History

Great Winter Trip Ideas for Leadville-Twin Lakes

        It’s still snowing in Leadville-Twin Lakes, Colorado, with plenty of winter fun still to come! Now's the time to plan a long weekend or, better yet, a midweek visit for quiet trails. Whether you like to play in the snow or snuggle up inside, or both, you can shape a great trip made just for you. Mix and match these ideas ...

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        Top 12 Reasons to Visit Leadville-Twin Lakes in 2024

              This year, be sure to visit Leadville and Twin Lakes, Colorado! Here at the top of the Rockies, you'll find a wide breadth of things to do outdoors and in our genuine and historic downtowns. While the list of possibilities is nearly endless, here are our top 12 reasons to visit in 2024! Photo: @marklarowephoto 1) Watch horses pull skiers down ...

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              Leadville’s Irish Miners’ Memorial and Exhibit: The Story of Immigrants

                    You can now visit the Leadville Irish Miners’ Memorial, which speaks to the hopes and dreams of immigrants across the world. This new memorial honors Leadville residents whose names had been lost to time.   [caption id="attachment_11008" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Photo by Kathleen Fitzsimmons[/caption] Who Were the Irish Miners? The memorial honors approximately 1,300 miners from the Silver Rush days, most of ...

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                    Fall Events in Leadville and Twin Lakes

                          Autumn is a magical time in Leadville and Twin Lakes, Colorado. Think warm days, cool nights, and some of Colorado’s first gold leaves! Check out this roundup of fun things to see and do in fall. Check our calendar for details on these and other great events. Be sure to also see 10 top spots for leaf peeping in Leadville and ...

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                          Hiking the Continental Divide Trail Near Leadville & Twin Lakes

                                Did you know that Leadville and Twin Lakes, Colorado, mark the "spiritual halfway point" of the Continental Divide Trail (CDT)? Full of welcoming trail culture and alpine beauty, the area is an important milestone for long-distance hikers. It's also a great place for a day hike. What is the CDT? The CDT spans over 3,100 miles, stretching from Canada to Mexico. ...

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                                7 Ways to Catch the Leadville-Twin Lakes History Vibe

                                      Visit Leadville and Twin Lakes, Colorado, and you’ll experience genuine and historic mountain towns. You’ll sense their Silver Rush history today, even as you enjoy modern-day shops, restaurants, and lodging. Learn what makes Leadville and Twin Lakes special!  Here are 7 kinds of fun that give you the Leadville-Twin Lakes vibe! All tours and museums listed will be open for ...

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                                      Walk Back in Time in Historic Leadville

                                            This year, take a walking tour in the 1880s silver mining boomtown of Leadville, Colorado. Here's a preview of some fun facts and ways to make your tour extra special! Did you know that a popular Harrison Avenue jewelry store once offered one of Queen Isabella’s diamonds for $10,000, way back in 1880? (In that location, you can now buy or ...

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                                            Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

                                                  Join us for St. Patrick's Day in Leadville and Twin Lakes, Colorado! On Friday, March 17, 2023, catch a short and sweet St. Patrick's Day parade at noon on Harrison Avenue. The Legendary Silver Dollar Saloon will serve delicious corned beef and cabbage. At Ski Cooper, take a run on Leprechaun Lane. Apres ski, have a pint at Katie O’Rourke’s Irish ...

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                                                  6 Ways to Ace Your New Year’s Resolutions

                                                        Do you have lofty New Year’s resolutions for 2023? Here’s how you can reach them at Leadville and Twin Lakes, Colorado! Check out the list of popular New Year’s resolutions below and our fun ideas for keeping them. Come this winter to tick items off your list quickly. Or plan a trip now for later in the year to be sure ...

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                                                        8 Fun Facts About the Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument

                                                              Leadville, Colorado, is a great base camp for exploring the nation’s newest national monument. Parts of the Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument are only 20 minutes from Leadville. In addition to jaw-dropping forests, passes, and peaks, the monument offers fascinating history. Did you know this picturesque valley was originally home to the Ute people? That it is also where World War ...

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                                                              Join the Inaugural “Stories Worth Telling” Film Festival, Oct. 15

                                                                    Join us for an authentic Colorado film festival at the historic Tabor Opera House this fall! Stories Worth Telling Festival Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022 6 p.m. Tabor Opera House, 308 Harrison Ave., Leadville Join the inaugural Stories Worth Telling Festival - On The Road for short outdoor and adventure films, special guests, and a night of superb storytelling! Immerse ...

