Central City/Black Hawk Historic District, Historic mining district in Gilpin County, Colorado, United States

The Central City/Black Hawk Historic District covers the built-up areas of two adjacent former gold mining camps in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, in Gilpin County, Colorado. The landmarked area spans more than 280 acres and takes in the ghost town of Nevadaville and Central City's cemetery up Eureka Gulch. Much of the former mining infrastructure on the hills above the towns lies outside the boundary.

The area began in 1859 when gold was discovered in a nearby gulch, drawing thousands of people seeking fortunes in the mountains. The settlements grew rapidly into wealthy communities centered on mining wealth and industrial activity.

The buildings here show how people lived and worked during the gold rush, with churches, saloons, and homes packed tightly together along steep streets. Walking through, you can see how a mountain community organized itself around mining and trade.

The streets here are steep and require comfortable shoes plus patience navigating uneven ground between buildings. Best time to visit is during warmer months when snow does not block the pathways.

Between 1859 and 1893, Gilpin County produced more gold than any other area in the American West, and the Gregory Lode gave the district its nickname, the Richest Square Mile on Earth. The landmarked area covers more than 280 acres but leaves out much of the former mining infrastructure still visible in the hills above the towns.