lang="EN-US">The town sits at an elevation of 8,530 feet
(2,600 m), nestled in the mountains near the upper end of the valley of
Clear Creek in the mountains west of Denver along Interstate 70. Although a
small town today, the town was a historic center of the mining industry in
Colorado during the late 19th century, earning the nickname the "Silver
Queen of Colorado". It has evolved into a lively historical summer tourist
center today with many preserved structures from the heyday of the Colorado
Silver Boom. The town stretches roughly north-south along Clear Creek, hemmed
in by the mountains, with the historic downtown located at the southern (upper)
end and modern development located at the northern (lower) end of town
