Gold Belt Tour Scenic and Historic Byway

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At the Gold Belt Tour Scenic and Historic Byway Association, we're dedicated to protecting and sharing one of Colorado's most remarkable treasures - a 131-mile journey through the heart of America's greatest gold rush. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we work tirelessly to preserve the rural lifestyle, natural environment, and rich cultural heritage along this historic route. But we can't do it alone.

Your contribution directly supports conservation projects, educational programs, and the preservation of historic sites along the byway. From maintaining scenic vistas to creating educational signage, every dollar helps protect this unique piece of American history.

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Dinosaur Bone Wars

Garden Park along Shelf Road was a major battleground in the famous "Bone Wars" between rival paleontologists O.C. Marsh and Edward Drinker Cope in the 1870s. Fossils discovered here include Diplodocus, Stegosaurus, and Allosaurus, with specimens now displayed at the Smithsonian and museums worldwide. The Cleveland-Delfs Quarry later yielded the only mounted Haplocanthosaurus on display in the United States.

First Fossil Butterfly in America

Charlotte Hill discovered the first fossil butterfly ever found in America at Florissant in the 1870s. The specimen was later described by renowned paleontologist Samuel H. Scudder and helped establish Florissant's reputation as a world-class fossil site.