Santa Fe Trail

Historical marker location:

35110 CO Hwy 194, La Junta, Colorado

( Marker is on State Highway 194 east of County Highway 35, on the left when traveling west.)

Marker installed: 1908

1822-1872.

The first documented discovery of gold in Colorado was in 1858, when a group of prospectors found gold near present-day Denver. This discovery led to the Pike's Peak Gold Rush and a population boom in the area.