3 Reasons to Tour the Circuit
If you’ve never visited a historic opera house, you’ll be in for a treat when you tour the Colorado Historic Opera Houses Circuit.
On the Circuit, you can enjoy a modern-day show while surrounded by the elegance of a historic theater, set deep within the majestic Rocky Mountains. Take history tours to hear each opera house's fascinating stories and learn about the community members who have kept the arts alive over more than a century. Enjoy shopping, dining, and overnight stays in five charming historic downtowns. You'll also want to plan time to hike, bike, and fish or ski and snowboard among the tall peaks.
Here are 3 more reasons to visit.
1) Savor a Live Show
Come to the opera houses for live performances of all kinds! Enjoy live music of all kinds, theater, comedy, dance, festivals, and more. Check our calendar for upcoming performances!
📷: Amanda Tipton Photography
2) Meet a Different Side of the Wild West
You’ve heard about the rowdy saloons, gun-wielding outlaws, and busy brothels from America’s frontier days. Did you know there was a softer side, a movement to bring culture to the West?
As mining towns grew, mining magnates and other wealthy residents built opera houses to create oases for arts and culture. An opera house was a symbol that a mining camp had “arrived.” Come see the finery lavished on the opera houses in faraway mountain towns.
3) See Truly Rare Gems
Between 1860 and 1920, 132 opera houses were built in Colorado.* Today, many are being used for other purposes or are no longer in existence.
The Circuit opera houses are well over 100 years old and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. All have undergone extensive rehabilitation or renovation to survive the long winters in Colorado’s mountains…and still they stand, welcoming guests today.
Despite the repairs, these theaters retain their original splendor. Visit the Circuit for a rare opportunity to see the opera houses in much the same way that people did at the turn of the 20th century—as stunning venues for live entertainment.
Learn about the opera houses and local attractions. Then plan a trip!
📷: Jordan Curet
* From “Local Glories: Opera Houses on Main Street, Where Art and Culture Meet” by Ann Satterthwaite
📷: Diana Lange (Top featured photo)
