Grubstake Theatre, Cripple Creek 1973

This photograph from 1973 captures the Grubstake Theatre along Bennett Avenue in Cripple Creek, Colorado, during a time when the former mining town was reinventing itself as a heritage tourism destination. The ornate brick building—typical of Cripple Creek’s boom-era architecture—dates back to the late 19th century, when the town was at the center of one of the last great American gold rushes. During its peak in the 1890s and early 1900s, Cripple Creek was bustling with miners, saloons, hotels, and theatres, drawing fortune-seekers from across the country.

By the 1970s, the mines had long since closed, but Cripple Creek retained its historic charm and frontier character. Venues like the Grubstake Theatre offered live shows, melodramas, and Old West–style entertainment aimed at visitors eager to experience the town’s colorful past. Surrounding the theatre are vintage cars and pickup trucks, adding to the scene’s period feel, while storefronts—including a small market and traditional café—reflect the steady rhythm of life in a mountain town adapting to tourism rather than mining.

Today, Cripple Creek is recognized as a National Historic Landmark District, and while casinos and tourism developments have changed parts of the community, many of its original buildings—including those along Bennett Avenue—still stand as reminders of the wild, gold-fueled days that built the town. This photo preserves Cripple Creek during a quieter mid-century chapter—between its rough mining origins and its modern revival.