The Leadville Historic Walking Tour and Heritage Museum | Leadville, CO

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In the late 19^th century, Leadville was the richest mining district in the world. Leadville's mining history began in 1860 with the discovery of gold south of town. About 8,000 prospectors soon arrived, and during the next five years, unearthed more than $4 million worth of gold. Once the gold played out, most of the prospectors moved on. A few remained and discovered the area was also rich in silver and lead. Prospectors once again swarmed the town. By 1880, Leadville was home to more than 30,000 residents, along with stores, hotels, saloons, dance halls, gambling joints and brothels.

An upper class also moved to town including Horace Tabor, who built the Tabor Opera House and then left his wife to marry "Baby Doe." The Opera House presented an incredible variety of talent, including Harry Houdini, John Philip Sousa, Oscar Wilde, and Sarah Bernhardt. David May, of May D&F got his start running a small dry goods store in Leadville and the powerful Guggenheim family started out in mining and went onto own and operate the American Smelting and Refining Company or ASARCO.

The Historical Walking Tour & Route of the Silver Kings provides visitors the chance to travel back in time to one of America's richest, longest-lived and bawdiest mining boomtowns. Paired with the Heritage Museum - which features an extensive selection of Leadville memorabilia, Victorian furniture, mining and boomtown miscellany, as well as photographs and mementos from the 10th Mountain Division at Camp Hale - it's one of Colorado's best historic treasures.

Leadville is one of Colorado's largest National Historic Landmark districts and includes 70 square blocks.

The Historic Walking Tour and Route of the Silver Kings are accessible anytime. The Heritage Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., May through October. The tours and museum are self-guided, with printed educational materials and maps that provide visitors with detailed, interesting information about the history, architecture and significance of each site.

Fun Facts
The early mining camp that became Leadville had many colorful names including Slabtown, Boughtown, Cloud City, Carbonate, Harrison, Oro City, and Agassiz. When it came time to find a permanent name, Horace Tabor chose Leadville.

In the 1930s, Leadville's weather was described as "ten months winter and two months mighty late in the fall."

Margaret Tobin, aka Molly Brown, clerked at the Daniels & Fisher store in Leadville, where she met her husband JJ Brown. Other famous faces passing through Leadville included Levi Leiter (Levi jeans and partner of Marshall Fields), Charles Dow (Dow Jones), Charles Boettcher, and Doc Holliday.

By 1903 Leadville became the most important single district in western zinc mining, exceeding even the gold and silver production.

Leadville's "theater district" was located along State Street, now Second Street, and consisted mainly of "wine theaters." No cover charge, but theater goers were strongly urged to "patronize the bar."

Other Places to Visit While There
Healy House Museum and Dexter Cabin
Leadville Colorado and Southern Railroad
Historic Tabor Opera House
Historic Tabor Home Museum
National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum
Camp Hale
Leadville National Fish Hatchery

Best Times to Visit
Summer months and early fall

Byway
Top of the Rockies National Scenic Byway