Author: Duane A. Smith Publisher: ISBN: 9781890437954 Category : History Languages : en Pages : 111
Book Description
The historic mining town of Silverton, Colorado, founded in 1874, lies in Bakers Park and is ringed by 12,000 and 13,000-foot peaks of the San Juan Mountains. However, it was not the beautiful scenery but rather the highly mineralized veins that lay in the nearby mountains that attracted the early prospectors. The town really came into prominence with the arrival of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad in July 1882. three other narrow gauge lines were eventually built ut of the city, which drew business to the San Juans for nearly a century. When the silver bust of 1893 occurred, Silverton was not greatly affected as vast amounts of gold had been discovered in the nearby mines. Mining continued to dominate the economy until the 1980s, but tourism is now the main economic factor for Silverton. Duane Smith had done a marvelous job of explaining the historic nature of the local mining, which can still be enjoyed in the form of mine and mill tours, trips to the local museums, or exploring ruins in the nearby high country.
Author: Duane A. Smith Publisher: Western Reflections Publishing Company ISBN: 9781889459189 Category : History Languages : en Pages : 111
Book Description
Duane Smith covers an amazing amount of history for such a "quick" history. He begins with the Spanish, then talks of the Colorado gold rush, the San Juan rush and the formation of the town. He discusses the importance of the railroad, the ties to Durango and reviews what it was like to live in this rough and tough mining town. He devotes whole chapters to baseball at 9,000 feet, the deadly influenza epidemic, and Silverton during World War II. As Duane puts it, "Savor and learn, for the past has much to tell us".
Author: Karen A. Vendl and Mark A. Vendl with the San Juan County Historical Society Publisher: Arcadia Publishing ISBN: 1467132861 Category : History Languages : en Pages : 128
Book Description
Silverton is located in the heart of the San Juan Mountains, which have been described by H.H. Bancroft as "the wildest and most inaccessible region of Colorado, if not North America." The region has a long and colorful mining history, dating back to the Spanish exploration of the area in the 18th century. For the past 250 years, men have sought gold and silver in these mountains. However, full-scale mining did not begin until the 1870s, and for more than a century, mining was the lifeblood of Silverton and the surrounding area. The San Juan Mountains have been called one of the four great mining areas of Colorado, in a state known for its mining heritage. This is not only the story of the mines but also of the men and women who worked and lived in these rugged mountains.
Author: Philip Aleo Publisher: ISBN: 9781733922845 Category : Languages : en Pages : 126
Book Description
This new book on SIlverton, Colorado details how and why Silverton developed in the 1880's and then emphasizes the significance of the Thomson Block. Built in 1883, the Thomson Block was the largest building in Colorado, south of Denver. It originally housed the Grand Hotel. Known today as the Grand Imperial Hotel, the history of this building forms an integral component in Silverton's history.
Author: Jeff Corr Publisher: Arcadia Publishing ISBN: 1439645167 Category : Photography Languages : en Pages : 184
Book Description
As the ancestral hunting grounds of mountain people known as the Utes, the future site of Silverton was explored by nomadic hunters for generations. During the 1860s, Charles Baker, an early mining prospector, discovered some mineral wealth in the area and spread highly exaggerated rumors that brought in even more prospectors. Significant wealth was found in Arrastra Gulch along the Alpine Loop, north of Bakers Park. From the beginning of its mining heritage, Silverton has gone through periods of boom to bust. In the 1950s, the area was discovered by Hollywood, increasing its appeal to tourism, and in the 1960s, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad reinvested heavily to dedicate itself to tourist travel. Although mining continued on a limited basis up until the 1990s, Silvertons economy is now supported by those who come for its history, picturesque landscapes, fly fishing, jeeping, and hiking.
Author: Duane A. Smith
Author: Broken Hill Historical Society
Author: Richard Hugh Bell Kearns
Author: Duane A. Smith
Author: Karen A. Vendl and Mark A. Vendl with the San Juan County Historical Society 
Author: Robert Horace Down
Author: Philip Aleo
Author: Robert Evan Sloan
Author: Robert T. Royem
Author: Jeff Corr