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Museum Model: 1860 Pioneer Towns
Location : Denver, CO
Description : This model of the pioneer towns of Denver and Auraria in 1860 is one of the chief attractions at the State Historical Society Museum at Denver, Colorado. It is built on the scale on 1/16 of an inch to the foot and from the standpoint of detail is the most complete model of a town on this scale known to be in existence. In it are approximately 350 named buildings. The two towns are separated by Cherry Creek which meanders through the center of the model emptying into the Platte River (at the back of the picture). Tents of emigrants are scattered along the bank of the river and in the upper right corner are two wagon trains corralled, and a village for the Cheyenne and Arapahoe Indians. About the town are men, women and children, and even dogs, cats and chickens, all made to scale in lifelike postures. In the streets are tiny covered wagons, horses, buggies, and oxen. By consulting a map, an observer can learn who occupied each of the buildings shown in 1860, when Denver and Auraria were the center of the early Colorado mining boom. Eight WPA workers were employed in making the model which took one and a half years. Research work, done by the supervisor, required six months and were kept up during the process of construction. Listed Under:
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