Retro Boulder: Explore the City by the Decade

The 1950s: Classic Americana

The post-war optimism of drive-in movies, ice cream sodas and a population boom brought big science and development to Boulder.

Stay in a Historic Cottage

Book a night at one of Chautauqua's historic, Craftsman-style cottages at the foot of the Flatirons. No two are the same, and many include historic touches like clawfoot tubs or stone fireplaces, and all are television- and phone-free. The last cottage was built in 1954.

Step Into a Classic Soda Shop

Step back in time at the soda pop and candy shop Rocket Fizz on Pearl Street, where you can taste throwback sodas, buy old-fashioned candy by the piece and even play a few arcade games.

Visit a National Laboratory

Starting in the 50s, several scientific laboratories and companies began relocating to Boulder. Did you know the US atomic clock is here? NIST-F1, the nation's primary time and frequency standard, is a cesium fountain atomic clock developed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Today, you can still tour several of these labs, getting a taste of the scientific boom that would forever change Boulder.

The 1960s: Peace, Love and Revolution

Boulder became a haven for counterculture, activism and creative expression, an energy that still very much pulses through the city today.

Score Vintage Finds

From go-go boots to fringe vests, dig through the virtually limitless racks to find eclectic throwback pieces at local vintage shops like Apocalypse, Garage Sale Vintage and Heady Bauer. Read our thrifting guide to learn more about each of Boulder’s vintage stops.

Spin Some Vinyl

Sift through the crates at Paradise Found Records for vintage Beatles albums, psychedelic rock and all the sounds that defined the Summer of Love. Or try Little Horse Vintage for uniquely curated selections of vintage hifi audio equipment and vinyl records.

Expand Your Mind With Psychedelic Art

Psychedelic art and culture have experienced a recent resurgence in Colorado. You can find the art of local visionary artists in galleries and shops around town, or go straight to the source at North Boulder’s First Friday art walk.

The 1970s: Groovy Vibes and Dance Fever

The 70s brought disco balls, punk attitude and a continued embrace of alternative lifestyles to Boulder.

Follow the Disco Ball

Boogie down to groovy tunes at Velvet Elk Lounge or disco nights at the historic Fox Theatre, both of which often have musical acts featuring this era's hits. Junkyard Social Club also occasional hosts disco dance nights that'll have you doing The Hustle in no time. 

Get Herby

Not necessarily like that. Boulder has always been at the forefront of alternative wellness movements, and in 1970, the first Celestial Seasonings production facility was established in a barn in Boulder, where they used wild herbs from nearby forests to make teas. The rest is history. Today, you can visit the Celestial Seasonings factory for tours and tea sampling.

The Shag Has Officially Made a Comeback 

“Razor” shag cuts, where hairstylists use razors for a more natural, feathered look instead of the blunt cut from scissors, are available at a handful of retro-inspired salons in Boulder. Check out Voodoo Hair Lounge, Sweep Salon or Mal Queer Hair Studio to recreate that iconic 70s do.

The 1980s: Neon Dreams and Digital Gaming

The decade of big hair, group-fitness-class mania and the birth of video game culture.

Work It Out!

Although you might be the odd one out if you don leg warmers and a shiny leotard, there are many group fitness classes in Boulder where you can channel your inner exercise video star. Try group pilates at Mecha, yoga or aerobics classes at local recreation centers.

Game Like It's 1985

Grab a beer and relive the golden age of arcade culture at Press Play, an underground bar where retro video games and consoles transport you to the days of Pac-Man and Mario Bros.

Punk Rock Is Not Dead

Experience the raw energy of punk rock and underground music through emerging-artist programs at Roots Music Project, larger acts playing at Boulder Theater, or at the DIY-punk shows held at The Coffee Stand.

Throwback Bonus: Boulder's oldest comic book shop, Time Warp, carries everything from silver age to indie comics. Sort through rows and rows while the friendly and knowledgeable staff help you find just what you're looking for.

The 1990s: Coffee Shop Hangs and Lo-Fi Tech

‘Twas the nostalgic time of flannel shirts, coffeeshop culture and the last analog decade before the digital revolution.

Caffeinate Like a Sitcom Character

The vibes at Boulder institiutions like The Laughing Goat and Trident Booksellers & Cafe still manage to capture that low-tech, casual hang-out energy of 90s coffee houses.

Relive Summer Camp

Gateway Park Fun Center recalls the type of summer camp fun that defined 90s childhoods, from bowling to go-karts to arcade games and more. (Bonus points if you bring a disposable camera to document your day!)

Explore Technology Archives

Visit the Media Archaeology Lab to get hands on with some of the most nostalgic forms of early technology, from cassettes to Walkmans to Tamagotchis to and more — a true Boulder gem.

The 2000s: The Early Digital Age

The decade of rom-coms, emo everything and when Boulder showed up on the big screen.

Step Into a 2000s Rom Com

Catch and Release, starring Jennifer Garner, was filmed right here in Boulder in 2006, a time when the rom-com reigned supreme on the big screen. Get your nostalgic fix and read how to explore locations where scenes were filmed.

Shred the Gnar

Visit Boulder's popular skate parks at Valmont Bike Park and Scott Carpenter Park, which became community hubs during the golden age of skateboarding culture.

Explore Experimental Sounds

Thanks to new digital technologies, music became fairly experimental in the early 2000s and often incorporated electronic effects. You can captivate your senses in a similar way at the laser and liquid sky music shows held at Fiske Planetarium.