From the Telluride & Mountain Village Visitor's Guide
by Mary Duffy, 2002
THE UTES
Once a numerous and nomadic people, the Utes were the first visitors to the
Telluride valley. Making their summer camps along the San Miguel River, they
hunted in the surrounding mountains for elk, deer and mountain sheep. In the
winter, they retreated to the lowlands and nearby red rock canyons of the desert
to find shelter and dry ground. For centuries this way of life remained unchanged.
THE EXPLORERS
In the late 1700s the Spanish made their way north through Mexico and established
a town site in present day Santa Fe. Searching for an overland route to their
landholdings on the Pacific coast, they crossed the lower Rocky Mountains and
named them the San Juans. None stayed to settle this rugged high-altitude environment.
Fur trappers were likely the first Anglos to spend extended time in the San
Juans, but with the demise of the beaver due to the increasing popularity
of top hats made from its pelt, the trappers moved on. The discovery of gold
in 1858 put Colorado on the map. As prospectors flooded the northern Rockies,
many fortune seekers headed south. The discovery of gold in the San Juans
heralded a new era for this desolate mountain range.
THE MINING BOOM
In 1875, prospector John Fallon made the first claim in Marshal Basin above
Telluride. He registered the Sheridan Mine with the Silverton County Clerk,
a claim that proved to be rich in zinc, lead, copper, iron, silver and gold.
The town of Columbia was established in the Telluride valley in 1880. Because
of confusion with another mining camp, Columbia, Calif., the United States Post
Office refused to grant the town a local branch. Thus, Columbia, Colo. was changed
to Telluride. This name was probably derived from tellurium (ironically not
found here), a nonmetallic element often associated with rich mineral deposits
of gold. The other theory is that the town was named for the famous send-off,
"To-hell-u-ride," given to fortune seekers heading to the southern San Juans.
A TOWN WITHOUT A BELLY ACHE
With the coming of the railroad in 1890, the town flourished and Telluride's
population soared to 5,000. Many immigrants made the arduous journey over the
Rockies and traveled south to find their fortune. Telluride became a melting
pot of Finns, Swedes, Irish, Cornish, French, Italians, Germans, and Chinese,
all supported by mining. The town boasted all the amenities of a thriving community,
plus saloons, gambling, and a much-heralded red-light district. Mining for silver,
gold, zinc, lead and copper resulted in an impressive 350 miles of multi-level
tunnels that honeycomb the mountains at the east end of the valley. The wealth
of Telluride attracted the likes of Butch Cassidy and his "Wild Bunch," who
began their brazen bank-robbing career at the San Miguel National Bank in 1889.
Silver prices crashed in 1893, followed by the first World War in 1917 and the
end of the mining boom in Telluride. Gold prices were fixed during the war and
many men left the mines to join the armed forces or work in war-related industries.
By the 1960s the place was barely more than a ghost town, and the population
had dwindled to less than 600 residents.
WHITE GOLD
In its own magical way, Telluride was resurrected in the 1970s by another kind
of gold-snow. When a small group of wishful locals, led by Bill Mahoney Sr.,
joined forces with newcomer and entrepreneur Joe Zoline, a ski area was hammered
out of the ridge coming off Gold Hill. The newly created ski resort reshaped
the economy, reviving the Telluride community. This winter the ski area will
celebrate its thirtieth year of lift served operations.
CULTURAL MECCA
As alpine enthusiasts shaped Telluride's winter scene, artists and culture lovers
nurtured a vibrant and diverse array of summer festivals, and Telluride became
a year-round resort. The longest running events; Telluride Film Festival, Telluride
Bluegrass Festival, Telluride Chamber Music and the Imogene Pass Run, all began
as small grassroots efforts in the early '70s. A host of events have joined
in the celebration, including MountainFilm, Telluride Mushroom Festival, the
Jazz Celebration, Telluride Blues & Brews Festival, Wild West Fest, Steps to
Awarness, Telluride Wine Festival, Dance in Telluride, The Tech Fest, Walking
Words, Writers in the Sky and the Telluride AIDS Benefit. With all these festivals,
locals get tired-the Nothing Festival was created to ensure at least one quiet
summer weekend.
YOU ARE HERE
Today, Telluride's population of 2,000 plus residents is less than half of what
it was during the mining heyday. Miners have been replaced by (or have become)
skiers and boarders, festivals have grown up and improved, but Telluride's history
has not been forgotten. Look around. Whether you stumble across an old mining
shack in the forest or scale a rugged peak for a majestic view, you'll find
that Telluride's mountains are still full of riches, and the spirit of the Old
West remains.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
The Telluride Historical Museum has been restored and is now open. Although
fundraising is still in progress, there is much to be seen and learned on the
premises. Displays include historic photographs, a turn-of-the-century hospital
room, and artifacts from the mining era. Located at the north end of Fir Street,
it is housed in the old miners' hospital, built in 1888. Call 728-3344 for hours
and exhibits, and check out its website at www.telluridemuseum.com.
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