These 7 Small Towns in The Rockies Have the Best Historic Districts

The Rocky Mountains are a popular tourist destination for their stunning natural beauty, unique history, and geographical diversity. Stretching 3,000 miles from British Columbia in western Canada to New Mexico in the Southwest United States, the Rockies is a hub for nature lovers. It offers exciting camping, hiking, skiing, and mountain climbing opportunities. Although big historic cities like Boulder in Colorado would be a priority for tourists, the Rockies have a wealth of small towns offering a window into the past for history buffs. From quaint streets adorned with Victorian-era buildings to historic art galleries and charming restaurants, these small towns in the Rockies have the best historic districts.

Estes Park, Colorado

Estes Park is a small mountain town in Colorado with 5,799 people, named after Joel Estes and his wife, who were the original settlers in 1859. It has a rich history, and its layout remains untouched to date. The town has several places on the National Historic Register, including the Stanley Hotel, the first in Estes Park, built in 1909 and featured in a popular Box Office film, The Shining. Moraine Park, McGraw Ranch, and Leiffer House are also on the Historic Register. Estes Park is a gateway to the Rocky Mountain National Park, home to 400 species of Bighorn Sheep and a popular destination year-round.

Canmore, Alberta

Canmore, with a population of 16,782, is one of the coolest small towns in the Rockies, named in honor of King Malcolm of Scotland and famous for the spectacular Canadian Rocky Mountain landscape. Often overshadowed by the more popular town of Banff, Canmore holds just as much charm and history without the crowds. Canmore is home to the picturesque Three Sisters Mountains, Ha Ling Peak, and Mount Rundle. Although it was established as a railway town in 1883, its history revolves around coal mining, and it thrived from the proceeds until 1979. The history of Canmore changed in 1988 with the arrival of the Calgary Winter Olympic Games 1988, which attracted property developers, tourists, and home buyers. It has some of the most preserved historical sites, including Centennial Park, Canmore Museum and Geoscience Centre, Miners Union Hall, NWMP Barracks, and Luxton Home.

Golden, Colorado

Nestled on the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, Golden is a former small gold rush town with a population of 19,408. The discovery of gold in Clear Creek in the 19th century attracted the early settlers, and the town became a supply source for gold miners. Farmers later discovered coal, leading to the establishment of coal mining and clay extraction industries.

Golden became the first territorial capital of Colorado in 1862, and legislators met in what is now the old Capital Grill restaurant from 1862 to 1867. The city…