Our area has undergone many changes in the 150 years as a settlement and town. First in the area were Native American groups who hunted and traveled through here for generations. In the mid-19th century the first white homesteaders who settled here gave it a variety of names. First known as Dayton, then Brownsville, and in 1871, when the first post office was located here, it was called Middle Boulder. That was the same year Abel Breed bought the silver-rich Caribou Mine and decided to bring his ore from Caribou Hill to the ‘warmer’ climate of Middle Boulder for milling. It was also the same year the Boulder Canyon Road was completed, though it would be nearly forty years before the first automobile (a Stanley Steamer) would make the difficult trip up from Boulder in 1910.
In 1873, Breed sold the Caribou Mine to the Mining Company Nederland from Holland. Breed’s Caribou Mill in Middle Boulder became known among the miners as “the Netherlands,” meaning “low lands” (which it is compared to the town of Caribou at 10,000' elevation). In 1874 when the town incorporated, the people chose Nederland as the new name.
The mines at Caribou soon declined, however, and the Dutch company pulled out just a few years later. By 1890, there was little ore to be milled and Nederland became another mountain ghost town, with only a handful of families living here year round.
A second mining boom began just after the turn of the century. Sam Conger, who had discovered the Caribou silver mine, found tungsten in areas to the north and east of Nederland, and he knew its value in making steel. The old silver mill in Nederland was converted to process tungsten. By 1916, Nederland had a population of nearly 3,000, about twice its present number. In addition, the town of Lakewood grew north of Nederland and the town of Tungsten sprung up at the foot of Barker Dam. An unnaturally flat area on the south side of the canyon road just below the dam is scant evidence of the town that still appears on some area maps.
Though there were short-lived revivals of tungsten mining during World War II and in the early 1950s, the area’s mining fortunes gradually faded since World War I and Nederland evolved into a refuge from the heat of the plains and from the angst of city life. Good folks from all over the country have come to settle here and take part in recreating new lives in one of the most beautiful spots on earth.
You’ll be glad you chose to visit and we know you’ll come back.
NEDERLAND, COLORADO |
Elevation 8,233'
Population 1,394 |
Nederland is 17 miles west of, and 3000 feet above, the city of Boulder, and is the largest town along the Peak-to-Peak Scenic Byway that runs more than 55 miles from Black Hawk/Central City to Estes Park. Along the way, motorists will pass ghost towns, Golden Gate Canyon State Park, the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area, Longs Peak (14,255'), and Rocky Mountain National Park. The road is well paved and open all year. It is one of the most scenic drives in the state. Nederland is served by regularly scheduled daily RTD bus service to and from Boulder.
The history of our area was built upon mining, primarily gold, silver, and tungsten. Later the area became a destination for those seeking outdoor recreation, the quiet beauty of the mountains, and a slower way of community life. In addition to towns that have long since been deserted or abandoned, there are three National Historic Districts close by: Eldora, Ward, and Central City.
Summers in Nederland are popular for tourists. A good first stop, and a source for maps and information on area recreational opportunities, is the Nederland Visitors Center operated by the Nederland Area Chamber of Commerce and located in the center of downtown.
In the fall of the year thousands of visitors flock to the area to view the spectacular vistas of golden aspens that blanket the nearby hillsides. Fall is also an excellent time for hiking and biking with days that are usually dry and warm.
Winter visitors come to cross-country ski or snowshoe in the back country, or to ski and snowboard at Eldora Mountain Resort just five miles from town. Five hotels and motels and over a dozen restaurants, cafes, and coffee houses provide a variety of cuisine and dining options. Live entertainment is often available at one or more of these establishments.
Less than a mile north of downtown on Highway 72 is the Nederland Community Center. This building hosts many special events and gatherings, and is home to many local organizations. The Nederland Community Library, The Nederland Area Seniors, The Nederland Lions Club, The Backdoor Theater (which presents first run movies on the weekends), Wild Bear Science School, and the Nederland Arts Cooperative share the building with the offices of the Nederland Police Department and the Nederland Fire Protection District.
In addition, Nederland has a well equipped Youth and Family Center at the west end of Barker Reservoir. The Doc Gilespie House and a new Mining Museum, both operated by the Nederland Historical Society, are in the downtown area.
Over the years, Nederland has been home to a variety of colorful and interesting characters. Perhaps none has been more controversial or, recently, more famous than Grandpa Bredo, who has been kept frozen for several years in a storage shed with the help of bi-weekly dry ice deliveries. A short film documentary of his story, “Grandpa’s in the Tuff Shed,” has been making the film festival circuits in recent years.
Nederland is also the home of the award-winning Mountain-Ear newspaper, THE source of news and information for residents all along the Peak to Peak Highway.
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