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Leadville Area History
courtesy of
www.leadville.com
Leadville (pronounced "led" as in the metal
lead, not "leed" as in "lead a horse to water",) made its fortune in silver,
which was mined in a heavy carbonate of lead. Because there were lots of
"silver" named towns at the time, the founding fathers suggested Leadville.
Other names originally considered included Carbonate, Cerrusite,
and Meyer (after a prominent citizen). A short period after this, during
a time when the name could have been changed, names suggested included Lead
City, Agassiz, Harrison, and Carbonateville. Nicknames
for Leadville include "The Magic City" and "The Cloud City",
(at two miles high the city is sometimes in the clouds).
"There has been but one Leadville. Never
will there be an other." This 1916 quote from "Olden Times in
Colorado" aptly describes this grand and glorious city from the past which
continues to awe visitors with its magical appeal.
Self-described as quaint, and absolutely
original, Leadville has been designated as a National Historic
Landmark District. Seventy square blocks of Victorian architecture and the
adjoining twenty square mile Leadville mining district - a fascinating
graveyard of frontier mining - distinguish Leadville as having maintained
its character without exploiting its treasures.
 The
main avenue includes over 50 significant 1870's buildings including the
only two Tabor structures remaining in Colorado, the Tabor Opera House
and the recently renovated, award-winning Tabor Grand Hotel.
One of America's last remaining authentic
mining towns, Leadville's wealth of historical attractions range from the
federally chartered
National Mining Hall of Fame & Museum to the Healy House & Dexter
Cabin State Museum, a three-story Victorian boarding house.
Once a city of near 30,000, many famous
people got their start in Leadville including J.J. & Molly Brown,
H.A.W. Tabor,
Guggenheim, and Boettcher. Famous visitors include
Doc Holliday,
Buffalo Bill and Texas Jack.
Leadville is an excellent choice for an
extended base of operation from which to explore Colorado, offering superior
lodging, full-service camping, a vast array of dining choices and unique
shopping. A variety of events and high country adventure exploration gratify a
variety of different interests.
 Recreational
opportunities are plentiful in the vast mountains, streams and lakes.
And, at altitudes that seldom drop below 9,000 feet, the Leadville area
boasts exceptional scenery, crisp mountain air, and pleasant summer
temperatures.
Opportunities for visitors to enjoy pure
Colorado are boundless whether you are a thrill or antique seeker. A few of the
many features of the area include: historic village and shops of
Twin Lakes, the
historic site Interlaken Hotel in the Leadville area, the once
largest molybdenum mine in the world at Climax, the rich gulches which
brought seekers of wealth and fame to the Rockies by the thousands, the legends
of the Ute Indians, the highest railroad line in the West, the
104-year-old Leadville National Fish Hatchery, and the federally
chartered National Mining
Hall of Fame and Museum.
The Colorado Trail provides easy
access to miles of hiking and mountain biking trails. The route traverses
Lake County and provides access to the multi-cabin Tenth Mountain
Division Ski Hut System. Secluded camping excursions in San Isabel
National Forest is a favorite activity. Commercial
camping is available in
several areas.
Surrounded by Colorado's towering
snow-capped mountain peaks, numerous mighty rivers wind their way down into warm
and lush mountain valleys. Many of the
nation's best rafting rivers have their headwaters here, and the
state is considered by many to be the U.S. capitol of whitewater action.
Horseback riding, rock hounding, climbing
Colorado's highest peaks, camping, hunting, fishing, mountain biking,
exceptional cross-country skiing and a variety of other outdoor activities
abound in the area.
The area provides direct access to miles
of four-wheel drive, ATV and motorcycle roads as well as rental locations, tours
and guide services. Leadville has the highest 9-hole golf course in the
United States.
Area history, facts and fun courtesy of
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