As the winter holidays approach, visions of snow-covered slopes dance through the minds of dedicated skiers and snowboarders. The bad news is that not all of their friends and family members feel the same way. The good news is that the former Victorian mining town of Breckenridge Colorado has activities for skiers and non-skiers alike. This holiday season, let the Breckenridge Heritage Alliance transport you back in time, to the days of Christmas and Thanksgiving past.
Historic Walking Tour and Victorian Tea
The discovery of gold in late 19th century Breckenridge created a noveau riche society, whose members required bankers to save hold their wealth, and shop owners to help them spend. These upper-echelon town residents resided high on the hills of French and Harris Streets. William Harrison Briggle, a banker, and his wife Katie, a music teacher, lived at 104 N. Harris St. The building began as a simple log cabin, but the Briggles added rooms and remodeled. the cabin. The Briggle house now serves as a museum that offers a firsthand experience of the Victorian lifestyle. On Saturday, November 30th, from 1:30 to 3:00 pm, the Breckenridge Heritage Alliance will host a living history event, which features a tour of the home, followed by a traditional Victorian Tea.
Christmas Tree Lighting and a Visit with Santa
Nothing says Victorian Christmas like the Breckenridge parade and Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. After the tree lighting on the Blue River Plaza, go across the street to the Barney Ford Home and Museum, where Santa will be waiting. Barney Ford escaped slavery in the South, and through a complex series of fortunate and less fortunate events, ended up becoming a highly successful restaurateur in Breckenridge. Aside from the Santa visit and charming Victorian decor, a visit to the Barney Ford Home provides an entertaining and educational visit for children learning about the Civil War. On December 27, the Barney Ford Home will also host a Victorian Tea Party. Contact the Breckenridge Heritage Alliance for details.
Skiing: The White Gold of Breckenridge
Ironically, the gold mining that made Breckenridge rich eventually turned it into a ghost town. The destruction came in the form of dredge mining. As noted on the Town of Breckenridge website:
The two-story, pontoon boat supported an armature that carried a line of moving buckets that dug up placer mining ground to depths of 48 feet in the riverbed. The dredge removed all vegetation and buildings in its path. The riverbed was literally turned upside-down. Fine soils of the river bottom were either sent to the depths below or sent downstream as sediment. The riverbed and bedrock below were dredged up to the surface.
The opening of the Breckenridge Ski Resort in 1961 saved the town from complete financial ruin. Now, boasting North America´s highest chair lift, its top commodity — available in abundance — is known as white gold. You probably call it snow.