City of Aspen history

Originally a summer hunting camp for the Ute Indians, Aspen's first white settlers, mostly miners, arrived by 1870 in search of silver.

The first inhabitants of Aspen were a group of headstrong miners who, in 1879, ignored the pleas of Governor Frederick Pitkin to return across the Continental Divide due to an uprising of the Ute Indians.

In November of 1880 it was reported that "The Smuggler, one of the richest mines in the camp, has been vigorously worked all season under the direction of Manager Hallem.

1881 Pitkin County is established.

In 1883, Jerome B. Wheeler, president and part owner of Macy’s Department Store, arrived and started making investments in the town’s infrastructure and transportation.

1884 Clarendon Hotel burns down.

1885 New Clarendon Hotel opens.

The D&RG won the race in November of 1887 by constructing 104 miles of track, and beating Colorado Midland by three months.

Grover Cleveland’s first termThe surplus and the tariffThe public domainThe Interstate Commerce ActThe election of 1888

1889 The Hotel Jerome opens in November with great fanfare.

1890 Sherman Silver Act is passed, assuring a continuing market for silver.

Aspen opened its Citizens' Hospital in 1891.

The Benjamin Harrison administrationThe Sherman Antitrust ActThe silver issueThe McKinley tariffThe agrarian revoltThe PopulistsThe election of 1892

However, just as soon as the wealth was ushered in, the repeal of the Sherman Silver Act of 1893 caused Aspen to "bust," and town entered what is known as "The Quiet Years" with the population dropping to less than 1,000.

In 1894 the largest silver nugget ever mined, weighing 2,340 pounds, was discovered at the mine.

In the winter of 1899, a terrible storm swept through Colorado, cutting off Independence from supply routes.

By the middle of the 1930's, ski enthusiasts were looking at Aspen as a possible ski resort.

Mining picked up a bit through World War I, but Aspen really began to put itself on the map in 1936 when T.J. Flynn, Aspen resident, and Billy Fiske, a former United States Olympic bobsledder turned investment banker met at a polo club in California.

The Bavarian Highland Lodge was built in 1938 at the confluence of Castle and Conundrum creeks, and quickly became a popular destination thanks to advertising efforts in the New Yorker magazine.

By the late 1940's, both skiing and aspen's modern day founders, Walter and Elizabeth Paepcke arrived in town.

The dream continued when Aspen went on to hold the 1941 United States National ski races.

World War IIThe road to warThe United States at warWar productionFinancing the warSocial consequences of the warThe 1944 electionThe new United States role in world affairs

The peak Cold War years, 1945–60The Truman Doctrine and containmentPostwar domestic reorganizationThe Red ScareThe Korean WarPeace, growth, and prosperityEisenhower’s second termDomestic issuesWorld affairsAn assessment of the postwar era

The first ski-lift-assisted area was opened in the winter of 1946–47; Aspen’s subsequent development of facilities for skiing and other winter sports make it a popular winter resort.

The longest chair lift in the world was built on Aspen Mountain and in 1950, Aspen hosted the World Downhill Ski Championships, marking its emergence as one of the world's premier ski resorts.

"Lady Day" Billie Holiday performed for six nights during Wintersköl 1952 at the Red Onion, putting Aspen on the music map.

However, in 1973 the nascent National Brotherhood of Skiers (soon to be the largest primarily black ski council in America) held its first meeting in Aspen.

In the meantime, 1977 was the first year that locals and gay ski clubs from around the country decided to start holding what would become the annual Gay Ski Week in January.