A Brief History of Empire
Empire emerged during the mining rush of 1860 in Clear Creek County’s Union District. The settlement became known as Empire City in 1861. James Peck settled here in 1862 and built a home that expanded into the Peck House, accommodating travelers crossing the mountains; the family retained the property until 1945. Other surviving buildings record the community’s growth beyond its earliest mining camps. The Mint Saloon, built around 1885, served as a local gathering place, while the second floor of the 1898 Town Hall became Empire’s seat of government and a center for social and cultural events.