What Makes Colorado A Key Player In Wild West History?

When one thinks of the term ‘the wild west,’ visions of pop culture references like John Wayne movies, the eponymous film starring Will Smith and Kevin Cline, and even the comedy Blazing Saddles arise.

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As home to the Pikes Peak Gold Rush, the graves of Doc Holliday and Buffalo Bill, and the grim story of Alferd Packer, Colorado easily earns its distinction of being part of the Wild West.

Colorado's Authentic Wild West Towns

According to Uncover Colorado, ten towns across the state are considered to be the most authentic when it comes to the ‘wild west’ distinction.

These include the historic gambling towns of Central City and Cripple Creek, the small mountain towns of Victor, Silverton, Creede, Pitkin, Leadville, and Georgetown, and the now-popular college town of Durango in the state’s southwest corner.

Each of these towns has historical significance when it comes to Colorado’s past as part of the wild west, and most haven’t changed much since the state’s early days, keeping the wild west spirit alive over a century and a half later.

What States Besides Colorado are Part of the Wild West?

According to World Population Review, there are a total of 11 states that are part of the Wild West.

They include Colorado, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, California, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

Interestingly, the list does not include four states that are synonymous with the cowboy life, including Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, and Wyoming, all of which border Colorado.

Check out the full list of Colorado’s authentic wild west towns here, as well as the entire list of wild west states here.

11 Colorado Ghost Towns that are Shells of their Former Selves

Learn about and take virtual tours of 11 Colorado ghost towns and some of the buildings that still stand there.

Gallery Credit: Nate Wilde

A Guide to Colorado's Ghost Towns

Check out, and get to know the many ghost towns in the state of Colorado.

Gallery Credit: Nate Wilde

Take a Virtual Tour of Colorado Ghost Town Gilman

WARNING: Under no circumstances should you enter this property. By doing so you risk bodily harm and/or prosecution for trespassing on private property.

If you've ever made the trip over Battle Mountain from Minturn to Leadville, you've probably noticed an old abandoned town on the side of the hill. That town is known as Gilman and was abandoned in 1985 because of contamination from the mine.

Because of this, the town is closed to the public and it is illegal to go there. However, as made evident by the massive amount of graffiti and homemade videos of the town, not everyone follows the rules. Here's a look inside the abandoned town of Gilman, Colorado.

Gallery Credit: Nate Wilde