One of Colorado's First Creative Districts
Near Salida, Colorado
For most of its life, Salida made its living from railroads and mining and smelting. When those industries faded, a lot of small mountain towns simply emptied out and went quiet. Salida found a different path.
Over the last few decades, artists, potters, painters, and makers of all kinds began moving into the old railroad era storefronts downtown, drawn by cheap space, beautiful surroundings, and a town full of character. That gathering of creative energy earned Salida a notable distinction. In the spring of the year two thousand twelve, the state of Colorado named Salida's historic downtown one of its very first certified creative districts.
It was one of only two towns chosen in that inaugural round, a formal recognition of the dozens of artist owned studios and galleries, along with the restaurants, shops, breweries, and distilleries, packed into the old brick district. The designation was more than a ribbon. It helped publicize Salida as an arts destination and pumped fresh energy into the downtown economy.
It is a striking second act for a place built to service steam locomotives. The same buildings that once outfitted a working railroad town now hold easels, kilns, and gallery lights.
