Newspapers
Enjoy scans of the District’s newspapers, including the Victor Daily Record, from the late 1800s. This is just placeholder text. We could add some additional text here about the newspapers and how we came about them.
Victor was established in 1891 when Winfield Scott Stratton discovered gold at his Independence Mine. The little gold camp then became known as the City of Mines. All the largest and most profitable gold mines in the Cripple Creek Mining District were situated above the town on Battle Mountain.
WWII Scrapbook
TFG’s WWII Veteran’s scrapbook played an enormous role in the assemblage of the names on the new Victor Veteran’s Memorial Monument. Each page was photographed, every name was documented, checked and double checked for spelling and accuracy in order to be carved into the Memorial.
Judge Ferguson
Judge Joseph E. Ferguson was born in Iowa in 1867 and eventually ended up moving to Victor in 1899. He added a second story to what is the oldest standing house in Victor (1892) and while the house was undergoing renovations in the 1990s, the owner found perfectly intact newspapers from the early 1900s, 1940s and 1970s. This is his history.
1889 Caboose
This 1889 caboose needs a new home and we would like to move it to Victor for renovation and display. It’s owned by the Birmingham siblings, who built and own the Cripple Creek Railroad. It’s all original inside and out, except for one coat of paint, and it does need the “trucks” rebuilt in order to have it stand in place. It is now located in Mead, Colorado, and needs to be moved to a place it will be taken care of and appreciated. We have the manpower and the know-how to renovate it, just need a new location.
Engine #51
The Engine #51, a 1906 Baldwin steam engine, was bought by John Birmingham, founder and builder of the Cripple Creek Railroad. It has been featured in movies, commercials and music videos over the years that have featured some of America’s finest actors such as Jane Fonda, Lee Marvin, George C. Scott, James Earl Jones, Robert Downey Jr., Gary Sinise and John Malkovich.
The Engine #51 is retired now and sits at the Hudson Terminal Railroad in Hudson, Colorado. It’s had a very impressive career of excellent American movies.
Experience art with a history!
Come visit us in beautiful Victor.