From Colorado Heritage Travel: (
visit link)
The Arvada Flour Mill was built in 1926 by Eugene Benjamin to mill wheat for area farmers and to provide the high-quality Arva-Pride Flour that became a staple for local residents. Operating as a flour mill until 1944, the mill sat vacant until its 1978 restoration. The internal working components are relatively intact from its days as an operating flour mill, which makes for a unique tour celebrating the area's local agricultural heritage.
The Historic Information Sign reads as follows:
The Old Mill
Flour was a staple for pioneers and settlers. In Arvada's
early years, horses and wagons pulled some of Arvada's
abundant wheat crop to flour mills in Denver. These
trips added hours to growers' wheat harvests.
An Easier Harvest
Eugene Benjamin filled Arvada's need
when he opened this "steel clad" flour
mill in 1926. He had great faith in
Arvada's future and selected a prime
location on the railroad right-of-way.
Arva-Pride:
Arvada's
Trademark Flour
Benjamin bagged his quality flour in
colorful printed sacks, and the material
was sewn into clothes by his thrifty
costomers. The name of his
choice flour, ARVA-PRIDE,
was selected in a contest.
The winner received a
$25 cash prize.
Preserving an
Arvada Tradition
The Flour Mill was placed in
the National Register of Historic
Places through nomination by
the Arvada Historical Society in
1975. The Tiller family donated
the building to the Society in
1977. After years of effort, the
Society opened the restored
mill in 1980 as a museum. Year
round tours are given by the
Arvada Historical Society
by appointment.