Golden
First Western Gold
State: New Mexico
County: Santa Fe County
Founded: 1825
Abandoned: Semi-ghost
Peak Population: Gold mining
Golden claims the first gold strike west of the Mississippi River in 1825 - decades before California. The San Francisco church (ruins) and Henderson Mercantile building remain. On the scenic Turquoise Trail.
Plan Your Visit
Best Time: Year-round
Difficulty: Easy
Time Needed: 1 hour
Quick Facts
- First western gold 1825
- Predates California
- Turquoise Trail
Location
Address: Golden, NM (Turquoise Trail)
Coordinates: 35.2667, -106.2167