National Register of Historic Places

Evans-Elbert Ranch

Idaho Springs, Clear Creek County, Colorado
Listed
September 10, 1980
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
80000885

About this property

Evans–Elbert Ranch, also called the Elbert-Austin Ranch, was built as a 300-acre family retreat and ranch in Upper Bear Creek near Evergreen in Clear Creek County, Colorado by John Evans, Colorado's second territorial governor. Covering most of Corral Creek, Metz, and Vance valleys, it was a mountain cattle ranch. In 1868, Evans and his son-in-law Samuel Hitt Elbert, who also became a Territorial governor, purchased more than 300 acres from John Vance, a homesteader. They became interested in the area after they took a camping trip in the Upper Bear Creek area and enjoyed the views, timber, grass, and game. It was called Kuhlborne Ranch by the family. They built a large rustic house called the cottage. There was a house on the property that was inhabited by the ranch foreman. Over time, more land was purchased and the ranch grew to several thousand acres. During the summer, the Evans family used the ranch to enjoy the valleys and mountains and to escape the heat of Denver. Anne, the youngest child of John Evans, led the ranch's development after Samuel Elbert and John Evans died in the late 1890s. In 1908, Louise Elbert Everett, Samuel Elbert's niece, purchased much of the ranch land. A rustic-style residence made of stone and logs, designed by architect J. Christopher Jensen, was built for her in 1908. The house was built by a local contractor, Jock Spence. In 1911, Anne Evans built the Anne Evans Mountain Home for herself.

Location

Idaho Springs, Clear Creek County, Colorado
39.65348, -105.48146

Categories

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURECONSERVATIONARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Evans-Elbert Ranch

This page lists Evans-Elbert Ranch. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Evans-Elbert Ranch report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Miner Street Bridge
Industrial
1.8 mi
Echo Lake Park
Listed
6.3 mi
Argo Tunnel and Mill
Industrial
6.3 mi
Idaho Springs Downtown Commercial District
Listed
6.4 mi
Bryan Hose House
Industrial
6.5 mi

Questions about this property

When was Evans-Elbert Ranch listed on the National Register?

Evans-Elbert Ranch was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 10, 1980.

What type of historic resource is Evans-Elbert Ranch?

Evans-Elbert Ranch is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Evans-Elbert Ranch?

The period of significance for Evans-Elbert Ranch is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Evans-Elbert Ranch?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Evans-Elbert Ranch will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Clear Creek County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Clear Creek County.

Explore Clear CreekCounty ›

More historic places in Colorado

Browse all historic places in Colorado.

View Coloradohistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Colorado history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Coloradohistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Evans-Elbert Ranch will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report