20 Photos That Reveal What Life Was Like In Colorado In The 1910S

We’re now in the final year of a decade, and it’s hard to believe that it has been nearly 20 years since the 20th century came to an end. Time sure has flown by! While the world has changed quite a bit over the last 10 years, it’s incredible to consider how much has changed over the last 100. This got us wondering just what Colorado looked like a century ago, so we turned to our friends at History Colorado and found these 20 stunning photos of the Centennial State during the 1910s.

Situated along Denver’s popular Larimer Street, Star Grocery was once a popular spot to shop for fresh fruits, vegetables, and meat. (1910)

History Colorado / Item ID: 82.186.14

While most Colorado mines are now dried up and closed down, the mining industry was extremely important to the early growth and development of the Centennial State and drew countless settlers and families to the area. (1910)

History Colorado / Item ID: 82.197.3 The old Gold King Mine in Gladstone (pictured above) is notoriously known for leaking 3 million gallons of mine waste water and tailings into the nearby Animas River.

Located in Las Animas County is the unincorporated community of Hoehne, which was once home to this “Wholesale Flour & Feed” store. (1911)

History Colorado / Item ID: 84.193.921

Offices have certainly changed since the early 1910s! This photo was snapped in Gladstone, Colorado. (1911)

History Colorado / Item ID: 82.197.43

A beautifully colorized photo of a wildflower-filled Colorado landscape. (1912)

Photo by Clark Blickensderfer / History Colorado / Item ID: 87.558.679

It’s hard to tell exactly which town this is, but it’s clear that skiing has ALWAYS been popular here in Colorado! (1912)

History Colorado / Item ID: PH.PROP.375

Members of the Colorado Mountain Club leaving Estes Park in a super cool old car. (1913)

George Harvey Jr. / History Colorado / Item ID: 83.495.1.2

The Colorado Mountain Club taking a break from hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park. (1913)

George Harvey Jr. / History Colorado / Item ID: 83.495.1.5

Men and women from the Ludlow Colony during a strike. (1914)

History Colorado / Item ID: 83.155.64

Tragically, the Ludlow strikes led to the Colorado Coalfield War, in which 19 men, women, and children were killed. (1914)

Library of Congress Archives / Item ID: LC-DIG-ggbain-15859 You can read much more about that this unfathomable event in our previous feature article here.

Pictured below is the John Bianchi General Store, which once operated in the unincorporated town of Sopris in Las Animas County. (1915)

History Colorado / Item ID: 84.193.68

The exact location of this mountainous Colorado landscape is unknown, but we think it’s pretty dreamy! (1915)

Photo by Clark Blickensderfer / History Colorado / Item ID: 87.558.664

He flies through the air with the greatest of ease; he’s a daring young skier on the Howelsen Hill Ski Jump in Steamboat Springs! (1916)

Photo by Louis Charles McClure / History Colorado / Item ID: 87.42.884

Little information is known about this photo of nurses in masks, which makes it seem pretty eerie. (1916)

History Colorado / Item ID: PH.PROP.2052

This photo was captured inside the boiler room of the Gold Prince Mill in Gladstone. (1917)

Photo by San Juan Studio / History Colorado / Item ID:82.197.30

This photo was captioned “Colorado Mountain Club field day game of tug-of-war.” Does this club still exist? If so, how does one join?! (1917)

Photo by George Harvey, Jr. / History Colorado / Item ID: 83.495.5.132

Is it just me or does the Broadmoor still look EXACTLY the same? (1918)

Photo by George L. Beam / History Colorado / Item ID: 91.237.350

Cattle branding on the Gallatin Ranch. (1918)

History Colorado / Item ID: PH.PROP.2460

This photo might give us a clue to the previous photo of the masked nurses - these Coloradans were wearing masks for protection during an influenza outbreak. (1918)

History Colorado/2000.129.1288

A fascinating before-and-after look at Cherry Creek in Denver. (1919)

History Colorado / Item ID: PH.PROP.3026

For even more historic Colorado photos, check out our previous article: These 13 Rare Photos Show Denver’s Railroad History Like Never Before.