Good for Both Digging in and Looking Out
Photo by Julie Bartos
Click to enlarge
What's happening in Golden today?
Events for Sunday, May. 3rd
- All day - CURRENT EXHIBITS AT THE MUSEUMS
- All day - Golden History Tours
- All day - Golden Sports
- All day - Church Services
- 9AM-2PM - Brunch at the Rose
- 10AM-5PM - Spring Gear Sale and Swap
- 10AM-3PM - Small Wonders Weekend
- 12-4PM - Gear Swap & Sample Sale
- 1-2:30PM - May the 4th Be with You...A Day Early
- 2PM - Colorado School of Mines Philharmonic Orchestra Spring Concert
- 2PM - Pump Boys and Dinettes
- 5-9PM - Board Game Night
For more information, click the item above or visit the Golden Today Calendar
10AM-3PM Small Wonders Weekend @ Colorado Railroad Museum
At this celebration of toy trains and scale model railroading, guests will “marvel at the minis” while exploring the Museum’s impressive small-scale railroads, including the extensive on-site layouts operated by the Denver Garden Railway Society and the Denver HO Model Railroad Club. Tickets
Location:
Colorado Railroad Museum
17155 W. 44th Avenue (Map)
1-2:30PM May the 4th Be with You...A Day Early @ Golden Library
Celebrate, you must! May the 4th, the unofficial Star Wars holiday, it is — but early our celebration will be. On May 3, join us to explore the galaxy with themed activities and fun. In your favorite costume arrive, and a great time you will have! Limited space - you must register. More information
Location:
Golden Library
1019 10th Street (Map)
2PM Colorado School of Mines Philharmonic Orchestra Spring Concert @ Colorado School of Mines
Masakazu Ito - Music Director and Conductor
American Classics – 250 year anniversary of the United States of AmericaCandide Overture (Leonard Bernstein)
Appalachian Spring (Aaron Copland)
An American in Paris (George Gershwin)
For more information, send email to: mito@mines.edu. There are no tickets, and admission is free. Learn more.
Location:
Colorado School of Mines
Green Center (Map)
The Golden Word - 05/03/26
Live Music for Sunday, May. 3rd
- 3-6PM Taylor Frederick @The Golden Mill
- More Live Music
3-7PM Little Sky @ Wrigley’s
4-7PM Chuck Grossman @ Columbine Cafe
4-7PM Adam Gaffney Duo @ Goosetown Station
8PM Karaoke @ Ace Hi Tavern
For more information, visit the Golden Today Calendar
Golden History: State Rifle Range Becomes Camp George West
George West as Captain of the Colorado 2nd Volunteer Cavalry (1862-1865) and as Adjutant General of the Colorado State Militia (1887-1888) – both images from the Golden History Museum collection.
Click to enlarge
82 Years Ago
The May 3, 1934 Colorado Transcript included this announcement:
CAMP GEORGE WEST NEW NAME DESIGNATED FOR RIFLE RANGE
In order to perpetuate the name of an officer who served faithfully and gallantly in the Civil War, commanding an organization of Colorado men, and who played an important part in upbuilding in the heart of the Rocky Mountains the great State of Colorado,and who served as the Adjutant General of the State from 1887 to 1889, the State Rifle Rage near Golden, Colorado, is, effective as of this date, renamed and redesignated CAMP GEORGE WEST and will henceforth be so referred to in all communication and orders of whatsoever nature pertaining to this range.
The property east of Golden, along South Golden Road was private property until 1903. Golden native Neil West Kimball recalled the area as
...wide open space just right for an exciting Sunday holiday. On such an occasion there were horse-drawn caravans, wagons piled high with yelping dogs and their owners, shrieking children of all ages and kegs of Coors beer heading out of town on the South Golden Road.
He added that greyhound racing was popular at the time, and people would gather there to watch the races. The area was later used by a rifle club, which constructed a rifle range and used South Table Mountain as their backdrop.
1933 military drill at Camp George West – Denver Public Library Western History Collection – enlarge
In 1903, the rifle club sold their land to the State, which established the State Rifle Range. It became the home for the Colorado Guard (later renamed Colorado National Guard).
George West was one of Golden’s earliest settlers, arriving here in June of 1859. He established our first newspaper, the Western Mountaineer, but closed it after a year and left to serve as a Captain during the Civil War. After the war, he returned to Golden and started the Colorado Transcript in 1866. During the Plains Indian Wars, he served as Adjutant General of the Colorado Guard.
George West died in 1906, but his grandson Neil (a World War I veteran) later served in the same role–as Adjutant General of the Colorado National Guard. During his tenure in that role, the camp was renamed in honor of his grandfather. Since that time, it has been known as “Camp George West.”
