Manga Dreams

Gold Rush in Leadville February 28 through July 18, 2026 Dunning Gallery Exhibit Events: History Matters: Community History Harvest Friday, March 13, 5 - 8 pm, FREE With Colorado State University History Department About the Exhibit: In the mid-1800s, caravans of hopeful settlers pushed westward across an uncertain frontier, driven by the lure of gold and the promise of a new life. These prints capture both the myth and the reality of Leadville’s gold-rush beginnings. After the 1859 discoveries in California Gulch, the settlement rapidly transformed from a hardscrabble mining camp into one of Colorado’s fastest-growing industrial cities. This collection reveals both the romance and the grit behind the rush—reminding us how mining, migration, and ambition shaped one of Colorado’s most storied communities.