Victor, Colorado - the City of Gold Mines - is located at nearly 10,000 feet on the southwest side of Pikes Peak, in the Cripple Creek Victor Mining District. This historic Colorado gold mining town is a unique setting of 1890's mine structures and turn-of-the-century buildings. Gold was first discovered six miles northwest of Victor in 1890. The city of Victor was established in 1893-94 and in 1897 Colorado Business Directory described Victor as a magnificent city of 8,000 people with over 140 businesses. In August of 1899 a devastating fire destroyed twelve blocks of the business district and over 3,000 people were left homeless. Fortunately the gold mining industry continued to boom and investors rushed to rebuild. Within eight months a new and more magnificent Victor emerged this time mostly made of brick. For the most part the buildings that line the business district were built in 1899 or early 1900. For a short time Victor was the fifth largest city in Colorado. It was one of the first cities to have electricity, telephones, municipal water, sewer and fire protection services. At the peak there were three railroad lines with over 58 trains per day departing from the city. Two electric streetcar lines linked Victor with most of the mines and other cities in the Gold Camp. A ride to work cost a nickel. The city had a modern hospital, 17 physicians. two banks, seven churches, four schools, an opera house that seated 1,200 people, 17 grocery stores, seven meat markets, 29 hotels and rooming houses, 11 restaurants and 37 saloons.