A Very Warm February Day on the Creek
Photo by Joyce Davell
Click to enlarge
What's happening in Golden today?
Events for Monday, Feb. 16th
- All day - CURRENT EXHIBITS AT THE MUSEUMS
- All day - Golden History Tours
- All day - Live Workouts with Community Center Pros
- All day - Golden Sports
- 9:30-10:30AM - Fit and Energize Exercise Class
- 5:30-7:30PM - The Fundamental Principles of Art
- 6-9PM - Teach Me to Play! Mondays
- 6:30PM - Movement Monday Running Club
For more information, click the item above or visit the Golden Today Calendar
Holiday
This is Presidents' Day, a Federal holiday. All government offices are closed, including the Golden Library. Most banks are closed, and there will be no mail delivery today.
Docked Bike Share Survey
The City is asking you to participate in a survey regarding a proposed bike share system.
The request to participate appeared on the City's Facebook page and the responses were generally negative, but comments on Facebook do not count! If you want to weigh in on this issue, you must complete the survey.
You may find the survey difficult to complete, for several reasons. It requires that you provide your age group, ethnicity, and income level. The survey also requires you to choose at least one location for a bike dock--even if you don't want one anywhere.
Some of the comments on Facebook asked, "didn't we try this before?"
We did a couple of similar things. In 2016, the City got a generous grant for a pilot program to establish a "Bike Library." The grant allowed them to buy a good-sized shed and a bunch of bikes and helmets. People could borrow the bikes for free, for 2 hours, and rent them by the day or hour for longer rides. That program ran, off and on, until 2021. That summer, the City announced that they had been unable to find anyone to run the Bike Library. (I always wonder whether that shed is still full of bikes and helmets.)
In 2018, the City participated in another pilot. This time, a commercial company placed racks full of bikes that people could rent using an app. That program, originally planned to run for a year, lasted only two months. The commercial company decided to end it and removed the bikes. The Golden Transcript published a good article describing that short-lived program.
Become a Mover and/or a Shaker
The City is accepting applications for various boards and commissions. The deadline to apply is March 16th. The number of openings on each board:
4 - Sustainability
1 - Downtown Development Authority
2 - Golden Urban Renewal
4 - Historic Preservation
1 - Investment Advisory Committee
4 - Mobility and Transportation Advisory
4 - Planning Commission
The Golden Word - 02/16/26
Golden History: History of Foothills Art Center - Part 1
Foothills Art Center - Creative Campus (15th & Washington) on left and Exhibit Gallery at the Astor House (11th and Arapahoe) on the right
Click to enlarge
Foothills Art Center got its start on the sidewalks of Golden. In 1964, a group of watercolor artists led by Irma Wyhs organized a Sidewalk Art Show in downtown Golden. It was successful enough that it became an annual event, and by 1967 the artists were looking for a permanent place to display their artwork.
“Foothills Art Center” was incorporated in April of 1967. Among the founders were artist Irma Wys, Heinie Foss (representing the Chamber), Holly Coors, Orlo Childs (then President of the School of Mines), Mayor Chuck Goudge, City Attorney Tom Carney, and Vi Hader, the Chamber’s Executive Secretary.
The group began by defining their goals. They wanted to exhibit work by both national and local artists, and host shows for the School District. They also wanted to offer art classes.
Their second task was to find a suitable home. The top two candidates were the Rubey Bank building and the old Presbyterian Church. The bank had recently moved to 13th and Jackson, where they could offer patron parking and a drive-up teller window, so the older building on Washington Avenue needed a new purpose.
The Presbyterian congregation had built a new church in the 1950s. The Unitarians had been renting the old church at 15th and Washington for several years, but they, too, were building a new church and would soon be vacating.
In the end, the group chose the old church. The Presbyterians, who still owned the building, offered to rent it for $150/month and if the nascent Art Center decided to buy it, they would apply 94% of the rent to the purchase price.
They spent the spring of 1968 repairing and redecorating the old building. They built a breezeway to connect the former manse (minister’s home) to the church building. The Art Center’s unofficial opening coincided with the 5th annual Sidewalk Art Show, in June of 1968. The first class, offered that same week, was children’s watercolor.
