Apex was founded in 1891, three decades after Central City, Black Hawk and Nevadaville, and grew out of the need for a satellite town close to the mines. The town was never very large, but it did have two hotels, a Miners Hall, Palace Dance Hall and the Apex School. At one time, the town also had several churches.

Its peak population was reached in about 1896.

If You Go

Schoolhouse: Apex School.

Where: Apex and its school are located in Gilpin County up Apex Valley Road (County Road 4). This road heads west from Colorado 119 north of Black Hawk and then turns north. The school is on the east side of the road near its end.

Its newspaper was called the Apex Pine Cone. Newspapers written at the time boasted that Apex had 100 businesses along its main street. The number of foundations that can be found today suggest closer to two dozen businesses.

The Mackey was the best mine and was named for its original owner, Dick Mackey.

The property later was leased by a man named Mountz who formed a partnership. After the removal of tens of thousands of dollars in gold ore, his partner stole the money leaving Mountz with just $400 to keep the mine operating.

Mountz worked the mine alone and knew the mother lode was somewhere inside the mountain. Optimistically, he drove a crosscut to try to reach that elusive vein of rich gold ore. He took his tunnel 90 feet farther and gave up. He was out of money, and in his anger and frustration, he placed all of the remaining dynamite at the end of the tunnel, lit the fuse and went home.

When he returned, the explosion uncovered what he had been seeking all along -- a pocket of rich gold ore.

He telephoned Denver and on credit, ordered 1,000 sacks for the ore and also ordered a wagon from a Central City livery stable. The assay results showed that the mine could produce ore valued at $1,800 a ton (in 1890 prices).

Mountz paid his bills and had nothing to worry about after that.

Eventually, a mill was constructed at the site.
