Welcome to South Park City, a 19th century mi
ning boom town in 21st century Colorado.
The year was 1859. Gold was discovered in South Park, a 900 s
quare mile basin surrounded by Colorado's majestic Rocky Mountains. The gol
d rush was on! Hordes of gold-seekers spilled into the Park. The mountains
were dotted with mining camps sporting names like Tarryall, Leavick, Eureka
, and Buckskin Joe within a few short months. These camps grew to become th
riving communities on the edge of the frontier. Gradually the mining dried
up, and the people moved on, leaving their towns and camps to the elements
until all that remained were decaying ghost towns.
South Park Ci
ty is a remarkable representation of these early towns, preserving the hist
ory of our Nation's frontier while it educates and entertains the present.
Located in Fairplay, Colorado, the museum accurately represents a mining to
wn between 1860 and 1900. Forty-four authentic buildings are filled with ov
er 60,000 artifacts. They portray most of the economic and social aspects o
f boom town life. Seven of the buildings are on their original sites. The o
ther buildings were moved from abandoned camps and ghost towns in the South
Park area. They contain period room settings and exhibits that illustrate
the professions, trades, and industries that contributed to life in a 19th
century Colorado mining town.
South Park City is open to the public from
May 15 to October 15 every year.
Our Seasonal Hours Are:
May 15 to Memorial Day: 10 am to 5 pm* Memorial Day to labor Day: 9 am to 7 p
m* Labor Day to October 15: 10 a
m to 6 pm*
*When planning your visit, it's important to note that ti
cket sales end one hour before the museum closes.