History of Leadville
Leadville, Colorado, often called "The Two Mile High City" and "Cloud City," is the highest incorporated city in the states at over 10,000 feet. Located at the foot of two of Colorado's highest peaks - Mt. Elbert and Mt. Massive, Leadville is one of America's last remaining authentic mining towns.
Often described as quaint and original, Leadville has been designated as a National Historic Landmark District. The small city is a mere seventy square blocks of Victorian architecture and is surrounded by miles of land where many old mines and cabins dot the landscape.
The settlement began in 1859, when gold was discovered in California Gulch. The gold rush continued until 1875, when silver was discovered. In January 1878, the city of Leadville was incorporated and by 1879, the population had reached 18,000.
By 1893, the population reached almost 60,000. The United States then moved to the gold standard, which created a great depression in the area and resulted in the closing of most of the silver mines. During the early twentieth century, a vast deposit of molybdenum was discovered in Climax, 14 miles northeast of Leadville.
One of America's last remaining authentic mining towns, Leadville has a wealth of historical attractions, including the federally chartered National Mining Hall of Fame Museum, the Healy House & Dexter Cabin State Museum, and the Tabor Opera House.
Our home is the perfect place to stay and enjoy the rich heritage of the area. More fun history facts are available here, but beware - learning about this beautiful area will only make you want to visit sooner!