Colorado

The State Historical Society put up this board in 1956, one of a set of wooden welcomes at the state's highway entries, and it still stands on First Street where the Society's 1970 list placed it. Its empty land, traversed only by nomad bands, was nothing of the kind. The Fort Laramie treaty of 1851 had recognized the country between the North Platte and the Arkansas, this valley included, as Cheyenne and Arapaho land, and the gold rush the board celebrates crossed it in 1859 under no cession at all.

What the plaque says

Entering the Centennial State Colorado Here on the Great Plains where the ramparts of the Rocky Mountains still lie some hours westward the Mountain State welcomes you. This highway leads up the valley of the South Platte River to Denver. In 1859 and 1860 the gold rush carried thousands westward along this trail, in wagons, on horseback, with handcarts and on foot, seeking fortune. They saw then an empty land, traversed only by nomad Indian bands who followed great dark herds of buffalo, often miles in extent. Towns like Julesburg soon grew from stage stations armed against Indian attack. In the 1870's the first rails were laid almost in the wagon ruts. Today the highway traverses bountiful lands and substantial cities.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Julesburg — steps away
  The town that moved four times: a trading post, a stage stop burned in 1865, the wickedest end-of-track town on the Union Pacific, and finally Denver Junction renamed.

More markers nearby

• Old Julesburg — 6.2 mi
• Fort Sedgwick — 6.7 mi
• Colorado's Northeast Corner — 11 mi