Morning in the History Park
Photo by Richard Luckin
Click to enlarge
What's happening in Golden today?
Events for Wednesday, Mar. 18th
- All day - CURRENT EXHIBITS AT THE MUSEUMS
- All day - Golden History Tours
- All day - Live Workouts with Community Center Pros
- All day - Golden Sports
- 7:30-9AM - Canceled: Citizens Budget Advisory Committee Meeting
- 9-10AM - Golden Women in Business Book Club*
- 9-10:30AM - Golden Walks
- 9:30-10:30AM - Fit and Energize Exercise Class
- 10:15-10:45AM - Toddler Time - Registration Required
- 3PM - Weekly Jam Session
- 3-5PM - Virtual/Call In: Hard Times Writing Workshop
- 3:30-7PM - Beck Venture Center Startup Forum: Space Startups Panel
- 5:30PM - Planning Commission Meeting @ City Hall
- 6-8PM - Fly-Tying Clinic
- 6:30PM - Wednesday Night Trivia @ Holidaily
- 6:30-8:30PM - Trivia Night @ Golden Mill
- 6:30-8PM - Waterwise Yard Seminar (Virtual)
- 6:30-9PM - Book Club
- 6:30-8:30PM - Colorado Mountain Club Explore Night
For more information, click the item above or visit the Golden Today Calendar
3PM Weekly Jam Session @ Golden Community Center
Dust off your old guitar, fiddle, harmonica, mandolin, ukulele, dulcimer and drop into the Front Porch for a friendly jam session. Questions? Call the Front Porch at 303-384-8130. Free. Active Older Adults aged 50+
Location:
Golden Community Center
1470 10th Street (Map)
3:30-7PM Beck Venture Center Startup Forum: Space Startups Panel @ Beck Venture Center
Photo courtesy Colorado School of Mines
Startup Forum is a program series designed to empower entrepreneurs with essential knowledge and insights crucial for startup success.
In the past few years, the "space" in the Aerospace industry has exponentially grown - some might say it's taking off! With all of the buzz, though, how do you break into an industry with such significant financial barriers to entry? Join us to hear these answers and more from a panel of up-and-coming startups that are out of this world! Learn from their insights into what is next for the final frontier and their advice to others who are looking to shoot for the stars. Free. More information
Location:
Beck Venture Center
1700 Washington Avenue (Map)
5:30PM Planning Commission Meeting @ City Hall
- Meeting Agenda
- Watch the meeting streaming live starting at 5:30PM
- Attend the meeting @ City Hall Council Chambers - 911 10th Street - (map)
- Send comments on any of the following topics to planning@cityofgolden.net
Good news! The AV equipment in the City Council chamber has been repaired, so you can watch meetings live again.
Rezoning the Golden Terrace Mobile Home Park
The City has been working for quite some time to rezone the Golden Terrace Mobile Home Park. This business covers 85 acres and includes 654 mobile homes. The park was established in the 1960s and is primarily zoned C-1 (commercial). The City has been concerned that commercial zoning makes redevelopment into other commercial purposes more likely. Wanting to preserve this source of somewhat "affordable" housing, the City has wanted to re-zone it to ensure that it could only be used as a mobile home park. Learn more.
Location:
City Hall Council Chambers
911 10th Street (Map)
6:30PM Colorado Mountain Club Explore Night
Image courtesy Colorado Mountain Club
Want to get out and explore the outdoors this spring and summer? Join us in person to learn more about the Colorado Mountain Club and discover your next great adventure. This event is open to current members, new members, and anyone interested in becoming part of our community! Free. Register
Location:
Colorado Mountain Club
15605 W 32nd Avenue (map)
6:30PM Understanding Bloom Timing: Phenology & Biodiversity for Colorado Landscapes (Virtual)
Discover how observing bloom timing can help you understand climate patterns, support pollinators, and improve garden management. Learn simple phenology techniques and how your observations contribute to broader scientific knowledge about changing environments.
Speaker: Paul Alaback of University of Montana
Gardener Level: All levels will learn something new!
Register to get the link for this online session.
6:30PM Sustainable Golden Speaker Series @ Golden Community Center
Photo by Joyce Davell
Join us as Sustainable Golden presents Ben Moline, Director of Water Resources & Environmental Policy at Molson Coors. Ben will discuss the vertical conical fermenter project next to the Golden brewery, as well as the new solar array they are building at the coal ash reclamation site in Keenesburg.
