Nederland History

Nestled high in the mountains on the western edge of Boulder County is a small mountain town with a long mining history. Nederland, Colorado is the only town in Boulder County who has been through three different mining booms (and busts) – for silver, gold and tungsten.

Originally called Brownsville after its founder, a fellow named Brown who was a miner in search of gold. Brown settled here on a 40-acre claim along Boulder Creek with his wife and kids, and from this original settlement grew a town. Nederland was also called Layton and Middle Boulder before settling on her modern name in 1873.The name is credited to the Dutch mining investors who purchased the Caribou Mill in 1873 and rename named the town Nederland, meaning “lowlands” (since it was low compared to the Caribou site).

Nederland was promoted as a tourist destination as far back as the 1920’s, even though Eldora Ski Resort wasn’t build until 1962. Barker Dam was completed in 1910, creating Barker Reservoir on the eastern edge of town. Barker Reservoir, while currently closed to boating and swimming, is a popular spot for fishing in the summer time and has a hiking trail that follows the edge of the lake all the way to the dam.

One of Nederland's quirkiest residents is the Frozen Dead Guy, Grandpa Bredo, an eccentric whose approach to cryogenics lacked common sense. Preserved on dry ice in a Tuff Shed in Big Springs, Grandpa Bredo is the honorary grand marshall of every FDG event.

Morstoel died on November 6, 1989 while at the family’s mountain retreat in Norway and was immediately packed in ice before making the long trip to Los Angeles, California, where he was cryogenically prepped and frozen. Morstoel’s grandson, Trygve Bauge decided that his grandfather should have the opportunity of potential immorality and made the arrangements for his grandfather.

Bredo was kept at the Institute, while Trygve searched for a suitable place to store frozen bodies. Grandpa Morstoel remained at the California institute until 1993, when his body was packed in dry ice, shipped to Nederland, Colorado, and stored in a garden shed. Cryogenic suspension requires a body to be frozen immediately after death to ward off physical decay, then maintained in a frozen condition until the time when medical science may be able to restore it to life. Suspendees are typically kept cool via liquid nitrogen, but due to budget constraints, “Grandpa Bredo” was kept on ice.

Nederland has an active arts and music scene, with live music available at a number of venues in town including the Pioneer Inn, Whistler’s Cafe and my own personal favorite, the First Street Pub and Grill. First Street is the town’s newest restaurant, having opened in the spring of 2004, and offers a fairly extensive menu, a non-smoking atmosphere during dining hours, outdoor seating on their private deck and happy hour specials. Other restaurants in town include the Black Forest, Katmandu, Sundance, Pink Flamingo, Annie’s, and Whistler's Café. For more information on local restaurants, including menu summaries and a calendar of local entertainment and events, see http://www.nederlandinternet.com.

More Information

Follow the links below for more information on the history of Nederland, Colorado: