Those that adore history, and all it has to offer, will delight in a simple trek through Breckenridge. This town is literally bursting with history, and remnants of the past can be found around every corner, but, of course, these sites are more apparent if you have your own guide. Traversing tourists around town is exactly what the Summit Historical Society aims to do with its many guided tours and historical exhibits.

If you decide to visit the Summit Historical Society, you can expect to find tours that will lead you in and around historic sites including the Barney Ford House Museum (1882 Victorian Home), Dillon, Denver, and Dam (a morning with a Summit Historical Society author), Golf Mine Tours (feel the excitement of the gold rush), and many other special activities for the entire family � including a cemetery tour.

The Society was erected in 1966 as a non-profit corporation, which means that any money you give to the society is tax deductible � as if you needed a reason to visit Colorado�s past! These tours are definitely out of the ordinary, but they are an integral part of Breckenridge�s history preservation.

Tours are appropriate for any age group and they are a great way to spend an afternoon or evening. For more information consult the society�s webpage at www.summithistorical.org. There can be no greater feeling than knowing that you are treading amongst some of the most important terrain in the history of the United States � make Summit Historical Society a �must see� on your vacation list.

Before any tourist boards an airplane, they are likely to know some of their destination country�s history. Likewise, if you are planning a trip to Breckenridge, you may want to know something about this town�s colorful past. Long before Breckenridge was a ski town, it was in the midst of gold and mining, trouble and turmoil, all of which have helped to shape its current lifestyle and laid-back attitude.

Breckenridge was once a rugged terrain full of dust, sand, and mounted Native Americans seeking to carve a home from the mountainous land. During the mid-nineteenth century gold rush, those looking to strike it rich flocked to Breckenridge in the hopes of finding a mountain made of gold. One of the foremost pioneers in this hunt for wealth was the ever brutal General George E. Spencer � a general who successfully bought out the town and all its people in order to inhabit the Blue River. The town was named after President Buchanan�s Vice President John Cabell Breckinridge, which was a highly strategic move on Spencer�s part that lead to his Breckenridge gaining the first U.S Post Office between the Continental Divide and Salt Lake City, Utah.

You may be wondering why �Breckenridge� is now spelled with an �e� instead of the original �i� spelling. Well, as it turns out, former Vice President was a southern sympathizer during the Civil War, and was eventually expelled for treason. Breckenridge quickly changed the spelling of their town in order to avoid affiliation with the exiled man, and today the town is spelt with an �e.� Currently, the town is home to around 3,126 people and it keeps on growing due to its stunning scenery and fairy tale like charm.

As you travel to Breckenridge, remember the many people that traveled to the same town in search of gold and a finer life, and consider the many hardships that the town has gone through. You may be so touched by all the Breckenridge has to offer that you�ll find yourself joining the growing population � a wise choice given all the charm that this sleepy little town seems to shower visitors with.

The Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center is a non-profit organization with the goal of expanding the ability of people with disabilities and special needs with great outdoor experiences. The BOEC has become a national leader in experience based education for everyone including those with special needs.

The BOEC was established in Breckenridge in 1976 to help provide those with disabilities great outdoor experiences. The organization also trains instructors to work with people with special needs. The organization provides its training using the spectacular Rocky Mountains as its classroom to help expand the abilities of different types of people from around the world.

The BOEC helps to provide training for success in the wilderness, on ski slopes, and other outdoor areas. There are many programs for those that are interested and one is sure to meet your needs. The organization will also design a specific program for groups. You can also join the currently existing programs as well as youth programs that are available.

The BOEC has come a long way since its beginning over 30 years ago, and now offers courses such as adaptive skiing and snowboarding, wilderness courses, professional challenge courses, and even an internship program. The BOEC has a lot of land to work with on almost 40 acres for all of its experimental education techniques. The BOEC has such tools as a high rope course, a climbing wall, kayaks, canoes, rafts, and more. The BOEC has now been changing lives for the better for 30 years, and that will continue.

Breckenridge may be a small town with less than 2,500 people, but it is certainly big on fun. How did it get to where it is today? The town was created in November 1859 by General George E. Spencer. The name of Breckinridge was chosen by Spencer with the purpose of flattering the government to get a post office. The United States Vice President at the time, you see, was John C. Breckinridge.

Spencer�s plan worked and the first post office between the Continental Divide and Salt Lake City went up in Breckenridge. What�s that? You say it�s spelled BreckENridge and not BreckINridge? Well, the town was originally spelled Breckinridge, but when John C. Breckinridge sided with the Confederates at the start of the Civil War, the pro-Union citizens of Breckinridge changed the spelling of the town�s name, and it has stayed that way ever since.

The reason folks ended up in Breckenridge in the first place was due to the Gold Rush of 1859. Prospectors entered the area soon after the placer gold discoveries farther east of the area. Breckenridge was founded to serve the needs of the miners. Gold production decreased by the late 1800s but was later revived in 1908. The gold mines around Breckenridge have since all been shut down, but some are still open to tourists.

As the 20^th century rolled on, it didn�t take long before the beautiful Breckenridge area to become a tourist hot spot. Once the sport of skiing became popular, the area became the quaint little resort town we�ve come to know and love.