colorado and opened in 1879. Electricity was added in 1896. The Central City Opera Company is the 5th oldest in America and still performs for audiences at the historic site. We'll take a closer look at Colorado's historic opera houses in the gallery below.