The Grand Opening took place on August 3rd, with former Senator “Big Ed” Johnson as the guest of honor. The opening exhibit included selected pieces from the Harmsen Western Art collection.
TRANSCRIPT EDITORIAL: Golden’s New Asset
The people of Golden can feel justly proud of this new addition of art culture in the area and our hope for growth and prosperity are cordially extended to everyone connected with this venture. Well done, well done, well done.
Colorado Transcript – August 1, 1968
Golden History: History of Foothills Art Center - Part 2
Foothills Art Center celebrated their grand opening on August 3, 1968. Their first exhibit was a group of paintings on loan from the Harmsen Western Art Collection.
Bill and Dorothy Harmsen were the owners of Jolly Rancher Candies. The company had started in downtown Golden, and it was here that they developed their famous hard candies. The couple were enthusiastic collectors of western art, owning more than 600 in 1968. They had never shown them in public before, but they permitted the new Foothills Art Center to borrow 41 of the best to celebrate the grand opening.
Less than three weeks later, disaster struck: 12 of the paintings were stolen. Art Center Director Irma Wyhs entered the facility on Thursday morning, August 22nd, and discovered the crime. Three antique guns had also been stolen.
Fortunately, the paintings were recovered. On September 8th, a Cherry Hills Village patrol officer noticed a suspicious vehicle. It left before he could investigate, but he had gotten the license plate number. He soon learned that a robbery had occurred in the neighborhood, so he used the license information to track down the owner at his Englewood address. There they found the paintings and other stolen articles, amounting to about $100,000 in value.
Fast forwarding about half a century...
The City of Golden closed the Astor House Hotel Museum and was considering selling the building. Foothills Art Center had always coveted a more accessible location, closer to the downtown shopping district. They struck a deal with the City wherein Foothills got a long-term lease on the Astor House. Their original home, in the old Presbyterian Church, became the Creative Campus, including rented studio space and classrooms. The Astor House became the exhibition center, hosting several shows each year.
If you recall part 1 of this history, the goals of Foothills Art Center founders included:
- exhibit work local and national artists
- exhibit artwork by local students
- provide art classes
They have succeeded in all of those goals. The Astor House is currently hosting their annual Members Show and works by the students at Red Rocks Community College and Jefferson County Schools. The Creative Campus has a full slate of classes for both children and adults.
Weather
Overnight: Partly cloudy. Low around 41, with temperatures rising to around 47 overnight. West southwest wind around 8 mph.
Washington's Birthday: Mostly sunny. High near 66, with temperatures falling to around 63 in the afternoon. South wind around 6 mph.
Monday Night: A chance of rain after 5am. Partly cloudy. Low around 42, with temperatures rising to around 47 overnight. Southwest wind 6 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Monday Night: Partly Cloudy then Chance Light Rain, 42°F
Tuesday: Chance Rain And Snow, 52°F
Tuesday Night: Chance Light Snow, 33°F
Wednesday: Chance Light Snow, 50°F
Wednesday Night: Chance Light Snow, 25°F
Thursday: Chance Light Snow, 39°F
Thursday Night: Chance Light Snow, 21°F
Friday: Chance Light Snow, 39°F
Friday Night: Chance Light Snow, 21°F
Saturday: Slight Chance Light Snow, 42°F
Saturday Night: Mostly Clear, 22°F
Sunday: Sunny, 49°F
News About Golden - February 16, 2026
How Colorado School of Mines students turned the iconic mountainside 'M' into a Valentine's heart
By Rhea Jha
9News
GOLDEN, Colo. — A red heart glowed above Golden on Valentine’s Day, lighting up the mountainside where a stark white “M” normally shines.
The iconic letter perched on Mount Zion, long a symbol of pride for the Colorado School of Mines, softened into something more seasonal... Read more...
