Projects

Historic Preservation and Interpretive Projects

Welcome Home Engine No. 9! See the locomotive on display at the Rotary Snowplow Park.

Engine No. 9, built by Cooke Locomotive Works, was one of a pioneering set of locomotives that used narrow-gauge rail to navigate the high, dangerous mountain terrain of Colorado. It operated on the Denver to Leadville “High Line” from 1884 to 1937, pulling freight and passenger cars for 53 years. No. 9 was the last passenger train over Boreas Pass (the highest rail pass in the United States at the time) when the line was discontinued. Following its service, the locomotive went on display at the New York’s World Fair from 1939-40. Engine No. 9 is an icon of Colorado’s narrow-gauge railroad heritage. It represents the life-blood that helped Breckenridge and other Colorado mining communities survive and thrive in the late 1800s and early 20th century.  Today’s visiting public will see Engine No. 9 in the same context as when it operated – on the original High Line track that came into Breckenridge from Boreas Pass.

During the summer and fall of 2010, the Breckenridge Heritage Alliance constructed an open-air shelter to house the locomotive. This project was accomplished with the aid of numerous community supporters who donated time, money and supplies to construct the shelter. The following local businesses and community members made this project possible: Breckenridge Building Center, Colorado Historical Society, Columbine Hills Concrete, Inc., Ethan Guerra, Inc., LG Everist, Mary Hart Design, Rich & Maryann Rowley, Rob Andrews Land Surveying, Theobald Engineering & Construction Services, Timberline Disposal, Town of Breckenridge. Engine 9 returned home on December 14, 2010.

Klack Placer Cabin

The Klack Placer Cabin is one of the last nineteeth century, one-story log cabins left in the Town of Breckenridge.  The cabin was built circa 1878 during Breckenridge’s heyday as a mining town. It is an interesting example of an early two-room prospector's cabin, with living quarters in one room and utility in the other. Currently, the cabin is owned by the Town of Breckenridge.

In 2009, the cabin was in poor condition. The roof was compromised, wooden floor beams were rotten and the building was sinking into the ground causing additional deterioration. Recognizing a unique opportunity to protect the Klack Cabin, the Breckenridge Heritage Alliance set out to find volunteer materials and labor to save the building.

Three key members of the community immediately stepped up to support this project. The Theobald Family donated all the roofing materials, consisting of rough sawn planks that resemble roofs of similar historic structures in the community. Tony Harris of Harris Construction provided donated labor to install a new roof and floor, and the Breckenridge Building Center generously donated materials for the roof substrate and new floor. Breckenridge Crane provided in-kind support to rotate the cabin 180 degrees in August, 2010, so the cabin faces the current Klack Placer.

French Gulch Interpretive Signs

A wealth of history lies just to the east of Breckenridge in French Gulch, the location of dozens of early mining operations. In summer 2011, the Alliance installed interpretive signs that tell the stories of the mining camps that once thrived in the area.  Photographs from the mining era show how the landscape has changed and and also educate current users of French Gulch. This project was funded by the Town of Breckenridge and Summit County Open Space & Trails.

Edwin Carter Museum Rehabilitation

After a complete overhaul of the 1875 Edwin Carter Museum in 2008 and 2009, natural history lovers are invited to take an interactive and interpretive adventure dedicated to the legacy of Colorado's famous log cabin naturalist--Professor Edwin Carter. Exhibit themes trace the evolution of Carter's life as a miner, taxidermist, and scientist and explain how, in 1900, his amazing collection of Rocky Mountain fauna came to serve as the nucleus collection for today's Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Also featured in the museum is a new theater room and an interactive learning center where children can try hands-on activities related to Carter’s work. This project was funded by the Town of Breckenridge.

Washington Mine Interpretive Site

In July 2008, renovations were completed on the Washington Mine site, an example of one of Breckenridge’s early-day underground mines. In addition to shoring up infrastructure, the tipple (the point where ore carts deposited mined materials into waiting wagons below) and head frame (which provided the sheave and pulley system to lower men and materials into the mine) were rebuilt. A custom-built gold panning station was also added to the Washington to enhance the visitor experience. This project was funded by the Town of Breckenridge.

Reiling Gold Dredge

Built in 1908, the Reiling Gold Dredge was the eighth dredge used to mine gold-bearing ground in the Breckenridge area. Until 1922, when in sank in a small pond in French Gulch, the Reiling Dredge moved up and down French Creek extracting gold from the bedrock. Still highly preserved in its final resting spot, the Reiling Dredge underwent a state-of-the-art preservation assessment in 2008 and 2009. Using the most modern, cutting edge technologies, the assessment analyzed the current state of the dredge boat and helped create a management plan for the future of the site. This project was funded by the State Historical Fund of the Colorado Historical Society and the Town of Breckenridge.