The Jessie Mill is one of the best and most easily accessed examples of a former mine and mill site in the greater Breckenridge area. The 1893 wooden stamp mill stands partially intact as evidence of miners’ extensive efforts to recover gold and other minerals from the area. While significant work has been done to prevent the remains of the Jessie Mill from collapse, the structure still experiences significant snow loads in winter months and ongoing deterioration due to moisture exposure year-round. As outlined in the Town and County-endorsed 2019 Historic Resources Management Plan, a roof above the remaining structure is the proposed treatment for long-term stabilization – a similar strategy to that which was used on the Wellington Ore Bin in French Gulch in 2015. The new roof is designed to mimic the historic roofline. While much of the main Jessie Mill structure is gone, the roof honors the look and feel of the mill in the 1890s.

Breckenridge History worked with Cortright Enterprises as the lead contractor for this project. Funding for the project came from the Town of Breckenridge and Summit County Government. Work on the roof structure has been completed. Next steps will include adding an interpretive sign to the site.

Breckenridge History envisions Alice G. Milne Park as a destination that engages people in the park’s history, welcomes many different public and private uses, and serves as a gathering place for locals and visitors. In 2020, Breckenridge History completed plans to restore the Milne and Eberlein homes, preserve historic fabric and give the buildings new uses to meet Breckenridge History and community needs. These renovations came to fruition in fall 2023. The new facilities at Milne Park include exhibit space, space for educational programs, and a collections care facility. Currently, the Milne house exhibit is focused on the renovation efforts and some of the secrets that were uncovered during the process. Visit the Alice G. Milne Park page for more information on the space.

Breckenridge History completed an interpretive plan to guide future exhibits about the history of Breckenridge from 1950s to the present and conducted more than 130 oral histories to document the stories of long-time locals. These oral histories are now available to listen to for free through the Breckenridge History Archives website. Breckenridge History also created a Modern Breckenridge exhibit in the Welcome Center Museum. The exhibit focuses on the transition of Breckenridge from mining town to world-class resort. The exhibit tells the story of Breckenridge’s development into a world-class ski area through about 60 objects each marking a unique story in Breckenridge’s history. The exhibit is available to view on the second floor of the Welcome Center.

Breckenridge History, in cooperation with Summit County and Town of Breckenridge open space departments, stabilized the Sallie Barber Mine site in summer 2022. In addition to reinforcing the ore bin, contractors and volunteers restored several artifacts on site.

The ca.1880 mine was one of the area’s first and most substantial producers of zinc — just as zinc ore came under heavy national demand for the first time as a manufacturing material. Today, the historic landmark is a popular hiking, cross-country skiing and mountain biking destination.

Haga clic aquí para ver la traducción al español de los carteles interpretativos de la mina Sallie Barber.

The Washington Milling Exhibit is a one-of-a-kind outdoor display about ore processing. The focal point is a restored stamp mill from the National Mining Museum and Hall of Fame. The new exhibit includes a walkway to the stamp mill and interpretive signs.

Time is a River allows users to explore Breckenridge history – from the growth of the Rocky Mountains to mining to Breckenridge Ski Resort history – via an interactive timeline array. The remodel also includes an updated, user-driven movie theater and state-of-the art virtual reality experience.

In 2016, Breckenridge History re-constructed the Wellington Ore Bin’s roof and installed siding and historic windows in the original openings. The new roof – treated to rust as it would have historically – will protect the iconic structure from future snow and rain damage and extend the life of the ore bin indefinitely.

The Wakefield Sawmill on Boreas Pass Road was built in about 1938 by Marion Wakefield and operated until the fall of 1959. Breckenridge History restored the site as an outdoor sawmill museum, now open as a self-guided tour year round.

The Reiling Gold Dredge was used to mine gold-bearing ground along French Creek, until it sank in a small pond in 1922. After numerous studies and assessments, Breckenridge History stabilized the remaining superstructure. The Reiling was listed as a “SAVE” on the Colorado Endangered Places list in 2022.

Breckenridge History installs artifacts in outdoor locations for public enjoyment and appreciation of our local history. The first artifact, a sheave (pronounced “shiv”), is located at Prospector Park. A sheave acted like a giant pulley for underground mines, lowering miners and their equipment and hauling out ore from vertical shafts.

In 2015, Breckenridge History began a series of improvements at Milne Park, including tree removal and pruning, fence repair and a new park entrance and sign. Public amenities include a picnic table, rock wall seating area and interpretive signs.

Breckenridge History stabilized the Jessie Mill using winches, cabling and wooden bracing to bring the mill back to near plumb. Additionally, contractors capped the stamp mill bases, treated the wood and improved drainage around the site for long-term preservation. Future treatments are TBD.

The Town of Breckenridge and Summit County collaborated to renovate the 1909 Breckenridge Schoolhouse, located at 103 South Harris Street. The new Breckenridge Grand Vacations & Community Center and Summit County South Branch Library opened to the public on January 10, 2015.

Breckenridge History installed new “bookend” historic district signs in 2011 and street sign “toppers” in 2013. Contributing structures in the district may receive a free historic district plaque from Breckenridge History to be placed on or near the structure.

Breckenridge History designed a mining and railroad themed playground to complement historic equipment. New rolling stock, including a flat car and caboose, were added to the existing displays as well as outdoor interpretative signs.

Breckenridge History was awarded space in the Breckenridge Grand Vacations Community Center for an archives facility. The space includes photographs, maps, brochures and ephemera from early-day Breckenridge to more contemporary times. Visit breckhistory.org.

The Klack Placer Cabin, built in 1878, is one of the last 19th century, one-story log cabins left in the Town of Breckenridge. Breckenridge History rallied local contractrs and businesses to save the deteriorated building.

Breckenridge History oversaw a complete overhaul of the 1875 Edwin Carter Museum. New exhibits trace the evolution of Carter’s life as a miner, taxidermist, and scientist and explain how, in 1900, his amazing collection of Rocky Mountain fauna came to serve as the nucleus collection for today’s Denver Museum of Nature and Science.

Breckenridge History constructed an open-air shelter to house Engine No. 9–an icon of Colorado’s narrow-gauge railroad heritage.  Today’s visiting public will see Engine No. 9 in the same context as when it operated – within 30 feet of the original High Line track that came into Breckenridge from Boreas Pass.

Starting in 2011, Breckenridge History installed interpretive signs in French Gulch along the B&B, Minnie Mine and X10U8 trails, which pass through Breckenridge’s fabled Golden Horseshoe – one of Colorado’s most fertile mining regions. In recent years, Breckenridge History has completed additional signs on local trails as well as within the town.

Breckenridge History, on behalf of the Town, received a Certified Local Government grant to nominate the cemetery to the National Register of Historic Places. The cemetery was officially listed on the register in July 2014. Regular maintenance and monument conservation continues to be a priority.

The walls of rock on south Ridge Street across from today’s La Cima Mall are all that remain of the dipping station in the Gold Pan Mining Company’s world-class machine shops. Breckenridge History led a multi-year effort to stabilize and interpret the dipping station.

Mountain States Historical recorded more than 100 mine sites in the Breckenridge area to document site features, archaeology and other historical information. Click here to access these inventories . Cultural resource surveys for contributing structures within the Town’s historic district are available by visiting Breckenridge History Archives.