Touring Central City: Eric Chinn describes how the murals on the wall were discovered after removing layers of wallpaper. [/caption]

On May 9, the quaint streets of Central City were filled with the eager chatter of 36 fourth graders from Gilpin County as they embarked on their annual historical tour. This year marked the fourth iteration of the educational event, led by David Forsythe, Director of the Gilpin History Museum, and sponsored by the Main Street Commission.

The day began with an interactive session with Mayor Jeremy Fey at the Central City Council Chambers, where the young minds learned about civic duties and the workings of local government.

When Mayor Fey asked the students what they would like to legislate, the room filled with laughter as one child, initially raising his hand to participate, admitted he just needed to use the bathroom.

However, ideas flowed soon after, with one student proposing a new playground and another expressing a wish to see the train running again—a suggestion that Mayor Fey playfully took to a mock vote, receiving a unanimous chorus of “ayes’’ from the giggling children. Fey said he will put it on the June 8 agenda as a discussion item if the students write a request.

Betty Mahaffey of the Belvidere Foundation shared the building’s past and plans for the future.[/caption]

The historical highlight of the tour was introduced by organizer and retired teacher Barbara Thielemann, who presented Shirley Voorhies dressed as Dr. Florence Sabin, a pioneering medical scientist born in 1871 on Central City’s own Casey Street. Voorhies, wearing period-appropriate attire, vividly recounted Sabin’s journey from the aftermath of the devastating 1874 fire in Central City to her illustrious academic and medical career, sparking inspiration among the students.

Following the engaging story of Dr. Sabin, the group visited the historic Belvidere Theater, where Betty Mahaffey of the Belvidere Foundation shared tales of the building’s past incarnations—from opera house to venue for dances and social gatherings. She expressed hope that the children might one day perform a play there, adding to the theater’s storied legacy.

Gilpin County School 4th graders touring Central City’s historical sites on May 9.[/caption]

As the tour continued down Main Street, Forsythe explained the architectural transformation following the great fire of 1874, pointing out the brick buildings that replaced the original wooden structures to prevent similar disasters.

Notable stops included the Central City Opera House, where Eric Chinn, Director of Opera Properties, led the children through a mesmerizing display of the venue’s historic features, including the famed “face on the barroom floor” and a “magic mirror” that dazzled the children with its diamond dust sparkle.

The Opera House, and with it, the hotel, were built in 1872. The hotel was intended to be the finest hotel between the Mississippi and San Francisco. It was the first hotel to have plumbing, though twelve rooms shared one bathroom.

He showed them the traditional and antique “tete-a-tete” (meaning head-to head) chair, or suitor’s chair, which featured two seats not facing each other but attached at the sides and sharing an armrest. If you were not married, you could not sit side by side on a couch, as this went against Victorian etiquette.

David Forsythe explains some of the architecture of Central’s historic buildings.[/caption]

The tour concluded on a high note with enthusiastic applause from the students, solidifying the day as not only a journey through the physical landmarks of Central City but also a deep dive into its vibrant historical narrative. This educational experience left an indelible mark on the young participants, enriching their understanding of their hometown’s heritage and the broader historical context of their community.