From its inception, the Golden Chamber of Commerce has been driven to support the continued growth of Golden Businesses. In 1920 Herman Coors, Manager of Coors Porcelain, saw a need to bring better roads to Golden. He organized other businessmen to form the Golden Chamber of Commerce.
In our 100-year history, the Chamber has focused on the continued prosperity of the Golden economy and staying true to the entrepreneurial spirit that inspired our founding settlers to plant their roots along Clear Creek.
It is hard to separate the history of Golden and that of the Chamber. From the beginning, the Chamber and its members were active in establishing the economic future of Golden and its local businesses. Lobbying State Legislature to route the new look-out mountain highway to run through Golden rather than around the town, establishing the base for a budding tourism industry. August of that same year the Chamber found itself arguing against moving governing control of the School of Mines to the regents of the University of Colorado.
In 1949 Lu Holland of the Holland House Hotel, now Table Mountain Inn, become president of the board. First on his agenda was to set Golden apart from other towns with the building of the now iconic Welcome Arch. He rallied the Chamber members to raise $7500 to build the arch. Holland said the arch lets visitors know that “Western friendship and hospitality abound in Golden.”
Chamber has always been driven both functionally and financially by its members. These members and the finances of the Chamber waned during hard times like the Depression and World Wars, but in 1952, 30 years after its inception, the Chamber was ready to hire its first paid executive, Clifford Keak. Since then we have seen many changes in leadership, but none more notable than Gary Wink, who served as Executive Director for 19 years.
Holding true to its foundational goals of bringing visitors to Golden to support local businesses, the Chamber would establish lasting events that have become as much a part of Golden as the Arch. The Golden Fine Arts Festival began in 1990 and attracts more than ten thousand visitors over two days. In 2002 the Chamber would establish the Golden Farmers Market. The Market not only provides locals with access to fresh local produce, it has become an incubator for small businesses. Local businesses like YO Colorado and Red Silo Coffee Roasters got their start at the market. In 2007, the Chamber paired with Coors Distributing Company to host the first annual Knock Your Boots off Beer and Chili Cook-off.
