Dakan, Colorado facts for kids
Dakan was a small mining town that didn't last very long. Today, it's a ghost town, which means it's an abandoned place where people used to live. Dakan was located in western Douglas County, Colorado, United States. It was in the Front Range part of the Rocky Mountains. The town even had its own post office, but it was only open for a short time, from December 30, 1896, to August 2, 1898.
The Story of Dakan
Dakan was started in 1896 by a person named William Wanner. He was a prospector, someone who searches for valuable minerals. William Wanner announced that he had found a lot of silver and gold ore. This ore was worth about $35 for every ton. A local newspaper, the Castle Rock Journal, even wrote that "The future of Dakan is assured." This meant they thought the town would be very successful.
By Christmas of 1896, about 300 people had moved to Dakan. In January 1897, the town had eight buildings. These included a hotel, a restaurant, a saloon, and a grocery store. There were also plans to build five more buildings as soon as wood arrived.
However, the minerals found in the ground were not as good as everyone hoped. The ore did not have as much gold and silver as people thought. Because of this, the town quickly started to disappear. By August 1898, the post office closed, and Dakan became a ghost town.
Where Was Dakan?
The town of Dakan was located near a mountain called Dakan Mountain. This mountain is found at 39°14′15″N 105°03′59″W / 39.23750°N 105.06639°W.
