City Of Silverton history

It was not until the great California Gold Rush of 1849 that the nation’s focus, and imagination, turned to the potential riches of the West’s numerous mountain ranges.

The first great mining rush to Colorado occurred in 1859, as prospectors by the hundreds, then the thousands, arrived in the vicinity of Denver, then pushed on into the mountains.

Word of Baker’s expedition got out, and in 1861 hundreds of prospectors set out for the San Juan Mountains.

Prospectors and miners started returning to the San Juans in 1870, but by this time the area had become Ute land by treaty with the United States government, so the prospectors were breaking the law.

In 1873, with interest growing in the region's mineral wealth, the Ute treaty lands were revoked.

Deep in the heart of the San Juan mountains, in the valley known as Baker’s Park, two initial settlements were created in 1874.

The full article that the text above appeared in can be viewed at A Pioneer Road Trip Through Southwest Colorado in 1878

The silver boom at Leadville in 1879 took attention and capital away from other districts, and the San Juan continued to languish.

In May 1883 a grand jury brought 117 indictments against “lewd women” on Notorious Blair Street.

The city was incorporated in 1885.

San Juan County surpassed $1,000,000 in gold production for the first time in 1898.

The town had many commercial businesses including bankers, butchers, grocers, assayers, restaurants, and of course numerous saloons (19 by 1899). Physicians, attorneys, civil engineers and other professionals filled Silverton’s growing professional class.

Originally called the Opera House, it has been showing motion pictures to the public since at least 1909.

Built in 1916, it is the last covered bridge you can still drive through and the oldest bridge in Marion County.

Following World War I, declining metal prices resulted in a long decline of the Colorado mining industry through the 1920s.

Upon his death in 1927, Bobbie was buried at the Oregon Humane Society in Portland.

The crash of 1929 and subsequent depression did even more damage.

By 1943 fifteen mines were operating and that year metal production exceeded $1,500,000.

The bridge was swept off its footings during the Christmas Flood of 1964 and sustained considerable damage.

He has co-owned the town's Palace Theater since 1974.

By 1992 all the major mines had shut down, and Silverton was almost completely reliant on the tourist economy.

Cost is $20 (children with adults are free). Discounts are available. It was dismantled and moved to Silverton, where it opened to the public in 2002 after being reassembled and restored.