In 1872, after the arrival of the railroad, Black Hawk became a major mining center known as the "City of Mills." In 1991, the city introduced gambling with limited stakes. Today Black Hawk's casinos are the source of funding for historic buildings around the state. Each casino has its own theme. Black Hawk Station Casino, Bull Durham Casino and The Wild Card Casino are small and charming. The Ameristar Casino is the largest casino in Colorado.
Colorado's most famous opera house with 550 seats opened in 1878 featuring comedy and circus acts for mining camps. As the city's mining wealth declined so did the success of the opera house. In 1932, with the assistance of the University of Denver and the Central City Opera House Association, the opera house was reopened in its Victorian style .
At the Teller House hotel, tourists visit the Face Bar to see a woman described as a chestnut-haired enchantress, painted on the floor. The painting is not signed; however, it is credited to Denver artist Herndon Davis, who is said to have been inspired by Hugh Antoine D'Arcy's poem and tale of the Old West, "The Face Upon the Floor." The portrait is thought to be of Davis' wife Edna Juanita.
For a beautiful drive in the mountain, start at Estes Park or Nederland and end in Black Hawk. Along the way, your journey will take you through the peaks of the Rocky Mountains, where you can see the flat land of the prairies to the east. Some of the byways will lead you to the highest sand dunes in North America. You may want to take the route of Mt. Evans to end up at the highest paved road in North America.
