Vicksburg, Colorado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Vicksburg Mining Camp
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Main Street
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 Location in Colorado
Location in the United States
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| NRHP reference No. | 77000364 |
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| Added to NRHP | March 8, 1977 |
Vicksburg was once a busy town and mining camp. It is located high in Clear Creek Canyon in Chaffee County, Colorado. This area is close to the village of Granite.
Today, Vicksburg is mostly a ghost town. This means most of its buildings are empty. However, some owners still use their buildings during certain times of the year. The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. Part of the town is now a museum run by the Chaffee County Historical Society. About four miles away, you can find another old mining camp called Winfield.
The Story of Vicksburg
Vicksburg began in 1867. Some gold prospectors from Leadville, Colorado were camping in Clear Creek Canyon. They lost their burros, which are like small donkeys. When they found their animals, they also discovered gold in the creek bed! This exciting find led to the start of Vicksburg.
At its busiest time, Vicksburg was a lively place. It had a post office where people sent letters. There was also a school for children. The town had a blacksmith shop, where metal items were made. Miners could stay at one of two hotels. There were also two billiard halls and several saloons for entertainment. A general store sold supplies, and an assay office tested the purity of gold. A livery stable provided horses and care for them.
Early miners brought special Balm of Gilead trees to Vicksburg. They carried these trees on the backs of burros. They planted them along the main street. These trees are still standing today! They get water from ditches that lead from Vicksburg Creek into the town. These ditches were dug on both sides of the street. They provided water for the town and helped fight fires. Wooden boxes were even built in the ditches to keep food cold.