Location:
Golden Community Center
1470 10th Street (Map)
The Golden Word - 03/18/26
Live Music for Wednesday, Mar. 18th
- 6-9PM Derek Hall @ Miners Saloon
- More Live Music
4-8PM Chrispy @ Mountain Toad
6PM Live Music @ Rock Rest Lodge
For more information, visit the Golden Today Calendar
Golden History: The Gem
Celebrating Golden Days at the Golden Gem in 1941 – Golden History Museum Collection
Click to enlarge
Downtown Golden had a movie theater for more than 60 years. The Golden Gem opened in October of 1908 in a former church, located across 10th Street from Parfet Park (location). They quickly upgraded, moving to the Merkle building (1110 Washington Avenue–now Windy Saddle Cafe (map). Films were silent at that time, and in 1910, the Gem employed a five-piece orchestra to accompany the films. In 1911, the owner installed “The finest electric sign ever placed in Golden.” (Colorado Transcript, 6/1/1911)
In 1911, the owners of a former stable at 13th and Washington decided to demolish it and build a new, modern building on the site. The Golden Athletic Club rented the second floor and the Golden Gem Theater rented the first floor. The Theater moved in June 1912 and stayed there for the rest of its existence.
Early films came on large reels, each reel weighing about 5 pounds and running for about 11 minutes. Advertisements would describe a film as a 2-reel film, or a 3-reel film. An evening’s program would commonly include several films. The films weren’t necessarily stories–they often showed real events, such as a rodeo. In one case, they showed movies of a hunting trip taken by Theodore Roosevelt. The Gem showed their first “talkie” (movie with sound) in 1929.
The theater ran many promotions over the years. In 1928, they partnered with the Fromhart Motor Company and the Golden Transcript to give away a car to “the most popular young lady in Jefferson County.” During the Depression, they would give away silverware on Tuesday nights, and at times they held drawings for a box of groceries.
The Gem was “refreshed” several times, to update the look (and often the seats). One major remodel took place in 1949. A newly-updated Gem theater, with a brilliant new neon marquee, had its Grand Opening the same night the Golden Welcome Arch was illuminated for the first time (the arch used to have neon letters).
The Gem was always a centerpiece of our visitor attraction efforts. Golden was “the” downtown for many people living west of Denver and in the mountains, so people would come to Golden for a night out–dinner and a movie.
The Golden Gem, along with Golden’s downtown business district, slowly eroded throughout the 1960s and 70s. It went through several owners. One even showed x-rated movies. The Transcript mentioned that some young people referred to the place as “the Golden Germ”. Finally, the Foss family (of Foss Drug Store fame) bought the building and divided it into several retail spaces.
Weather
Overnight: Mostly clear. Low around 47, with temperatures rising to around 52 overnight. West wind around 13 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 77. West wind 12 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear. Low around 50, with temperatures rising to around 55 overnight. West wind 9 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly Clear, 50°F
Thursday: Sunny, 80°F
Thursday Night: Mostly Clear, 51°F
Friday: Sunny, 82°F
Friday Night: Partly Cloudy, 53°F
Saturday: Sunny, 85°F
Saturday Night: Partly Cloudy, 46°F
Sunday: Mostly Cloudy, 64°F
Sunday Night: Mostly Cloudy, 43°F
Monday: Mostly Sunny, 71°F
Monday Night: Mostly Cloudy, 48°F
Tuesday: Partly Sunny, 75°F
News About Golden - March 18, 2026
Where rents are falling (or rising) most
By Sami Sparber
Axios
Change in median rent from February 2025 to February 2026
Estimated for new leases signed each month in 54 metro areas with at least 1m residents... Read more...
Denver has sent 170 bison to tribal nations. Here’s how it happens
By Molly Cruse
CPR News
Snow fell in thick flurries across Genesee Park in Golden, settling over the foothills and the iconic herd of more than 50 bison that call the park home — often spotted grazing on along the park’s hillside by drivers along Interstate 70.
The park, which stretches over 2,400 acres outside of Golden, is the largest park in the Denver Mountain Parks system and home to Denver’s very own herd of bison... Read more...
Welcome to the Jefferson County Archives' New Home for Historical Research
Jefferson County
The Jefferson County Archives is excited to announce the launch of our new digital collections website (link opens new tab). Designed to be colorful, welcoming, and easy to navigate, this site makes it simpler than ever to explore the rich history of Jefferson County... 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 Solar, 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, Goosetown Station, and Earth Sweet Boutique
Friends:
($50-99.99/month or $575/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:
($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
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, 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, Marge Frueh. Nannette Johnson, Edgar Walker, Bivy Beer Bar, and Nancy Cooper
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, and Alicia Zimmerman
