Barney Ford House Museum

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Barney Ford
The Barney Ford House Museum honors Barney L. Ford, an escaped slave who prospered and became a prominent entrepreneur and black civil rights leader in Colorado.Born into slavery in 1822, Ford was instilled with the importance of learning to read by his mother, who inspired his lifelong quest for education. After escaping via the Underground Railroad, Ford established various businesses in Chicago, the West and Nicaragua, eventually making his way to Colorado and Breckenridge.  In 1880, Ford became Breckenridge’s first black businessman when he opened Ford’s Restaurant and Chophouse. He was one of Breckenridge’s most successful entrepreneurs of his time.

The Barney Ford House was built in 1882 by prominent craftsman, Elias Nashold, for Ford, his wife Julia and their three children.In later life, Barney became deeply involved in politics and the fight for the rights of African-Americans in Colorado. Ford’s portrait remains in the legislative chambers of the capitol building in Denver in recognition of his being an outstanding citizen of Colorado.

Today, the Barney Ford House Museum has been restored to its original Victorian style and each room in the home is dedicated to a different part of Barney’s life.

You can download the Barney Ford Timeline and learn more specific dates.