Yes, time travel might still be impossible, but there is still a way to get back in time. Hear me out on this. If you like traveling to historic places, then there is a way to get a feeling or imagine how things were in the past.
Colorado is one of the best places to get engulfed in history. All you need is a good pair of walking shoes and maybe a granola bar.
Colorado isn’t just about ski runs and winter vacations. This is a state made of plenty of historic layers, and the best thing is that most of the history is still standing. From Wild West towns to ancient cliff dwellings, this is definitely a place where American history, Native cultures, and Gold Rush dreams come alive (only if you know where to look).
Yes, Colorado might not be the usual location for some historic sightseeing, but this is a place that holds a special piece of American history. That’s why we decided to highlight the top 10 historic places that you can still visit in Colorado.
1. Mesa Verde National Park (Ancient Puebloans – 600 to 1300 AD)
For the first spot, we are going way back (like thousands of years ago) to Mesa Verde, the home of some of the most impressive cliff dwellings in North America that were built by the Ancestral Puebloans.
You’ll see entire villages carved into canyon walls, and a type of engineering that will blow your mind and maybe inspire you to join Graham’s idea of lost ancient civilizations.
To get the full experience, make sure you book a ranger-guided tour, bring plenty of water, and maybe don’t look down if you are afraid of heights (these sites don’t have fences).
2. Leadville (Gold & Silver Rush – 1870s)
What’s the point of visiting Colorado if you don’t dive into the Wild West, gold, and silver? After all, Colorado is a city known for the Gold Rush. If you ever wanted to see what a high-altitude Wild West town looks like, then Leadville is the perfect spot for you.
This is a town built on gold and silver, and it looks like it is frozen in time. The place was once the spot for silver millionaires, and today, there are still the same wooden storefronts, mining relics, and saloons that haven’t changed over a century.
While you are there, you can visit the National Mining Hall of Fame, or if you have an adventurous spirit, you can visit the Leadville Railroad that will make you feel like you are starring in your own Western movie.
3. Bent’s Old Fort (1830s–1840s)
This reconstructed adobe trading post along the Santa Fe Trail lets you step into a time when fur trappers, Native tribes, and traders mingled on the edge of the frontier. It’s like an Old West market—minus the overpriced coffee.
The staff wears period clothing, and if you’re lucky, you might catch a live blacksmith demonstration or old-fashioned cannon firing.
4. Central City & Black Hawk (1800s Gambling Era)
Before Las Vegas had neon lights, Central City and Black Hawk had gold mines, brothels, and card tables. Yes, Central City was the hub spot for betting and gambling enthusiasts long before Las Vegas came into the picture. These twin towns were once known as the “Richest Square Mile on Earth.”
Today, they mix restored 19th-century architecture with modern casinos. You can walk through streets that look like 1875, and then gamble like it’s 2025. With so many spots where you can test your luck, this is the perfect place for sports betting enthusiasts who like to get that adrenaline rush.
But before you make a bet, make sure to check out some of the best CO sportsbooks and take advantage of their bonus promotions on the link below:
5. The Stanley Hotel (1909–1910)
You’ve probably heard of this one. It inspired Stephen King’s The Shining. But ghost stories aside, the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park is a gorgeous slice of Edwardian elegance with an epic mountain view.
Even if you’re not staying overnight (or trying to meet a ghost named Delbert Grady), take the historical tour. The ballroom, original furnishings, and underground tunnel are all still intact.
6. Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (1882)
All aboard! If you want a living, breathing piece of history, this coal-fired steam train is the move. It takes you through the San Juan Mountains with views that honestly feel illegal, they’re that beautiful.
And the train itself? It hasn’t changed much in over 140 years. Riding it is like teleporting into the 1880s, minus the tuberculosis.
7. Trinidad’s Baca House & Bloom Mansion (Late 1800s)
Southern Colorado has its own unique history, blending Hispanic, Native American, and frontier influences. In Trinidad, the Baca House and Bloom Mansion are preserved 19th-century homes that showcase the region’s cultural mash-up during Colorado’s early statehood days.
Think: velvet wallpaper, horsehair sofas, and actual spittoons. You can’t get more vintage than that.
8. Fort Garland Museum (1858–1883)
Before Colorado was a state, Fort Garland was a military post keeping an eye on settlers, tribes, and outlaws. It once housed Buffalo Soldiers and was commanded by none other than Kit Carson. Yes, that Kit Carson.
The museum today includes original barracks, historical exhibits, and a somber but educational look at Native American relations in the West.
9. Teller City Ghost Town (1880s)
If you’re into creepy ghost towns (and who isn’t?), Teller City is a hidden gem. Once a bustling silver camp with over 1,500 residents, it’s now a forgotten forest relic, with crumbling log cabins and silence so thick it’s eerie.
Best part? It’s free to visit, just bring sturdy shoes, maybe a buddy, and a healthy respect for the bears.
10. Denver’s Larimer Square (1860s)
Let’s wrap things up in the capital. Larimer Square is Denver’s oldest block, and it’s been lovingly preserved to showcase the city’s roots. With cast-iron facades, historic saloons, and underground speakeasies, it’s a mix of frontier charm and modern nightlife.
You can grab a craft cocktail where gold miners once brawled, and that’s pretty much peak Colorado time travel, if you ask me.
Who would have thought that Colorado is the perfect place to get your historic fix? Did you book your tickets?
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