Historical Commission Corner

Published on June 27, 2025

Hot meals and a cold walk for only $2.50

One of the best-known but least productive hard rock mines in Boulder’s mountain watershed was the Fourth of July Mine. Traces of what was hoped to be a bonanza lode were found on Independence Day of 1872. Miners sunk an impressive 300-foot-deep shaft in quest of gold, silver and other valuable ancillary ores, but the mine produced only low-grade ore over the years leading to its abandonment in 1937.  

Rocky flips a pancake at old Fourth of July Mine.

Rocky flips a pancake at old Fourth of July Mine. Rocky was Joseph Sturtevant, colorful Boulder character and photographer who went by "Rocky Mountain Joe." Courtesy Carnegie Branch Library for Local History, Boulder.

The site is probably better known as a hiking mecca. The old wagon road, which later became a Jeep trail, is now a prominent hiking trail to the high county.

Historic Photo of hikers standing in the snow on the trail.

The path provides access to the Arapaho Peaks and the Arapaho Glacier. It has become such a popular recreation destination that shuttles are recommended to get to the trailhead west of the community of Eldora near Nederland.

Hiking to North and South Arapaho Peaks and the snow field between them is not a new idea. The Boulder Chamber of Commerce once sponsored group hikes to the area as far back as 1918. It was quite an adventure for locals and visitors alike. In the old days, trekkers could do the hike in one day or stay overnight at the Fourth of July Mine bunkhouse. Many explorers ascended one or both of the peaks as a part of their adventure. South Arapaho Peak rises to an elevation of 13,408 feet.

Fourth of July Mine shaft house.

Fourth of July Mine shaft house. Courtesy Carnegie Branch Library for Local History, Boulder.

The City of Boulder purchased 3,689 acres of land including the Arapaho Glacier in 1927 for $1.25 an acre. The melting snows of the glacier became a part of the City’s water system. A sign in the Hotel Boulderado next to a drinking fountain reads “Pure Cold Water from the Boulder-Owned Arapaho Glacier 99.9666% Pure.” 

The Glacier has lost so much of its volume over the decades that it is half the size it once was. It is no longer considered a glacier but a permanent ice field. Regardless, it is still true that this is the world’s only glacier owned by a city.  

By the way, the cost to participate in the hike in 1963 was $2.50. Included was a hot breakfast and hot dinner after the hike. The itinerary was for participants to leave at 5 a.m. and be back by 7 p.m. 

Historical Commission news

Commission Chair Larry Dorrsey greeting someone with a handshake as the visit the Historical Musem.

Summer is officially here, and Superior’s historical museums have been a hotbed of activity lately.

We saw a terrific visitor turnout at both the Asti Park Museum and the Grasso Interim Museum on June 7. Some recent museum highlights include a few generous donations of more excellent objects to our artifact collection, a new custom shelving unit was installed in the Asti Museum kitchen, and our Commissioners and volunteers have accomplished much with cataloging the collection.

The Town’s 4th of July Celebration is almost here. Look for our booth during the Pancake Festival from 9 a.m. to noon in Community Park (1350 Coalton Road). Also, keep an eye out for our historic fire truck in the parade (8:30 a.m. start at Rock Creek Parkway), and then on display near the booth after. We will have selected artifacts on exhibit at the booth along with a free coloring book for the children and copies of our Lost Superior book available for purchase.

The next opening of our museums is on the very next day, July 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Asti Park Museum is located at 110 W. Maple St., and Grasso Park Interim Museum is at 122 E. William St.

Did you know that:

  • The town of Eldora was originally called Eldorado? The U.S. Postal Service shortened the name to avoid confusion with other Eldorados in the county.  
  • The city of Manitou Springs hosts an annual “Great Fruitcake Toss?” At first this solution to the disposition of your auntie’s holiday gift was simple - whoever threw the baked brick the farthest won. Later some contestants resorted to loading the fruitcakes with weights or using slingshots to propel them more efficiently. Eventually a reform movement returned to the basics.  
  • Fairplay, Colorado has two monuments recognizing esteemed hooved residents from the past? They are Prunes the Burro who passed away in 1930 and the lazy but loveable Shorty, another respected equine who passed in 1951.  

Written by Larry Dorsey with help from Susan Stanish and Jennifer Garner.

For more information about the Historical Commission and its activities, contact Commission Liaison Jennifer “JG” Garner at 303-499-3675, ext. 167, Commission Co-Chair Larry Dorsey at 303-499-1969, or just click on the “Historical Commission Info” button below.

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