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                                                                    4 Summer Events in Leadville and Twin Lakes

                                                                          Summer's biggest events have returned to Leadville and Twin Lakes! Here are five ways to find summer fun and genuine mountain culture at the Top of the Rockies. 1) Experience Mining Heritage at Leadville Boom Days Leadville Boom Days, Aug. 5-7, is a three-day celebration of this mining town’s 1880s silver rush heritage. The festival celebrates the Old West with burro ...

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                                                                          Summer Fun in Leadville and Twin Lakes

                                                                                In Leadville and Twin Lakes, most summer is in full swing! Here are a few of the many fun things to do. 📷: @shel8y 1) Visit Twin Lakes Check out cool local businesses in Twin Lakes village. Stop by the Red Rooster Visitor Center for ideas of things to do. The scenic byway to Independence Pass, Hwy. 82 from Twin Lakes ...

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                                                                                Women of Leadville & Twin Lakes, Today and Yesterday

                                                                                      Leadville and Twin Lakes, Colorado, are known for their late 1800s Silver Rush riches and colorful characters. Did you know that many women played a role in the stories? You can visit local sites and connect with their stories. Today, you can also find many local women running unique, thriving businesses and holding local leadership roles. Let's meet them! Women Making ...

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                                                                                      Celebrate Leadville’s Irish History

                                                                                            If you’re looking for St. Patrick’s Day fun in Leadville, Colorado, check out these happenings: St. Patrick's Day, Thursday, March 17 Ski Cooper: Spend the day skiing or riding Cooper’s slopes. Take a run through family friendly Leprechaun Lane, new this season! Can you find all six of the wooden shamrocks? They were made by Leadville local and Cooper board member ...

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                                                                                            Native American History in Leadville and Twin Lakes

                                                                                                  For Native American Heritage Month in November, we'd like to take you a step in time back from the Silver Rush history for which Leadville and Twin Lakes is known, to honor the original inhabitants of the land. The Leadville Herald Democrat has written a thought-provoking series on Colorado’s Indigenous people, the effect that European settlers and mining had on them, ...

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                                                                                                  Vote for Leadville as Best Historic Small Town

                                                                                                        Help Leadville win 2021 Best Historic Small Town. We've been nominated for the USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Travel Award! Please vote daily until Monday, Oct. 25, 2021. The 10 towns with the most votes will win. Discover Our History It's no surprise Leadville was included as a candidate. Leadville, a Victorian-era mining town and home of the unsinkable Molly Brown, offers ...

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                                                                                                        How to Visit Leadville’s Mines, Responsibly

                                                                                                              We are truly glad that visitors are excited about our historic mining structures—we are too! We welcome you to visit and marvel at them. But please, take only pictures and leave our last few Wild West structures untouched. Here’s why. Stay Safe These structures are approximately 140 years old, and they can be dangerous. Timbers that old can break unexpectedly, causing ...

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                                                                                                              Top 10 Reasons to Visit Leadville and Twin Lakes, CO, this Fall

                                                                                                                    Leaves change first in Leadville and Twin Lakes, Colorado. At elevations around 10,000’, the aspen usually peak mid- to late September, surrounding scenic drives, hikes, bike rides, and train rides with golden leaves. Here are some of our favorite reasons to visit Leadville and Twin Lakes this fall! 📷: @browneyedgirlsnaps 1. National Scenic and Historic Byway – Autumn Roads All roads ...

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                                                                                                                    End of Summer: Dining In, Museums & More

                                                                                                                          Have a great end-of-summer experience at Leadville and Twin Lakes, Colorado. Everything is reopened in Leadville and Twin Lakes, Colorado! Here's a quick roundup of things you may have missed last year--and can still catch this summer--here at the top of the Rockies. Museums To round out your vacation, or catch some culture on a rainy afternoon, check out Leadville’s many ...

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                                                                                                                          Explore Two Genuine & Historic Mountain Towns

                                                                                                                                Come to Leadville and Twin Lakes, Colorado, and discover two genuine and historic mountain towns. Off the beaten path and full of rich history, they give a glimpse into the Colorado of days gone by. Explore the many things to do! Visit the Museums Tour these museums to learn more about mining and Leadville's intriguing history: Healy House Museum and Dexter ...

