Central City Opera House

Opera House on "the Richest Square Mile on Earth"

Description

In the mid-nineteenth century, Central City experienced an explosion of growth following the discovery of gold in nearby Gregory Gulch. The population of the city boomed overnight increasing by nearly 300% from 600 residents in 1860 to well near 3,000 residents by 1870. A large number of Cornish and Welsh miners had moved to take part in the gold rush, bringing with them a rich tradition of music from their homelands on the western shores of the United Kingdom. In 1878. the Central City Opera House was built by these miners to provide a venue where they could preform and listen to opera and music. The building was designed by prominent Denver architect Robert S. Roeschlaub, and with the help of San Fransisco artist John C. Massman, who added the trompe l'oeil murals in the interior of the building, created a gem to the growing mining city that's reputation was growing as the "the richest square mile on earth." The opera house attained national prestige presenting performances by Buffalo Bill and P. T. Barnum’s circus. Just as it was with the Gold Rush throughout the United States and territories at the time, it was boom then bust. Falling deep into disrepair, the Central City Opera House quickly slumped in for some quiet years until in 1932 a restoration of the building led by Ida Kruse McFarlane, Edna Chappell, and Anne Evans helped restore the opera house to its past glory. Today it has hosted performances of the nation's fifth-oldest opera company ever since. Today visitors visit this iconic stone structure to enjoy music year round including the national summer festival held every year.