Seward’s Folly and Colorado’s Golden Beginning
As America approaches its 250th anniversary in 2026, and Colorado prepares to celebrate its 150th year of statehood, it is a good time to reflect on the bold decisions and strokes of fortune that shaped both our nation and our state.
In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson completed the Louisiana Purchase, doubling the size of the young United States and opening the vast lands west of the Mississippi River. That single act set in motion the exploration and settlement that would eventually lead to the development of the Rocky Mountain region.
By 1848, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the Mexican-American War and brought much of the present-day American Southwest—including Colorado—under the U.S. flag.
Then came the event that would change everything for Colorado.
In 1859, gold was discovered in the mountains west of present-day Denver, in what became the neighboring communities of Central City and Black Hawk. The two cities grew up side by side, but never in harmony. From their earliest days, they have been rivals—competitive, proud and often at odds with one another.
Colorado’s early municipal history gives both communities a distinct place. Denver stands as the state’s oldest city, followed by Black Hawk and then Central City, each staking its claim during the rush of settlement and opportunity. That proximity in both geography and history only deepened the rivalry between Black Hawk and Central City—one that continues to this day.
Central City became known as “The Richest Square Mile on Earth,” while Black Hawk developed alongside it as a determined mining town that helped drive the region’s growth. Together—though rarely in agreement—they anchored the Colorado Gold Rush. Prospectors, entrepreneurs and dreamers poured into the area, transforming rugged terrain into thriving centers of commerce and ambition.
Not long after, newspapers followed the miners and merchants west.
Our sister publication, The Weekly Register-Call, founded in 1862, holds a unique place in that history. It is the oldest continuously published newspaper in Colorado, predating many institutions that followed. Through booms, busts and generations of change, it has chronicled the lives, struggles and successes of both Central City and Black Hawk—serving the two rival communities while documenting the story of the state itself.
Meanwhile, on the national stage, another bold decision was unfolding.
In 1867, Secretary of State William H. Seward negotiated the purchase of Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million. Critics derided the move as “Seward’s Folly,” believing the land to be a frozen wasteland.
But, much like the early skepticism surrounding Colorado’s mining towns—including the hard realities faced in both Central City and Black Hawk—time proved the critics wrong.
Alaska would become rich in natural resources and strategic importance, just as Colorado’s gold fields helped fuel growth and settlement throughout the West.
Colorado achieved statehood in 1876, earning its place as the Centennial State—a product of vision, perseverance and the willingness to take risks.
As we reflect on these milestones—America at 250 years and Colorado at 150—we are reminded that history often rewards those willing to see opportunity where others see uncertainty.
From Jefferson’s expansion, to the gold discoveries in Central City and Black Hawk, to Seward’s purchase of Alaska, the story is the same: bold decisions, questioned at the time, often become the foundations of lasting success.
And here in Colorado, that spirit still runs deep.