Independence Ghost Town | Pitkin County, CO 970-925-3721 | visit our website The town of Independence lies in a picturesque meadow on the west side of Independence Pass alongside State Highway 82 at an altitude of 10,880 feet.  According to legend, Billy Belden, one of the original prospectors in the Roaring Fork Valley, hit a rich vein of gold on July 4, 1879 and named the claim, and the tent city around it, Independence.

Trails of Gold | Victor, CO 719-689-2675 | visit our website The Trails of Gold is a series of hiking trails & interpretive sites through Victor's 1890s gold rush mining country. Located as a side trip off the Gold Belt Tour National Scenic Byway, the trail passes by historic mines, mill sites, and railroad routes.  Although privately owned, many of these sites are open and accessible to the public.

The Mineral Belt Trail | Leadville, CO 719-486-8409 | visit our website The Mineral Belt Trail is one of Colorado's highest and most spectacular paved pathways. Dedicated on July 29, 2000, the trail loops the city of Leadville, one of the greatest mining districts in the world and one of Colorado's 21 National Historic Landmarks. The Mineral Belt Trail was designated a National Recreation Trail in June, 2002.

Town of Creede | Creede, CO 800-327-2102 | visit our website Welcome to the historic Town of Creede, Colorado! Creede.com is the official site of the Creede/Mineral County Chamber of Commerce, your connection to vacations, recreation, attractions, and the Arts in southern Colorado.

Telluride Historical Museum | Telluride, CO 970-728-3344 | visit our website Located in the Old Miner's Hospital, the Telluride Historical Museum provides visitors with a view into the life of early twentieth century hard rock miners who lived and worked in a harsh and often dangerous mountain environment.  The museum retains the hospital's original operating room and nurses' station and interprets Telluride's boom-bust-boom history with interactive dramatic exhibits.

Hinsdale County Courthouse | Lake City, CO 970-944-2515 | visit our website The Hinsdale County Courthouse is important for its association with the settlement and development of Lake City during the late 1800s mining era. Constructed in 1877, the building is significant as the state's oldest courthouse still in use for its original purpose. The first year of its operation as a courthouse was marked by the appearance of suffragette Susan B. Anthony.

The Leadville Historic Walking Tour and Heritage Museum | Leadville, CO visit our website In the late 19th 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.

Town of Crested Butte | Crested Butte, CO 970-641-7992 | visit our website The Town of Crested Butte, a registered National Historic District and turn of the century Victorian mining town is located just 28 miles north of the City of Gunnison and south of the famous Kebler Pass, known as the home to the second largest living organism in the USA…an aspen grove!

Flat Tops Trail Scenic and Historic Byway 970-878-5344 (Meeker) 970-638-4511 (Yampa) visit our websites COME WALK IN THEIR FOOTPRINTS East gateway located near the town of Yampa in Routt County and West Gateway located near Meeker in Rio Blanco County. The Flat Tops Trail cuts through the heart of the original White River Plateau Timberland Reserve.  This landscape of forest, lakes, streams and pasturelands contains a rich history of exploration, recreation and settlement. Native Americans, trappers, pioneers, miners, cowboys, ranchers and outlaws all left their mark on the land, much of it now protected for public recreation and enjoyment.

Mayflower Gold Mill Tour | Silverton, CO 970-387-5488 | visit our website The Mayflower Mill is one of the last and best preserved mills in the United States that documents the process for turning ore into gold. Gold, silver, lead, zinc, copper and tungsten were all mined in the San Juan Mountains. Coupled with the Old 100 Mine Tour, the Mayflower mill shows the complete story of the mining process.

Westcliffe / Silver Cliff | Westcliffe and Silver Cliff, CO 719-783-9163 | visit our website Located in the Wet Mountain Valley between the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the West and the Wet Mountains to the East, Westcliffe and Silver Cliff are hidden gems unknown to many Coloradoans.  The earliest settlers of European descent to enter the valley were Spanish gold seekers followed by Hispanic shepherds.

This project is paid for in part by a State Historical Fund grant
from the Colorado Historical Society.