WELCOME!

to the Arvada Historical Society. We are located in Arvada, Colorado, on the northwest border of Denver, in Jefferson county Our history began when Lewis Ralston discovered gold here in 1850, at the confluence of an unnamed tributary of Clear Creek (now known as Ralston Creek) - the first documented gold strike in Colorado. By the early 1860s, the land was being farmed, watered by ditches essential to agriculture in our semi-arid region. Benjamin Wadsworth and Louis Reno platted the town, and Wadsworth established the first post office in 1870. Agriculture was the mainstay of the town, which at one time was renowned as the "Celery Capital of the World."

In May 2005, the Arvada Historical Society, founded in 1972, moved into the historic McIlvoy House. We are excited that our collections of historic photographs, documents, books, and newspapers, among others, are now available to the public. Come visit us at 7307 Grandview Avenue - we'll put on the coffee pot and chat about Arvada, or perhaps look through the photos. Maybe you'll recognize a face or place. There's nothing better than a visit from a neighbor to make our day!

Our dedicated volunteers are organizing and cataloging the collections, and we plan to begin posting information from the archives here at our website.

We invite you to browse our website and learn more about the history of this community, Arvada, that we call home. Visit often, and remember to bookmark this site!

Join Us August 23 for Annual Breakfast and Business Meeting

Featuring a silent auction, which was very popular last year.

The Annual Business Meeting, in connection with Breakfast and Silent Auction, will be held at 8:30 Saturday morning, August 23 at the Indian Tree Golf Club Restaurant. Cost is $10 per person.

The featured speaker will be Bill Knott, recently retired from 37 years as Jefferson County Librarian.

Make your reservations today. Include your full name and address with a check to Arvada Historical Society, 7307 Grandview Ave., Arvada CO 80002. Please have all reservations in by August 20.

Reunion/Old Timers Annual Picnic August 24

Whether you consider yourself an "old-timer" or not, be sure to attend the Arvada Historical Society Picnic Sunday,
August 24, beginning at 12:30 pm. Bring your picnic lunch. Lemonade and water will be furnished. The picnic will be held in the Pioneer Pavilion at North Jeffco Park. Parking lot entrance is on Garrison Street, just north of Ralston Road.

Several high school classes will be holding reunions during the picnic. Classes that may be celebrating their reunions are:

Arvada High School: Classes of 1948, 1953, 1958, 1963.

Arvada and Arvada West: Classes of 1968, 1973.

Arvada, Arvada West, and Pomona: Classes of 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, and 1998.

If your class is holding a reunion during the picnic and it is not listed here, please e-mail us with the information and we will post it.

Fifth Annual Cemetery Tour

Arvada Historical Society Board Member Michael Thompson as Benjamin F. Wadsworth in the Arvada Cemetery Tour "Tombstone Tales" will be told Saturday September 27 at the Arvada Cemetery, 5581 Independence. Honorees will include Arvada's pioneers and former Men and Women of the Year. Guided walking hours will leave at 1:00 pm, 1:30 pm, 2:00 pm. Tickets are $6 and include refreshments. Children under 6 are free.

Please dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes. The tour will last about an hour. Proceeds benefit Arvada Historical Society, and Arvada Cemetery Association.

Click here for information on how your donations can help the Arvada Historical Society.

Arvada school, built 1882, now visible on Olde Wadsworth Blvd.

Exterior of the early Arvada brick school, 5650 Wadsworth Boulevard, Jefferson County, Colorado, includes students and teacher on entry stairs in front of the brick building. Shown are: Miss Nettie E. Stilling, teacher; Clara Swadley, Mary Juchem. Nanny Bacon, Clara Bacon, Della Allen, Lila Mitchell, Laura Swadley, Laura Jolly, Ruth Graves, Emma Bacon, Sally Swadley, Maud Jolly, Jennie Mitchell, Dolly Bacon, Frankie Bacon, Esther Bacon, Robert Swadley, Ollie Graves, Baron Bacon, Bent Allen, Charlie Graves, Harry Emerson, Fred Emerson, Horace Reno, LeClare Reno, George Bacon, John Jolly, Bob Graves, Herbie Reno, Arthur Ostrander, and Bert Ostrander. The one room school has a hipped roof, arched double door entry, four side sash windows with brick voussoirs and stone keystones.

Students and teacher identification from "More Than Gold, A History of Arvada, Colorado, During The Period, 1870-1904" by the Arvada Historical Society.
Source: Ethel Dark

Any additional details? E-mail webmaster@arvadahistory.org.