Supporters
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($100/month and up)
Buffalo Rose, Buglet Solar, Foothills Art Center, Golden Cultural Alliance, Miners Alley Performing Arts Center, The Golden Mill, Golden Chamber of Commerce, Golden History Tours, Miners Saloon, Golden Hayride Outpost, Unite Fitness, Clothilde Elingbow, Michael Mason, Goosetown Station, and Earth Sweet Boutique
Friends:
($50-99.99/month or $550/yr)
Tall Pines Painting, Baby Doe’s Clothing, Goozell Yogurt & Coffee Paul Haseman, Donna Anderson, Carol & Doug Harwood, Stephanie Painter, Greg Poulos, Ann Norton & Jonathan Storer, Mary & Don Parker, Saré Merrigan, The Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum, Vic DeMaria, and Joy Brandt
Supporters:
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Laura King and Scott Wilson, Bobby German and Alison McNally, Forrest Jones, Barry & Liz Bettis, Cheryl & Tom Schweich, Marjorie Sloan, Chris and Joyce Davell, Rick Flint, Forrest Jones, Cynthia Merrill Tamny, Stephen Pero, Meg Van Ness & Steve Kalasz, Steve & Karla Schaefer, Bud Rockhill, Steve Enger, Kristie Brice & Mike Schwartz, The Golden Hotel, Kurt & Janet Siegfried, Ella Lyons & Jeanne Fritch, Robert Thresher, Tonie Mattox, Centennial State Wealth Advisors, Steve & M.L. Richardson, and Jeremy & Stephanie Keller
Members:
($10-24.99/month or $110/yr)
Brad Miller & Julie Bartos, Holly Thomas, Jim and LouAnne Dale, Ann Pattison, Thomas Hoffman, Carol Abel, Brian Quarnstrom, Sandra Curran, Bobby German and Alison McNally, Kathy Smith, Karen Smith, Carlos & Nancy Bernal, Robert Storrs, Michele Sannes, Elaine Marolla, Dixie Termin & Ron Miller, E Tom Hughes, Crystal M Culbert, Patrick A. Madison, Alice Madison & Jim Kalivas, Deb Goeldner, Christopher Ball, 6th Chair Home Services, Dot & Eric Brownson, Rosemary Coffman, Emeline Paulson, Sandy Schneider, Mark and Cathy Pattridge, Cheryl G Leidich, Jen Rutter, Frani R Bickart, Jennings and Litz, Bill Sedgeley, Nancy Hughes, Justin L Wade, Kathi Eggers, Traci Case, Donna Owen, Leslie D Lutz, Karen Oxman, Catherine Skokan, Ross Fraser & KC Gilliland, Lynne Haigh, Elizabeth Hilliard, Frank Young & Terre Deegan-Young, Kathy Hirons & Jack Markin, Jess & Anthony Monasterio, Heather Duncan, Lee Ann & Pete Horneck, Carol Cameron, Cheryl Williamson, San Daugherty, Jim Garner, John and Carol McEncroe, the Golden Welcome Center, the Golden Transcript, Koshare Eagle, Ken and Colleen Krantz, Traci Neuman Lacey, Jo Barber, Jamie Cookinham, Kermit Shields, Meridee Cecil, Vicki Olson, Colleen & Michael Ramey, Nancy & Pete Torpey, Jax Baker, Simon Maybury, Rose McLaughlin, Cameron Chambers, Joyce Gravina, Patrick Klein, Barb Robie, Richard Caldwell, Janice Waring, Sam & Marilyn Baron, Carmen Johnson, Mary Eiberger, Kevin Nichols, Ed & Carol Freza, Laura and Curtis Moore, Ruth Hund, Shelley & Jerry Devitt, Eileen Masterson, Kate Olivier, Amy Korengut, Pam Logan, Clare Shier, Wendy Weiman, and Marge Frueh
Followers:
($5-9.99/month)
Golden Community Garden, Lora Haimes, Mariane Erickson, J.J. Fraser, Mel Perkins, Bob Hamilton, Steve Stevens, Vicki Olson, Emily Kurzinski, Nanette Johnson, Peyton Gibson, Sally Berger, Kristen Morgan, Joyce Sutton, Mary Rains, Craig Champlin, Stan Swisher, Bill Way, and Chris Toney