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                                                                                                                                6 History Tours to Take in Leadville, Colorado

                                                                                                                                      Leadville, Colorado, was one of the West’s wildest silver boomtowns in the late 1800s, and many reminders of its history can still be seen today. Check out these fascinating history tours in Leadville and nearby Twin Lakes, Colorado. 1) Downtown Museums Plan a full day to explore Leadville’s many museums—all within walking distance of each other—and learn the area’s intriguing history. ...

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                                                                                                                                      8 Great Reasons You’ll Dig Leadville & Twin Lakes History

                                                                                                                                            If you'd like to learn more about Colorado's past, explore Leadville and Twin Lakes history this winter! Here, links to the past abound. From museums to winter trails to Victorian architecture, you’ll find unique character in our genuine and historic mountain towns. If you're on a ski vacation and need a break from the slopes, or your family members don't ski, ...

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                                                                                                                                            Meet Leadville’s National Museum to Mining

                                                                                                                                            120 West 9th Street, Leadville, CO  |  719-486-1229  |  Website >

                                                                                                                                                  Did you know that Leadville, Colorado, is home to a national museum? The National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum is perched in North America's highest-elevation town. Visitors often say they are surprised by the depth of this unsung museum, which tells the past, present, and future of the nation's mining. There, you can learn about mining through geology, science, historic ...

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                                                                                                                                                  Ghosts of Leadville, Colorado

                                                                                                                                                        In the ghostly spirit of Halloween, check out these stories of past Leadville souls. Many still make their presence known in this Colorado mining town. They float and creak in 1880s Victorian buildings and abandoned mines. Read these tales with a shiver. Then make plans to visit the sites where spine-chilling events took place. Mineral Belt Trail Bike, walk, or cross-country ...

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                                                                                                                                                        Fall for Leadville’s Museums!

                                                                                                                                                              This fall, be sure to visit the museums in Leadville, Colorado! They offer a great way to learn more about Leadville, named a Best Historic Small Town by USA Today in 2020, and the mining that built it. Imagine yourself living in a fancy home during the Silver Rush days. Or crawling through narrow passageways underground. Or attending a pioneer synagogue. ...

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                                                                                                                                                              2020 Travel: Visit the Other Interlaken, at Twin Lakes

                                                                                                                                                                    If you're looking for a version of Switzerland without the flight, visit the other Interlaken. No passport is needed when you travel to Twin Lakes, Colorado, and nearby Leadville! Colorado's Lake County has glacial lakes, trains, boats, and immense peaks like the Swiss Interlaken, plus a taste of the wild west. You can hike, bike, fish, snowshoe, nordic ski, camp, and ...

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                                                                                                                                                                    Leadville Named a “Best Historic Small Town” by USA TODAY

                                                                                                                                                                          [Updated Oct. 16, 2020] Leadville is honored to be a winner in the 2020 USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Travel Award Contest for “Best Historic Small Town”! Leadville was the only city in Colorado to win in this specific category. How Winners Were Chosen Twenty nominees were chosen by a panel of relevant experts, which included a combination of editors from ...

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                                                                                                                                                                          New: Meet the Characters of California Gulch, Online

                                                                                                                                                                                If you love the mining history in Leadville, Colorado, don't miss this new online exhibit from the National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum. The painting depicts California Gulch, just to the southeast of downtown Leadville, where you can still see remnants of the famous mines. Within this simple painting are stories of colorful characters from Leadville's mining days. Colorful Characters ...

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                                                                                                                                                                                Leadville History: Explore the Mineral Belt Trail

                                                                                                                                                                                      If you like Leadville history and being outside, explore the Mineral Belt Trail! This family-friendly 12-mile trail encircling Leadville showcases the stunning natural beauty in North America's highest city and its rich mining heritage. In winter and early spring, the trail is groomed for fat biking and Nordic skiing. From mid-spring to fall, this trail is a paved, ADA-accessible trail great ...

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                                                                                                                                                                                      5 Businesses Celebrate 140 Years!

                                                                                                                                                                                            History in Leadville and Twin Lakes, Colorado, is the real deal. And this year five Lake County businesses are celebrating 140 years! Make sure you see these 5 history spots on your next trip to town. Twin Lakes: 1) The Twin Lakes Inn & Saloon Over the years, The Twin Lakes Inn & Saloon has been a stagecoach stop, a hotel, ...

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