In 1859, John H. Gregory made a discovery that led to the flooding of miners into Rocky Mountain Region, particularly in Gregory Gulch and Pike’s Peak Gold Rush. Due to the rich gold deposits in the area, several mining camps were established which later united and became the Central City/Blackhawk District. The two camps were less than a mile apart, with both having their own share in the gold mining activities that took place in the area.

The economy of the two districts declined during the World War II when gold became too hard to extract, resulting to the closure of the mines. In 1960, an attempt to revitalize the area took place, but still, it didn’t provide enough economic base. The district was recognized in July 4, 1961 as a National Historic Landmark.