Ouray county, co mining, mines, mine owners and mine. County road 31 exits off the highway, threads through the mountinous district, runs parallel to the highway, and eventually dumps you back on highway 550. The tenth annual mining history association conference was held in ouray, colorado, june 36, 1999. This former silver and gold mining town is as rich in history as it is in beauty. The colorado gold rush, also known as the pikes peak gold rush, occurred in the late 1850s. Today ouray is known by many namesthe switzerland of america, the gem of the rockies, the ice climbing capital of the u. Grand junction, colorado is an easy 98 miles to the northwest of ouray, while denver, colorado is 342 miles to the northeast. Buckskin booksellers ouray 2020 all you need to know. Sitting in a natural rock amphitheater at an elevation of 7,792 feet, the community that is so beautiful it is often called the switzerland of america. One of colorados scenic and historic byways, the alpine loop leaves pavement and people behind. Ouray county, colorado has 846 records of mining claims on public land managed by the bureau of land management and 57 records of mines listed by. A brief history of telluride used as a summer camp for centuries by ute indians and named by spanish explorers in the 1700s, the san juan mountains lured fortune seekers to colorado with visions of silver and gold.
Ouray, colorado top things to do in ouray, co colorado info. The history of mining in southwestern colorado during the last part of the nineteenth century and the first decade of the twentieth runs parallel to the development of hydro and steam power plants, and their application to the mines of the region. The ouray county ranch history museum was started at the request of local ranch families to preserve their familys legacy in this county. Ouray county, named after nineteenthcentury ute leader ouray, is a small county of 524 square miles in southwestern colorado. Ouray, colorado top things to do in ouray, co colorado. Mount sneffels mining district, ouray, ouray mining district, ouray co. Ouray s climate, natural alpine environment, and scenery frequently has it referred to as the switzerland of america. Founded in 1982 in the small southwest colorado mining town of silverton. Stop by to see what ranch life was like starting from the 1870s and learn about the ranching that is still going on in our area today. Many of those travelling west to california would have had their first experiences in the mines of colorado. Places like ouray, silverton, telluride, lake city and a whole lot more that are lost to history sprang up, sometimes overnight. Descend the famous gondola from mountain village to telluride, and enjoy a hike in the mountains nearby. Jan 31, 2011 ouray colorado retail buckskin booksellers. Memorial hospital this morning in response to a mining accident in ouray county.
Experience colorado with this new, enlarged edition of a colorado history. Grand junction, colorado is an easy 98 miles to the northwest of ouray, while. It is already being used by researchers from various parts of the usa. Ouray county, colorado mines western mining history. To paraphrase an elitch gardens of denver slogan of yore.
Ourays climate, natural alpine environment, and scenery frequently has it referred to as the switzerland of america. Because of his leadership ability, ouray was acknowledged by the. The william ross moore mining history library of the american west is a very valuable collection now in place at the ouray county historical societys research center located at 722 main street, ouray. Explore lake citys mining history at hard tack mine juneseptember or cast off in lake san cristobal, a yearround fishing destination. Albert eugene reynolds mining colorado ouray history. Southwest colorado s san juan mountains are home to some of the worlds richest gold and silver finds. Chief of the utes, images of the san juans, a quick history of ouray,the million dollar highway and exploring the san juan triangle. Getting the ore down from the mines and supplies back up to. Most of these roads are historic mining roads that have been enhanced to accommodate atvs, dirt bikes and 4wd vehicles and connecting the towns of silverton, lake city and ouray. The alpine loop scenic byway is a 4wheel drive adventure route through historic mining country of the san juan mountains. Jun 04, 2014 mining sources in the western history genealogy department include photographs, manuscripts, prospectuses, maps, magazines, and directories. Interesting read about colorado mining history in telluride and leadville by the wife of a miner. The alpine loop scenic byway is a 65 mile loop that meanders through blm and usfs lands.
Mines, mining and miners denver public library history. Although the town was built by mining, it was the spectacular beauty of the area that gave ouray long life as a tourist destination. Gregory is the premiere local historian of this section of colorado, having written nine books on ouray and the san juan mountains. Southwest colorados san juan mountains are home to some of the worlds richest gold and silver finds. Back in the 1870s, gold was found here and dozens of small mining towns grew into flourishing communities. Vintage ouray, looking south into ouray valley, colorado, usa the henry ford poster print wall art print entitled ouray colorado ouray, colorado, circa 1901 photochrom print by the detroit photographic company, from an original blackandwhite photograph by william henry jackson. I purchased tomboy bride on impulse at a general store in lake city, colorado, in the midst of an overland camping trip i took with my collegeage son through the mountains of colorado. Mining was far and away the most significant industry in nineteenth and early twentiethcentury colorado and has remained important since that time. David smith is the author of six other books about colorado including mountain mysteries, ouray. History of telluride telluride, co official website. The 1920 valley view leasing and mining company mill, commonly known as the matterhorn mill, is listed on the national register of historic places under criterion a in the area of industry at the local level of significance for its contribution to the 20thcentury silver mining in colorado s san juan mountains where it related directly to mining within san bernardo mountain.
Robinson mine, red mountain mining district, ouray co. All mine locations were obtained from the usgs mineral resources data system. Gregorys history of ouray, colorado is the first comprehensive book on the subject and covers 1875 to 1995. History in the booming era of the late 1800s, the rio grande southern railroad was built to service the remote mining communities high in the san juan mountains of southwest colorado. Box canyon falls is at the southwest edge of ouray. The ouray mining district is located in the area of about 10 to 15 miles around the town of ouray. A lots of local based history books, many that i havent seen before. Out of stock bancrofts history of colorado mining book. By the mid1870s, the sheridan mine was the first in a string of local claims and a tent camp was established in the valley below. Greetings card ouray, colorado photo greetings card made in the usa. Fetchs is your source for local information on hiking, jeeping, and mining history, this store has a little bit of everything.
