The guided tours will provide the chance to learn about the district’s unique gold rush history – including gold mining old and new, pioneers, and ghost towns. Tours can be packaged with a walking tour of the Sunnyside Cemetery near Victor and downtown walking tours on select Saturdays this summer, as well as with museum admission and gold panning.

The tours will be conducted using transportation and drivers from Cripple Creek Parks & Recreation and tour guides from the Victor Lowell Thomas Museum. All of the tour proceeds from the new tours will benefit Parks & Recreation and the Victor Lowell Thomas Museum, furthering the missions of both community-minded organizations as a win-win fundraising option for both.

Check VictorMuseum.com for tour times and dates. The cost is $15 per person plus a small online booking fee - an affordable way to get a guided tour of the history that made the gold camp famous. Only children 5 years of age and older are allowed on the tours for safety reasons. Be sure to reserve your preferred tour dates soon as some dates sell out quickly. Please arrive at least 15 minutes prior to tour times.

Reservations may be made online at VictorMuseum.com or calling the museum on weekends through May 21 or 7 days a week starting May 27 at 719-689-5509. Larger groups may be accommodated by special request.

In addition to the tours, you can step back in time and pan for gold at the museum. Panning is included in the museum’s admission price and is a great way to spend an hour in cool, sunny Victor this summer.

Expand your adventure even more and check out local museums and attractions. The Victor Lowell Thomas Museum, Cripple Creek District Museum, and Old Homestead House Museum, will offer discounted admission prices for those who take the bus tours. To plan your trip and read about more fun in the area, visit VictorColorado.com and to see more activities and programs from Parks and Recreation see, VisitCrippleCreek.com. On the first and third Saturdays June through September you can also tour the Sunnyside Cemetery and take a downtown walking tour with our local tour guide.

You can also step back in time literally by hiking on the Trails of Gold just outside of town - see up close the 1890's gold mines that made Victor and Cripple Creek famous, or walk the downtown streets (self-guided interpretive trail) filled with historic buildings and shops. See STCFG.com for trail maps and information, In Cripple Creek, the Mountain View Adventure and City Park offer outdoor fun and the Butte Theater provides an added historical venue.

Find a fresh brewed cup of coffee and fresh-baked cookie at the nearby bakery, grab burgers, a boxed lunch for the trail, hot pizza or a cold one at the local eateries, or spend some time looking for unique gifts and souvenirs at the local shops in Cripple Creek and Victor. Several historic hotel options offer unique stays, a great way to spend some extended get away time in the mining camp.