Were there once streetcars in Boulder?
With the population booming in the late 1880s, city leaders recognized Boulder's tourism potential due to the scenic beauty of the Flatirons. Many tourists arriving in town on trains were drawn to Chautauqua Park, which was a mile and a half from downtown. To get there, tourists often walked, and city officials wanted some way to steer those tourists back downtown to patronize shops and businesses.
In 1891, Boulder received its first horsecar service when the Boulder Railway and Improvement Company opened a streetcar line on Pearl Streets. The line closed just a year later.
In 1899, the Boulder City Council passed an ordinance permitting electric streetcars in the city, and the Boulder Railway and Utility Company laid down tracks along several streets including Broadway Street.
Other cities that had streetcar systems included Denver, Colorado Springs and Cripple Creek.
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