Ouray is a quintessential mountain town in southwestern colorado. Two miners dead in colorado, 20 others injured after ouray. Bachelor syracuse mine tour ouray 2020 all you need to. An old fashioned local family owned book store located in the historic beaumont hotel. Today the towns history is very evident in its well preserved historic structures. Like most towns in the colorado mountains, ouray was originally a mining town. Much more about chief ouray may be learned at the ouray county historical museum and the ute indian museum in montrose. Ouray, colorado is a historic mining town located on the million dollar highway in southwest colorado. Us route 550 splits the county into eastern and western. Ouray, colorado switzerland of america page 2 legends.
The pikes peak gold rush brought unprecedented numbers of people into the region and that in turn led to powerful social, economic, and political changes that brought about the creation of colorado territory in 1861. It is bisected by the uncompahgre river, which flows from lake como northeast of silverton, through the county seat of ouray, through ridgway and colona, and out of the county toward montrose. I had a choice of several similar regional histories and biographies that lined the general stores shelf. Ouray pronounced yourray is in the heart of the san juan mountains, a mineralrich part of colorado s rocky mountain mining country.
The towns history is very evident in its many well preserved historic structures. Surrounded by high mountain walls dominated by mount abrams to the south, and the awe inspiring amphitheater to the east, ouray is truly the gem of the rockies. Red mountain mining district lies between ouray and silverton on highway 550 better known as the million dollar highway. A past president of the ouray county historical society, he lectures frequently on colorado history. The mountain town of ouray, colorado, the town ayn rand used for inspiration for atlas shrugged.
Also a history of colorado prospecting and plenty of other helpful information to help plan your trip. Red mountain mining district, ghost town, colorado, san. Ouray died in august in ignacio, colorado, of brights disease, with chipeta, his wife of 21 years, by his side. The denver post said, ouray was a friend of the white man and protector to the indians. Ouray county, co mines us mining has mines, mining. The locations and other information in this database have not been verified for accuracy.
Ouray was raised in the taos valley and was influenced by the spanish way of life. Ouray joined his parents in colorado at age 17, already speaking spanish, ute, apache, and some english. A peculiar clastic dike near ouray colorado and its associated deposit of silver. See more ideas about history, ouray colorado and native american history. Ouray offers access to hundreds of miles of historic mining roads, popular with offhighway and 4wheeling enthusiasts. The largest and most famous mine is the camp bird mine, the second largest gold mine in colorado, established by thomas walsh in 1896. And as my husband is an avid reader of colorado history, he was thrilled at how large that section was. Hike high alpine meadows, and enjoy southern colorado s best wildflowers and volcanic scenery. Discover the history of ouray, telluride, red mountain and silverton, colorado on hiking excursions and museum visits. Traverse a variety of forest and alpine terrain and view extreme mountain peaks, wildflowers and. Ouray pronounced yourray is in the heart of the san juan mountains, a mineralrich part of colorados rocky mountain mining country.
Hollister presents an expansive history and summary of the area and those who came to mine it. Ouray, which was originally uncompahgre city, was settled around 1875 after a discovery at the. It should be assumed that all mines are on private property. Publications by state colorado page 1 mining books. For fifty years, the authors of this preeminent resource have led readers on an extraordinary exploration of how the state has changed. Ouray 1833 august 24, 1880whites records in colorado state august 20, 1880 was day of passing with his belongings in a grand junction colorado museum that whites havent surrendered yet was a native american chief of the tabeguache uncompahgre band of the ute tribe, then located in western colorado. Ouray is set in one of the most magnificent locations in colorado. The town of ouray proudly aligns itself with his legacy, for there are few people in history who are held in such high regard. Hiking maps and books are available at the ouray visitor center. The author a mining geologist who lived in ouray for many years and worked in the area published this book of great factual history on ouray and its surrounding mines.
Two miners dead in colorado, 20 others injured after ouray blast. Ouray county, co mines, mine companies, mine owners and mine information. Rough terrain and two 12,000ft passes cinnamon and engineer require a highclearance 4wheel drive vehicle, but mining history, ghost towns, majestic alpine. Western mining history is your source for over 116,000 mines in the western states. Twenty three miles south of ouray over red mountain pass, in silverton colorado, you can visit the old hundred mine tour. One hundred sixtytwo miles of narrow gauge track transported people and provisions through the harsh, beautiful, mountainous landscape to the bustling towns of telluride, durango, ouray a.
Aspen history silver mining town colorado geology book. And the owner was indeed kind enough to impart some knowledge and make some good. The city population was 1,000 as of the 2010 census. Hike high alpine meadows, and enjoy southern colorados best wildflowers and volcanic scenery. Aug 27, 2019 head east of ouray to lake city, an idyllic, westernrooted mountain town thats home to historic buildings and beautiful lake san cristobal, the second largest natural lake in colorado. Even includes a list of other books you might also enjoy. Ouray colorado retail store buckskin booksellers youtube. Participants walk through a series of displays and the guide discusses mining history throughout. Fetchs is your source for local information on hiking, jeeping, and mining history, this store has a. Unlike many other mining towns, ouray never experienced a fire that consumed a large portion of the town, resulting in a significant number of 19thcentury commercial buildings remaining.
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