Great Bark
Photo by Richard Luckin
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What's happening in Golden today?
Events for Wednesday, Apr. 8th
- All day - CURRENT EXHIBITS AT THE MUSEUMS
- All day - Golden History Tours
- All day - Live Workouts with Community Center Pros
- All day - Golden Sports
- 9AM-12PM - En Plein Air
- 9-11AM - Golden Startup Coffee
- 9-10:30AM - Golden Walks
- 9:30-10:30AM - Fit and Energize Exercise Class
- 9:30AM-2PM - Embroidery Doodle Stitching
- 10AM-4PM - Funky Friends
- 10:15-11:15AM - Discovery Play
- 10:15-10:45AM - Toddler Time - Registration Required
- 12-2PM - Garden Round Table @ Front Porch
- 1-2:30PM - SPARK! Alzheimer's Association Program
- 1-3PM - Be Bold. Be Free. Paint What You See!
- 3PM - Weekly Jam Session
- 3-5PM - Virtual/Call In: Hard Times Writing Workshop
- 4-7PM - Tutoring with Colorado School of Mines
- 5:30-7PM - Contemplative Memoir
- 6-8:30PM - Entrepreneurship & Innovation Showcase
- 6-8PM - Spring Launch Party
- 6PM - Bingo Night
- 6:30PM - Wednesday Night Trivia @ Holidaily
- 6:30-8:30PM - Trivia Night @ Golden Mill
- 6:30PM - Historic Preservation Board Meeting
- 6:30-8PM - Wine, Women, and Wealth (WWW) in Golden
For more information, click the item above or visit the Golden Today Calendar
9AM-12PM En Plein Air
Participants will be guided through choosing a subject, simplifying what we see, and building an interesting composition using drawing and watercolor, as we capture both cherished and unique outdoor locations in Golden.
Each of the sessions will build upon each other as we focus on: learning what art materials are really necessary, basic drawing techniques, capturing a quick expression of the scene, basic compositional ideas, painting techniques, and so much more. This class meets twice on April 8 and 15. Register
9:30AM-2PM Embroidery Doodle Stitching @ Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum
Embroidery is often seen as an art form in its own right; however, throughout history, it has frequently been combined with other art forms, such as patchwork, to create embellishments. Other enjoyable applications include decorating clothes, jeans, purses, and jackets, or personalizing special gifts. This class is designed to initiate you into a fun project while teaching the basics and helping you discover the joy of doodling with embroidery as you practice and perfect your newly learned stitches. Register
Location:
Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum
200 Violet Street (Map)
11AM-3PM School of Mines Student Walk-Out
Members of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) plan to walk out of classes today from 11AM-3PM. They will meet at Parfet Park, 10th and Washington.
The group is protesting a scheduled speaking event by Alex Stein. TPUSA Mines is hosting a Prove Me Wrong debate with Stein, beginning at 11AM. Students will have the opportunity to debate with him on Maple Plaza.
According to Meredith Morrison of SDS, the walkout is because "Stein is a far right political commentator who profits from racist, sexist, homophobic, and ableist content on social media. He is associated with the white supremacist organization the Proud Boys, and has a history of promoting violence on other college campuses and at protests."
Location:
Parfet Park
10th Street and Washington Avenue (map)
12-2PM Garden Round Table @ Front Porch
Front Porch Golden Community Center - Active Older Adults aged 50+
Are you ready to try out that green thumb of yours? This is the event for you. The Front Porch will be hosting our first lunchtime Garden Round Table. We will be featuring native plant specialists, the city’s very own horticulturists, the Beekeepers Association, Habitat Helpers, Stewards of Golden Open Space, a backyard chicken specialist and more. Bring your questions, grab a sandwich and we’ll find you some answers. Free lunch provided for first 50. Register
Location:
Golden Community Center
1470 10th Street (Map)
1-3PM Be Bold. Be Free. Paint What You See! @ Foothills Art Center - Creative Campus
In this 2 session watercolor class, participants will capture what is seen - the scene, the object, or the person in an understandable way. Participants will learn about composition and color, values and abstract shapes, and how to tie all the elements together to create a unique painting. Participants will also explore how to use those elements to communicate the emotion behind the subject matter. This class meets twice on April 8 and 15. Register
Location:
Foothills Art Center - Creative Campus
809 15th Street (Map)
1-2:30PM SPARK! Alzheimer's Association Program @ Foothills Art Center - Astor House
SPARK! at Foothills Art Center is a free program designed to make art accessible for people experiencing mild memory loss, early-stage Alzheimer’s, or a related dementia, and their family, friends, and guests. Join a trained facilitator for an engaging afternoon in a welcoming environment. Participants will enjoy an insightful tour and conversation followed by an art activity inspired by the featured artworks. All materials will be provided. Enjoy complimentary refreshments while connecting with fellow attendees during each session. This monthly program is free with advance registration. Register
Location:
Foothills Art Center - Astor House
1133 Arapahoe Street (Map)
5:30-7PM Contemplative Memoir @ Foothills Art Center - Creative Campus
Writing a memoir may be the most challenging and consequential writing we will ever do. We think we know ourselves well enough to write about our lives, but the effort seems daunting, and its value dubious. After all, how do we begin to choose which stories to tell from all the days and years? And who cares? First of all, no life is ordinary. No life is without miracles and magic, great loss and great love. And probably no life is more crucial for our children to understand then ours, because they share more than our genetics, they share our spiritual DNA. What made us who we are, helps them see who they can become. In that sense, we leave them with more than stories. We leave them with meaning and hope. More information
Location:
Foothills Art Center - Creative Campus
809 15th Street (Map)
6-8PM Golden Makers Spring Launch Party @ the Astor House
Come find out what Golden Makers is all about as we celebrate the grant we received from the city. Learn about our tool bank, collaborations within the city, opportunities to get involved, programming and planning for the year. More information
Location:
Foothills Art Center - Astor House
1133 Arapahoe Street (Map)
6-8:30PM Entrepreneurship & Innovation Showcase @ Beck Venture Center
Explore innovation across the Mines community at this interactive, multi-floor showcase featuring a diverse group of entrepreneurs and creators. Experience engaging exhibits, discover new ideas, and connect with the people building what’s next. More information
Location:
Beck Venture Center
1700 Washington Avenue (Map)
6:30PM Historic Preservation Board Meeting @ City Hall Council Chambers
- Meeting Agenda
- Watch the meeting streaming live starting at 6:30PM
- Attend the meeting @ City Hall Council Chambers - 911 10th Street - (map)
- Send comments on any of the following topics to planning@cityofgolden.net
- Provide in-person comment (limited to 3 minutes) during the meeting, at 6:30PM.
The Historic Preservation Board will consider providing a Certificate of Appropriateness (COP) for 612 10th St. (map). AC Development plans to demolish this 1869 home to make way for the Clayworks development. Learn more on pp. 4-37 of the meeting packet.
Location:
City Hall Council Chambers
911 10th Street (Map)
The Golden Word - 04/08/26
Live Music for Wednesday, Apr. 8th
- 6-9PM Chris Koltak @ Miners Saloon
Miners Saloon - More Live Music
4-8PM Chrispy @ Mountain Toad
6PM Open Mic @ Cannonball Creek
6PM Live Music @ Rock Rest Lodge
6PM Open Mic @ Scully's Cafe
For more information, visit the Golden Today Calendar
Golden History: Convict Labor
Entrance to Golden Gate Canyon - Google Satellite Images
Click to enlarge
100 Years Ago
The April 8, 1926 Colorado Transcript wrote that work was beginning on the Golden Gate Canyon Road. They were using convict labor to build the road and set up a camp at the mouth of the canyon to house the convicts.
Convict labor had long been subject to debate—not as a humanitarian issue, but because it provided competition to free market labor. In 1893, the Transcript wrote:
The convict labor question is a vexed one in most of the states, as free laboring men object to prison labor being brought into competition with their own. There is a good deal in this, of course, but it seems as though it was just as bad to compel the people to use their free earnings to support criminals in idleness.
Colorado Transcript - January 18, 1893
The state more or less resolved the issue by using convicts for building state highways. As the state became more populated and automobiles came into wider use, the need for roads was unending.
In 1910, the Transcript wrote:
Laboring men and trade unions should have no objection to the proposition to work convicts on the public roads. The work they perform is extra work, and something that could not be done if it were necessary to pay for it at regular wages...no good citizen should discourage the plan.
Colorado Transcript - December 15, 1910
Little more was said about the Golden Gate Canyon Road project, but the convicts worked on the road from mid-April till mid-December.
A 1927 Transcript article said that the highway department preferred using non-convict labor.
The highway department states that convict labor is not profitable in performing road work and that money can be saved to the state by contracting road jobs.
The article went on to cite George Duvall, a Golden resident who owned Duvall-Davison Lumber and was the Chairman of the State Highway Advisory Board.
Illustrating this point Geo Duvall, who is a member of the state highway advisory board, supported by Peter Seevil, a member of the same board, states that the convicts as they are sent to them are tender not used to hard work, and when put to heavy road duty, often get sick and are a liability in the place of an asset.
Colorado Transcript - May 12, 1927
Weather
Overnight: Partly cloudy. Low around 48, with temperatures rising to around 51 overnight. West southwest wind around 7 mph.
Wednesday: A slight chance of rain showers after 3pm. Mostly sunny. High near 69, with temperatures falling to around 67 in the afternoon. West wind 8 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Wednesday Night: A slight chance of rain showers before midnight. Partly cloudy. Low around 45, with temperatures rising to around 47 overnight. West northwest wind 3 to 12 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Wednesday Night: Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Cloudy, 45°F
Thursday: Partly Sunny then Chance Rain Showers, 70°F
Thursday Night: Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy, 44°F
Friday: Mostly Cloudy then Rain Showers Likely, 66°F
Friday Night: Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy, 48°F
Saturday: Mostly Cloudy then Rain Showers Likely, 71°F
Saturday Night: Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy, 46°F
Sunday: Chance Rain Showers, 69°F
Sunday Night: Chance Rain Showers, 44°F
Monday: Rain Showers Likely, 63°F
Monday Night: Rain Showers Likely, 37°F
Tuesday: Rain And Snow Showers Likely, 53°F
News About Golden - April 8, 2026
Olympic athlete visits grandmother at Colorado senior living facility
9News
Will Lookout Mountain’s new vendor fire up Native American fry bread?
By Miguel Otárola
Denver Post
The city of Denver’s preferred choice to lead concessions at Lookout Mountain is partnering with a local restaurant chain known for its fry bread tacos piled with bison and Native American corn... Read more...
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 , Unite Fitness, 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, and Vic DeMaria
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 Joy Brandt
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
