Category: Antique Towns

Reading Time: 4 minutes Antiquing enthusiasts and history buffs alike will be enamored by the charm of Florence, Colorado. Fewer than two hours from Denver and about thirty minutes from Colorado Springs, the town has seen its fair share of struggles. Once a hub for the oil business, it weathered economic turmoil for decades before undergoing a renaissance. Known today as the Antiques Capitol of Colorado, Florence’s reputation draws visitors from afar to explore its charming shops. But there is much more to uncover beyond the antique stores. Cultural landmarks steeped in history and scenic byways highlighting local artistry come together to paint a […]

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Reading Time: 5 minutes During a recent visit to the Hillsville, VA, Labor Day Flea Market, Behind the Gavel columnist Wayne Jordan found himself wondering where all the antiques dealers were, which led him to explore the changing landscape of the once antique-laden flea market scene and how today’s shoppers define “antiques.” Originally published in Antique Trader Magazine Where Have All The Antiques Gone? “Where are all the antique dealers?” I wondered as I wandered through the roughly one square mile of dealer booths at the annual Hillsville (Virginia) Labor Day Flea Market and Gun Show. In its 47th year, the show has morphed […]

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Reading Time: 5 minutes Originally published in Antique Trader Magazine updated 2019 “All great literature is one of two stories; a man goes on a journey or a stranger comes to town.”— Leo Tolstoy When Tolstoy made this point, I’m sure he wasn’t foreshadowing the modern tourist industry. Nevertheless, there is a lot of “coming and going” occurring in the U.S., and in the past year, such travel has been responsible for making cash registers ring to the tune of more than $2 trillion. While big tourism projects garner lots of press and attract lots of political attention, small towns across America attract millions […]

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