Explore U.S., Colorado, and Fremont County History


History Lovers' Tour - Day 1

Fremont County Heritage Commission
DAY ONE
8:00 am - 9:00 am

Breakfast in either Cañon City or Florence, Colorado area

8:15 am - 10:00 am Stroll Historic Downtown Cañon City without all the traffic! There are 81 buildings on the National Historic landmark list in just these few blocks.  We have churches around almost every corner, and they are mostly built from local stone from quarries in the county.
10:00 am - 11:30 am

The Museum and History Center at 612 Royal Gorge Boulevard is open, and FREE to the public (Donations accepted).  This is where the famous Dino Depot Dinosaurs migrated when the Depot closed in May of 2013.  This is also our Resource repository for Genealogy in the area – the staff is extremely knowledgeable and willing to help

11:45 pm - 1:00 pm

Pick a local restaurant, they are within walking distance, too.  The Owl is just around the corner at 628 Main Street, Michaels on Main is across the Street, Pizza Madness just up the block, and many more scattered throughout the immediate area.

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Go West on Royal Gorge Boulevard, turn left at Old Max (1st Street) and go a quarter of a mile, up the hill to one of the first cemeteries in the region. 

Greenwood Pioneer Cemetery is a jewel, with art in sculpture, history in epithats, and original and unique areas such as the GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) Union section and the CSA (Confederate States of America ) Veterans of the South. 

The history of these two sections is wonderful, find someone from the Greenwood Pioneer Cemetery Committee to tell you all the stories.

2:30 pm - 3:30 pm

Coal Camp Tour - Go South East to Florence on Highway 115, and on the way turn off at Williamsburg/Rockvale/Coal Creek.  These old Coal Camps are now quiet, but they hold some of the most interesting history in the county.

3:30 pm - 4:00 pm

Price Pioneer Museum in Florence - If you can tear yourself away from the wonderful antique alley (Main Street) of Florence, go to the museum and see the history of King Coal and the Oil fields that once dotted this landscape.

4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Take the round trip from Florence over to highway 50, turn on PHANTOM Canyon Road to Indian Springs Camp ground and talk to them about their fossil beds and the history of Phantom Canyon.

5:30 pm - 6:00 pm

Back to Cañon City for a leisurely DINNER – we have first class restaurants here, namely DiRitos, Merlino’s Belvedere, La Petit Chablis, Shadow Hills Golf Course and others.  You can find them all in the phone book, and this is a small place – easy to get around finding anything.

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

There are things to do most every night in the Royal Gorge Region

  • Monday - Cowboy Church in Veterans Park
  • Tuesday - Entertainment in the Park, Cañon City
  • Wednesday - Entertainment in the Park, Florence
  • Thursday - Take a drive up Skyline Drive and look at the city lights
  • First Friday – (Art Walk) Start at the Fremont Center for the Arts and walk up and down Main Street and enjoy the various art venues.
  • Saturday - Lots of local bands in local bars and saloons.  

But by now, you're ready to hit the hay, and start on your second day in the area. Enjoy your evening in one of the many hotels, B and B's, vacation rentals or RV parks in the area.

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