Experience Stories: Downtown Business Association

Transportation, preservation,

and maybe a bit of fabrication …

all part of the local legends of Fort Collins!

It’s a Small World

A native Colorado cowboy-turned artist, Fort Collins local Harper Goff (born in 1911) provided a bit of inspiration for the whimsical world of Walt Disney. Mr. Goff, whose father owned the Fort Collins Express Courier newspaper – today’s Fort Collins Coloradoan – bumped into Mr. Disney in 1951 while shopping in London. The two struck up a conversation over a mutually-admired model train set, with Mr. Disney advising Mr. Goff to give him a call when he returned to the States. Mr. Goff made that call, and eventually became the driving creative force behind many of Disney’s motion pictures and “Imagineering” projects (Disney Imagineers are responsible for the creation of Disney resorts, theme parks and attractions, hotels, water parks, real estate developments, regional entertainment venues, cruise ships and new media technology projects.) At one point, Mr. Disney perused some photographs of Mr. Goff’s hometown, and fell in love with the buildings and streetscapes found in downtown Fort Collins. Thus, Disneyland’s original “Main Street U.S.A.” was born, with Mr. Goff drawing inspiration for the bank, city hall, and other buildings from the Fort Collins architecture still standing today. It just goes to show you: you never know who you might run into while window-shopping. It’s a small world, after all. More info HERE

Disneyland City Hall and Firehouse circa 1956. Note the tower at the rear of the firehouse.
Image copyright© Disneyland.

Larimer County Colorado's 1880's Courthouse.
Image courtesy of Fort Collins Public Library

Ghost Signs – Painted Promotions with a Past

Several of downtown Fort Collins’ buildings advertise an earlier era, in more ways than one. Turn your gaze to the brick facades of some of the structures that surround you as you stroll through downtown Fort Collins, and you’ll likely see a number of “ghost signs” – old-fashioned advertisements painted directly on brick buildings and preserved to provide the historical context that makes Fort Collins unique.

These faded remnants of outdoor advertising provide an artistic ambiance to the architectural elements that already define downtown as a place with a colorful past. As for the artists behind the advertisements, these prolific painters were known as “wall dogs”: working like dogs to complete entire murals in as little as 3 days. One of Fort Collins’ best-known wall dogs, Don Brown, was a former employee at Colorado A&M (present-day Colorado State University); Brown painted several of Fort Collins’ ghost signs, including the Coca-Cola® advertisement located on the side of the building at 5 Old Town Square.

Learn more about Ghost Signs

(Large file, please be patient)

History of Fort Collins' Lamb Day

Lamb Day: Take in a Whiskers-to-Tail Tale of a Legendary Fort Collins BBQ!

See full article written by the Fort Collins Museum Read the PDF Here

An Underground Legend – Fort Collins had a Subway?

Legend has it that Fort Collins operated an 11-mile underground subway system from 1904 to 1918. It is said that there were shops and restaurants built and signs were hung alongside the track to attract the 1904 World’s Fair, which was anticipated to draw nearly a million people. Does this folklore hold ground? Find out the truth at the Fort Collins History Connection.

The Search for Lost Gold – Gruber Mining Company Treasure

In June 1872, a stage coach en route from the Clark, Gruber & Co. mine in Denver, was bound for Fort Laramie in Wyoming Territory. On board was a strong box filled with $62,000 in gold coins – compensation for the Fort’s troops. While traveling unescorted, the stage was high jacked and robbed. Despite extensive searching the gold has never been recovered. Believe this myth? Discover the truth at the Fort Collins History Connection.