The Transcript took familial pride in the name change. After the formal announcement, shown above, they added the following Editor's Note:
George West—pioneer, soldier and editor —hero of one small boy who has grown up to follow in the foot steps of his grandfather. George West served in the Civil War, Neil Kimball in the World War; George West founded the Colorado Transcript, Neil Kimball was its successful editor; George West was Adjutant General of the Colorado National Guard from 1887 to 1889—47 years later Neil Kimball occupies the same position. Camp George West will hereafter be the name of the State Rifle Range near Golden. Signing the general order making this change must have given Neil Kimball a great deal of pleasure—as it does those early Golden pioneers who remember and honor George West, their friend and fellow citizen, founder and co-builder of this community.
Weather
Overnight: Mostly clear. Low around 48, with temperatures rising to around 51 overnight. West wind around 9 mph.
Sunday: Partly sunny. High near 73, with temperatures falling to around 71 in the afternoon. West northwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 16 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy. Low around 48, with temperatures rising to around 50 overnight. West wind around 9 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly Cloudy, 48°F
Monday: Mostly Cloudy then Rain Showers Likely, 70°F
Monday Night: Rain Showers Likely, 36°F
Tuesday: Rain Showers, 42°F
Tuesday Night: Slight Chance T-storms then Rain And Snow Showers, 29°F
Wednesday: Rain And Snow Showers Likely, 48°F
Wednesday Night: Slight Chance Rain And Snow Showers then Partly Cloudy, 36°F
Thursday: Sunny, 69°F
Thursday Night: Partly Cloudy, 46°F
Friday: Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 73°F
Friday Night: Partly Cloudy, 49°F
Saturday: Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 77°F
News About Golden - May 3, 2026
State taps 5 developers, nonprofits to build homes and apartments on land in Golden
By Matthew Geiger
Denver Post
Colorado has presented five developers and nonprofits with a Golden opportunity.
Shanahan Development, Brikwell, Rural Homes, Habitat for Humanity and Elevation Community Land Trust were selected by the state this week to build 210 for-sale homes and 168 rental units on 41 acres near Lookout Mountain in the Denver suburb... Read more...
SUSPECT ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT IN GOLDEN
City of Golden
On April 29, 2026, in a joint effort between Golden and Denver Police, officers arrested 27-year-old Feliciano Blanco-Araujo in Denver in connection with a sexual assault reported earlier this year in Golden... Read more...
Golden High School bands battle it out for performing arts
By Corinne Westeman
Golden Transcript
Would you rather go to a rock concert or a fundraiser?
For Golden High School students, parents and staff, there’s no need to choose. Their fundraisers are rock concerts... Read more...
How Golden’s biggest water users are responding to drought restrictions
By Rhea Jha
9News
GOLDEN, Colo. — Golden is the latest city along Colorado’s Front Range to implement drought restrictions, with a Stage 1 response taking effect May 1 amid historically low snowpack and below-average stream flows.
Residents and businesses are now limited to watering lawns no more than two days per week, during overnight or early morning hours... Read more...
Stan Hickory to join Colorado School of Mines as McNeil Center director
By Erich Kirshner
Colorado School of Mines Newsroom
Stan Hickory has been named the new director of the McNeil Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Colorado School of Mines... Read more...
PHOTOS: Annual Ceremony to Honor Colorado’s Fallen Law Enforcement Officers in Golden
By Stephen Swofford
Gazette
City of Golden Police Blotter
- April 26, 2026 - Daily Blotter (04/26/26)
- April 25, 2026 - Daily Blotter (04/25/26)
- April 24, 2026 - Daily Blotter (04/24/26)
Supporters
Many thanks to the people and organizations who support What’s Happening in Golden? If you would like to support local news, please CLICK HERE!
Sponsors:
($100/month or $1,175/year)
Buffalo Rose, Buglet Battery, Foothills Art Center, Golden Cultural Alliance, Miners Alley Performing Arts Center, The Golden Mill, Golden Chamber of Commerce, Golden History Tours, Miners Saloon, Clothilde Elingbow, Michael Mason, Earth Sweet Boutique, and Colorado Railroad Museum
Friends:
($50-99.99/month or $575/yr)
Tall Pines Painting, Baby Doe’s Clothing, 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, Unite Fitness, and Joy Brandt
Supporters:
($25-49.99/month or $285/yr)
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, Jeremy & Stephanie Keller, AC Development, and Golden PT & Pilates
Members:
($10-24.99/month or $115/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, 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, Marge Frueh. Nannette Johnson, Edgar Walker, Bivy Beer Bar, Nancy Cooper, Jane & Mike Templeton, and Vicki Greivel
Followers:
($5-9.99/month or $55/year)
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, Chris Toney, Alicia Zimmerman, Tamara Feucht, and Carie Chimbel
