The 1859 Rush to the Rockies started out slow — and cold. On a frigid day in January 1859, prospector George Jackson was camped on a sand bar in Clear Creek when he noticed that the frozen ground laid bare by his fire was glittering. Jackson had been at the diggings in California, and he recognized that in this case, all that glittered really was gold. Now Idaho Springs and Clear Creek County hope to capitalize on Jackson’s find by mining tourism throughout the new year. “This is a big deal,” says Phyllis Adams, who’s coordinating the 150th Gold Rush Anniversary. “Heritage tourism is such a growing part of the... More >>>