Leadville - Access to Mosquito Pass

    Last Update: 9/8/1998 - Jens Moller

    On Colorado Highway 24

    Leadville is an historic city that stayed a mining town from its inception until today. The area around Leadville is riddled with old mining areas and tailings dumps. Most of the mines that were in the area had water problems and many closed not because of lack of ore bodies, but rather because they flooded and pumping them dry was economically unfeasable. Some mining activity is still going on in the area.

    Gold brought people here during the first big boom in the 1870's. Later on, large bodies of Silver and Lead made millionaires out of a number of mine owners. The US government had set a predefined price on Silver that kept prices artificially high. In 1893, the price of Silver was deregulated and the value dropped by over 50%, forcing many marginal mines to close. Horace Tabor was one of the Silver barons from that era that made millions only to die with almost nothing (there are a number of books about him). There were a few mines that had enough Gold content mixed in with the Silver and Lead to keep things operational.

    Another sort of mining went on in the area, picking up just before the 1st World War, and then falling off until industry was able to fully utilize the element. This is the massive mine at Climax, and the mineral is Molybdenum. This element is used to harden steel and for many years Leadville was the major source of the mineral.

    What to visit while in town

    The main road thru Leadville is Harrison Avenue. Along here, you will find a number of historic buildings and businesses. There are stores that sell antiques and other area specialties. I wanted to find a few metal signs to hang in my cube at work that related to mining, but most of the ones that I saw had terminology that didn't make much sense to me - The ones that made sense were all antiques and were quite expensive. I ended up buying a few stickers.

    There are a number of museums in the area. Call to verify when they are open. They are:

    • Earth Runs Silver - Multi media show - 809 Harrison - phone (719) 486-3900.

    • Healy House and Dexter Cabin - 1899 boarding house - 912 Harrison - phone (719) 486-0487 - Open daily Memorial Day thru Labor Day, with limited winter hours.

    • Heritage Museum and Gallery - Dioramas, Ice Palace replica, gifts - 102 E. 9th - phone (719) 486-1878 - Open daily May thru October.

    • Matchless Mine (Baby Doe Tabor Museum) - 1 1/4 mile East on 7th - Open June thru Labor Day.

    • Tabor Home - 116 E. 5th Street.

    • Tabor Opera House - 308 Harrison - Open during the summer (closed on Saturdays).

    • National Mining hall of Fame and Museum - 120 W. 9th - Open during the summer with limited winter hours - phone (719) 486-1229

    In the winter, the Ski Cooper ski area, up towards Tennessee Pass (on highway 24) offers skiing at reasonable prices. Open Thanksgiving to early April. Phone (719) 486-2277

    For the railroad buffs among you, there is a train station on E 7th (a few blocks east of Harrison) that is worth visiting. There is a steam locomotive on display.

    There are plenty of places to eat in Leadville, many on Harrison Avenue. When I was there, I parked near the Court House and took a walk up and down both sides of the street. Its a fair sized mountain town and you could easily spend a pleasent few hours looking in the stores doing some window shopping. There are service stations at the north and south end of the city if you need fuel and a potty stop.

    Finding Mosquito Pass from Leadville

    NOTE: There are no rest room facilities across the 22 mile trip over Mosquito Pass, so if that is your next destination, take advantage of the service stations and fill up with fuel at a Leadville Service Station.

    Harrison Avenue runs North (to Interstate 70) and South (to Buena Vista).

    • If you are approaching from the South (ie. headed North), come up Harrison and past the Lake County Court House and turn right on East 7th.

    • If you are approaching from the North (ie. headed South), drive down Harrison and past the City Hall and Police station and turn left on East 7th.

    Once on East 7th, head east, and take it all the way out past the Matchless Mine. Stay on the main dirt road.

    Comments? Questions? contact Jens Moller

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